Valley Children’s Healthcare has reached a milestone in pediatric medical innovation with the launch of a new respiratory device designed to improve oxygen therapy for children and adults.
The High Flow Nasal Interface (HFNI), developed through a partnership with Inneo Lab, is the first concept originating from Valley Children’s George’s Idea Lab to advance into a commercially developed product.
Turning frontline ideas into medical innovation
George’s Idea Lab, launched in October 2019, provides Valley Children’s physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals with opportunities to develop solutions inspired by challenges encountered in patient care.
Through a collaboration with Inneo Lab, healthcare professionals work alongside product development engineers, physicians and commercialization experts to transform those ideas into medical technologies.
“George’s Idea Lab, and the pursuit of innovation in pediatrics, is so important because it’s not about just doing something a different way. It’s about doing something a better way that will be easier, more efficient and improve the experience for the patient,” said Chelsea Harkness, manager of George’s Idea Lab at Valley Children’s.
How the new respiratory device improves oxygen therapy
The HFNI originated with the hospital’s respiratory therapists, who identified an opportunity to improve comfort for children receiving high-flow oxygen therapy.
The therapy delivers heated, humidified oxygen through a nasal interface to support patients experiencing respiratory difficulties.
Unlike conventional high-flow nasal cannulas, which use prongs inserted into the nostrils, the HFNI uses soft nasal pillows similar to those found in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment.
The device also features integrated gas exit ports designed to reduce nasal irritation while maintaining effective oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide clearance.
The development process brought together frontline respiratory therapists, engineers and other innovation partners to evaluate the concept and develop a product addressing the needs of both pediatric and adult patients.
“Innovation is a non-linear process,” Harkness said. “It involves ideation, different concepts, gathering diverse insights and a rigorous market assessment. While the journey can be complex, seeing an idea evolve into a solution that can improve patient care is incredibly rewarding.”
Valley Children’s showcases pediatric healthcare innovations
The HFNI was among several pediatric-focused technologies featured during the sixth annual Pediatric Innovation Showcase, hosted by Valley Children’s and Inneo Lab.
The annual event highlights emerging medical products and technologies designed to address challenges faced by pediatric patients, their families and healthcare professionals.
For Valley Children’s, the development of the HFNI represents a significant step in transforming ideas generated by frontline healthcare workers into commercially developed medical products.
The hospital’s ongoing partnership with Inneo Lab aims to continue that process, encouraging healthcare professionals to identify opportunities for improvement and collaborate on solutions that could benefit patients beyond the Central Valley.
