ClearFlow to Showcase PleuraFlow Active Clearance Technology at Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange
ClearFlow, Inc., a medical device company focused on advancing cardiothoracic surgery recovery through better chest drainage solutions, has been selected to present its FDA-cleared PleuraFlow Active Clearance Technology (ACT) at the upcoming Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange. The event, hosted by Vizient, Inc., the nation’s largest member-driven healthcare performance improvement company, will be held on September 17 in Las Vegas.
Being chosen for this exclusive platform underscores ClearFlow’s growing recognition within the healthcare innovation landscape. Each year, Vizient invites a select group of suppliers to demonstrate cutting-edge products that offer measurable improvements in clinical care, patient safety, and healthcare efficiency. For ClearFlow, the opportunity represents a chance to spotlight how its PleuraFlow system addresses one of the most persistent and costly complications following cardiac surgery—chest tube occlusion and retained blood.
Addressing a Critical Challenge in Cardiothoracic Surgery
After cardiothoracic surgery, patients often require chest drainage systems to prevent the buildup of blood and fluids around the heart and lungs. Traditional drainage systems rely on passive mechanisms and are vulnerable to occlusion by clots within the chest tube lumen. When these blockages occur, patients face the risk of Retained Blood Syndrome (RBS), a serious condition that can result in hemothorax, cardiac tamponade, surgical re-exploration, and extended ICU or hospital stays.
Clinical societies have increasingly emphasized the importance of maintaining chest tube patency. The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Cardiac Society Guidelines classify chest tube patency as a Class I, Level B-NR recommendation for cardiac surgery patients, making it a best-practice standard of care. Despite these recommendations, chest tube clogging remains a widespread clinical challenge.
PleuraFlow ACT directly tackles this problem. Unlike conventional drainage systems, the device integrates an active clearance mechanism that allows clinicians to mechanically remove clots within the chest tube in real time. This proactive approach ensures that chest tubes remain open and functional, reducing the likelihood of retained blood and associated complications.
Evidence Supporting PleuraFlow
ClearFlow’s PleuraFlow has been the subject of multiple peer-reviewed clinical studies, which consistently demonstrate its effectiveness in preventing tube occlusion and improving patient outcomes. Research shows that patients treated with PleuraFlow experience better drainage, fewer complications, and faster recovery times compared to those with traditional drainage systems.
By reducing retained blood complications, PleuraFlow not only improves clinical outcomes but also lowers the cost of care. Avoiding surgical re-explorations, minimizing ICU stays, and preventing adverse events directly translate into reduced hospital expenses and resource utilization. This combination of clinical and economic benefits has made PleuraFlow an appealing innovation for hospitals striving to improve both quality and efficiency.
A Platform for Healthcare Innovation
The Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange provides a unique setting where suppliers present breakthrough products to Vizient members, including supply chain executives, clinical leaders, and subject matter experts from across the U.S. healthcare system. Attendees evaluate innovations based on how effectively they address unmet clinical needs, improve safety, enhance patient outcomes, or transform operational models.
Since its establishment, the Exchange has played a crucial role in connecting healthcare providers with novel technologies that have the potential to reshape patient care. Products showcased during the event often receive broad attention and can accelerate adoption within the healthcare ecosystem.
For ClearFlow, participation in this event is an opportunity to engage directly with decision-makers from some of the country’s leading hospitals and health systems. Demonstrating the value of PleuraFlow in this setting could pave the way for broader adoption across Vizient’s network of members.
ClearFlow’s Mission and Vision
ClearFlow’s leadership sees this recognition as validation of the company’s mission. Hannah Beathard, CEO of ClearFlow, Inc., expressed the company’s excitement at being selected:
We are honored to be selected to present the PleuraFlow Active Clearance Technology System at the Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange. Our mission is to help healthcare providers reduce preventable complications after cardiac surgery by proactively maintaining chest tube patency and thereby minimizing or preventing retained blood. We look forward to showing how PleuraFlow can improve patient outcomes, enhance recovery, and reduce costs for hospitals and health systems.
The CEO’s statement highlights the dual impact of PleuraFlow—delivering better clinical outcomes for patients while also creating economic value for healthcare organizations. This dual focus is increasingly critical as hospitals face mounting pressure to deliver high-quality care at sustainable costs.
Recognition from Vizient
Vizient’s leadership also emphasized the importance of showcasing innovations like PleuraFlow. Kelly Flaharty, senior director of contract services at Vizient, noted:
The Innovative Technology Exchange fosters a unique opportunity for healthcare providers to interact with products and services that have the potential to impact the healthcare industry and improve clinical care or the business model of organizations. We are pleased to invite ClearFlow to the Exchange.
Such endorsements carry weight, given Vizient’s influential role in shaping purchasing decisions across its vast member network. By selecting PleuraFlow for the Exchange, Vizient is effectively signaling to its members that this is a product worthy of attention and evaluation.
Vizient’s Innovative Technology Program
The Exchange is part of Vizient’s broader Innovative Technology Program, launched in 2003. Through this program, Vizient has reviewed more than 1,700 product submissions from suppliers seeking recognition for their novel solutions. Products are evaluated by provider-led councils to determine whether they offer a unique benefit that differentiates them from existing technologies.
For suppliers, acceptance into the program can be a catalyst for adoption, as it often helps products stand out in a crowded marketplace. For providers, the program serves as a trusted source for identifying innovations that have been vetted by peers and experts.
