FDA Authorizes Infant Esophageal Defect Treatment
The administration has authorized the use of Flourish Pediatric Esophageal Atresia Anastomosis.
According to its news release, the FDA has authorized the use of the Flourish Pediatric Esophageal Atresia Anastomosis, a medical device that treats esophagus birth defects in infants.
Roughly one in every 2,500 babies is born with esophageal atresia and must be fed through a tube until surgery is completed.
"This new device provides a non-surgical option for doctors to treat esophageal atresia in babies born with this condition," said Dr. William Maisel, M.D., MPH, acting director of the Office of Device Evaluation in FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "But it is only intended for infants who do not have a tracheoesophageal fistula or who have had the fistula repaired in a prior surgery."
The device uses magnets to pull the upper and lower esophagus together, thus closing the gap and allowing food to enter the stomach.