New Jersey Health Foundation/The Nicholson Foundation award $50,000 grant to advance a device to decrease post-surgical lung complications

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vikki Hazelwood, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology, has received a $50,000 Innovation Grant from New Jersey Health Foundation/The Nicholson Foundation to advance research into a catheter that may prevent frequent complications for patients following a variety of surgical procedures, announced James M. Golubieski, president of New Jersey Health Foundation.

"Thoracic catheters facilitate the removal of fluid and/or air after a patient has thoracic surgery.  The most commonly used catheter is a single lumen for one-way drainage to keep the lung inflated," explained George F. Heinrich, M.D., vice chair and CEO of New Jersey Health Foundation. "Unfortunately, although commonly used, catheter use is plagued by complications including severe pain and obstruction for the patient."

Dr. Hazelwood and her research team have developed a novel catheter to help overcome the many complications that result from these single lumen catheters.  The grant will be used to develop a prototype of the new catheter.

"This new design has the existing features of current thoracic catheters along with multiple fluid delivery lumens, which terminate at different locations and provide anesthetic delivery for pain relief, saline irrigation for occlusion prevention and antibiotics for infection prevention," she explained. "The novel aspects and flexibility of function that this catheter offers will provide physicians with an unparalleled level of patient care.  There are currently no existing devices that accomplish these goals."

For more information, contact Mike Wiley, vice president, at (908) 731-6612 or [email protected]. 

About New Jersey Health Foundation
New Jersey Health Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports biomedical research and health-related education programs in New Jersey through its matching program, its Grants Program and its affiliate, Foundation Venture Capital Group which makes private equity investments in life science start- up companies in New Jersey headed toward commercialization.

About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University®, is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, N.J. overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Founded in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark and legacy of Stevens' education and research programs for more than 140 years. Within the university's three schools and one college, more than 6,300 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate with more than 380 faculty members in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment to advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront global challenges. Stevens is home to four national research centers of excellence, as well as joint research programs focused on critical industries such as healthcare, energy, finance, defense, maritime security, STEM education and coastal sustainability. The university is consistently ranked among the nation's elite for return on investment for students, career services programs and mid-career salaries of alumni. Stevens is in the midst of a 10-year strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create, designed to further extend the Stevens legacy to create a forward-looking and far-reaching institution with global impact.

SOURCE New Jersey Health Foundation

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