Preceptis Medical today said it has launched its second-generation Hummingbird tympanostomy tube system for office-based pediatric ear tube procedures.
The Maple Grove, Minn.–based company designed the device with an ergonomic design to allow for more efficient ear tube delivery in children.
“The Hummingbird enables ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons to deliver an ear tube with a single pass, which is an important improvement over conventional instruments and allows for efficient and predictable placement in an office setting,” Ted Truitt, a doctor at St. Cloud Ear, Nose and Throat in Minnesota, said in a news release. “The Hummingbird’s improved ergonomic design strengthens its already groundbreaking single-pass functionality, a unique characteristic that helps reduce surgical trauma, leading to a more tolerable ear tube procedure for young children. In-office pediatric ear tube procedures using the Hummingbird are increasingly becoming more sought after by parents.”
The Hummingbird allows ENTs to make an incision and deliver, position and place an ear tube using a single device in a single pass. It eliminates the need for general anesthesia and an operating room. The procedure takes about five minutes and only requires a topical anesthetic.
“The Hummingbird device gives clinicians and parents an FDA-cleared, in-office alternative that avoids the costs and challenges associated with putting a young child under general anesthesia,” Preceptis Medical CEO Steve Anderson said. “Our next-generation device offers ENT surgeons an improved feel and enhanced usability based on direct feedback from our surgeons. This improved design is a testament to our team’s focus on continuous improvement and commitment to optimizing in-office ear tube procedures for children.”
Ear tubes are designed to drain fluid from the Eustachian tube in the ear. They also allow air to get into the middle ear, according to Children’s Minnesota. The procedures are typically performed in the operating room under general anesthesia.
“In addition to cost benefits, pandemic restrictions over the past year have highlighted the value of office-based procedures and the evolution toward minimally invasive approaches,” chief commercial officer Greg Mielke said. “We are seeing a heightened interest in alternatives to traditional operating room procedures from both parents and ENTs. We look forward to expanding access to our Hummingbird technology to meet this demand, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of young children who require ear tube procedures.”
