Our Focus
Serious Complication
Malignant Pleural Effusions are a serious complication of advanced cancer. Fluid builds up in the space between the lung and chest wall compressing the lung and thoracic structures. This frequently results in disabling shortness of breath and poor quality of life.
Significant Problem
Malignant Pleural Effusions affect about 200,000 patients every year in the US. Unfortunately, current therapies are not always effective, can require an invasive procedure or are cumbersome to manage.
Improved Therapy
TDLI has developed an improved delivery system. This novel approach improves treatment by making it easier for the patient to receive appropriate therapy.
The Problem
A malignant pleural effusion is a condition where fluid accumulated in the space between the lung and chest wall and frequently causes disabling breathing problems in patients with advanced cancer. The first step in treatment is to remove the fluid, usually by placing a chest tube into the space.
However, the fluid can recur as the process that caused it remains unchanged. To prevent re-accumulation an additional therapy is required usually by one of two approaches.
The first, pleurodesis, is aimed at eliminating the space where the fluid accumulates by causing adhesion of the lung to the chest wall. The other approach is to leave a drainage tube in the space for the patient's lifetime. These therapies are not always effective and can be invasive, cumbersome, and can cause complications. As pleurodesis can be a definitive procedure, it is frequently preferred over a lifelong drainage tube.
Our aim is to improve the success rate of pleurodesis with our novel therapy.
The Science
Pleurodesis occurs when the lung adheres to the chest wall. Typically a medication that irritates the tissue, called a sclerosing agent, is placed into the pleural space. The irritation causes an inflammatory reaction to occur on the surfaces of the lung and chest wall and if successful results in scar tissue forming between and adhering them together.
In the US, the only approved sclerosing agent is talc, a mineral used for this purpose for over 50 years. Although usually successful, failures do occur thought do in part to poor distribution of the talc throughout the pleural space.
The Team
TDLI is developing a novel technology to improve the quality of life for patients with malignant pleural effusion by increasing pleurodesis success rates at the bedside. We bring together a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, scientists, pharmaceutical executives, mechanical and chemical engineers who are leading experts in their fields. Our focus is to collaborate and work towards perfecting the treatment of pleurodesis through extensive research, experiments and eventual clinical trials.
Innovation & Goal
Our innovation is improving the delivery method of the sclerosis agent (Talc) assuring optimal pleural space coverage during pleurodesis thereby minimizing reoccurrence. Our goal is to have similar outcomes at the bedside as in surgery thereby decreasing hospital time, cost, and most importantly being less traumatizing/invasive for the patient and family.
The Result
Many diseases can benefit from improved Quality of Life. A more efficient, complete, effective, minimally invasive treatment of malignant pleural effusion brings patient comfort, peace of mind, and improved quality of life. Patients can spend their precious time living life to its fullest.