Nascent Surgical LLC, manufacturer of the novel miniSQUAIR surgical smoke capture system, has been acquired by a group of medical technology leaders with extensive experience in manufacturing and commercializing medical devices. The acquisition will enable expanded commercialization of the miniSQUAIR technology as Nascent’s founder and CEO, Dr. Leonard Schultz retires.
Nascent was founded in 2010 by Dr. Schultz, a serial entrepreneur and general surgeon, with a focus on smoke capture to protect the health of the operating room team, prevent post-operative infections in patients and enhance administrative compliance efforts with expanding state-based mandates for smoke evacuation from surgical facilities. The new executive team under the leadership of CEO Geoff Clyburn will continue that focus.
“We are excited to bring a more effective and easier-to-use solution for smoke evacuation to surgeons and OR staff,” commented Clyburn, CEO of Nascent Surgical Holdings. “With many states enacting smoke evacuation mandates, it’s essential for hospitals to have choices, and we will build on the strong foundation of Dr. Schultz to carry his efforts forward.”
“After a career that included multiple firsts in the fields of surgical nutrition, dialysis procedures, laser treatments, laparoscopic surgery and numerous patented surgical devices, I look forward to spending time with my growing family, outdoor hobbies and writing,” commented Dr. Schultz. “I am thrilled to entrust Nascent to an organization composed of professional, experienced healthcare entrepreneurs that will take these products to the next level of clinical use.“
During surgery, a smoke plume carries chemicals, bacteria and nanoparticles that can be hazardous to health and cause higher rates of respiratory issues in clinicians. Multiple states have enacted smoke evacuation mandates aimed at protecting operating room staff from its harmful effects.
The miniSQUAIR offers surgeons and OR staff an easier-to-use and more effective solution for evacuation of smoke or surgical plume in the OR. The miniSQUAIR does not require involvement from OR staff or obstruct the view of the surgical site like current evacuation options. In addition, the miniSQUAIR has been shown in studies to be nearly twice as effective as smoke evacuation pencils at smoke capture, particularly with dense smoke. Studies have also shown evidence that the device may lower surgical site infections.1 2 3
1. L. Schultz, An Analysis of surgical Smoke Plume Components, Capture and Evacuation. AORN Journal. Feb 2014, Vol 99 No2.
2. Liu et al., The Utility of Local Smoke Evacuation in reducing Surgical Smoke Exposure in Spine Surgery: A Prospective self-controlled study. The Spine Journal. 20 (2020), 166-173.
3. Krueger et al., The Effect of a Surgical Smoke Evacuation System on Site Infections of the Spine. Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2018 Vol 3(1): 1-5.
