Public Funding for Reverse Shell Research Group Limited

SNIP is a UK-based medical device SME with a core project team of Jonathan Davies (CEO/SNIP device inventor), Margaret Heaslop (project director/clinical research lead) and Mark Little (3D designer/producer). When a baby is born and has difficulty in feeding because of a minor congenital condition, the distress caused to the child and parents can be devastating. Around 7% of babies are born with tongue-tie, and, although corrective surgery is possible, its availability can be limited as it requires a skilled surgeon. This means there can be waiting lists and the need for travel. Some parents can afford to go private but those on low incomes do not have the choice. If the procedure could be performed by other healthcare workers, it would free up costly surgeon hours and enable treatment shortly after birth. To address this need, SNIP is developing a medical device that will enable less-skilled but trained operators to safely correct the tongue-tie in just a few minutes. The device will be usable anywhere as it does not need power, and around 75% of the components will be made from bio-degradable material. The device has built-in safety features to reduce the likelihood of injury. Newborns with tongue-tie will not have to struggle with feeding for so long, and parents will be saved much stress and money. The healthcare industry will benefit from the device as it will reduce correction costs, and surgeons will be free to perform more complicated procedures. The device will be usable globally, even in remote areas, as operators require minimal training. SNIP's solution will be the first tongue tie correction device that incorporates safety features and enables low-skilled operators to perform the high-precision procedure.