Nasendoscopy is an endoscopic procedure where an ENT surgeon examines a patient's nose, throat and voice box with a small camera. It is used principally to diagnose medical conditions (often cancer) and to assess the success of therapeutic interventions -- Approx 500,000 nasendoscopy procedures are performed annually in the UK.
The procedure is carried out in the out-patient clinic with the patient awake. It often induces mild coughing or sneezing, which prior to COVID-19 was not thought to be a problem. It has been demonstrated that any procedure that causes coughing, sneezing or creates a direct access to the respiratory mucosa (lining of the mouth, throat and lungs) is a significant risk factor for clinicians contracting COVID-19\. Any procedure that puts the clinician at this increased risk is now called an aerosol generating procedure. This is thought to be the principal reason why ENT surgeons have a high chance of contracting the condition (with one tragic death already and two clinicians on intensive care in the UK alone).
ENT surgeons around the world are now approaching nasendoscopies with extreme caution, using appropriate PPE. But despite this there is a reluctance to perform the procedure and as a result there will be missed diagnoses.
SNAPe-i has been conceived to overcome these problems. It is a plastic device that fits onto a conventional surgical mask and creates a resealable port within the surgical mask. The patient then wears the mask and aligns the SNAPe-i with their nostril. This enables the surgeon to perform the procedure and minimize their risk of infection should the patient cough or splutter.
This grant will allow our team to produce the SNAPe-i, distribute it, free of charge initially, to NHS services in the UK, and arrange global distribution and regulatory requirements.