University of Pennsylvania, $5,000
When medical conditions prevent patients from consuming food orally, doctors insert what is known as an enteral tube. This tube allows direct delivery of vital nutrients to the patient’s digestive track. The process of enteral tube feeding is safe, efficient, and well-designed for use by medical professionals. However, for the 344,000 people who use an enteral tube for feeding at home, away from the supervision of medical professionals. it can be a messy, complicated, and frustrating process. Quasar Medical is developing a pump that simplifies the process, removing many avenues for error and mitigating a serious strangulation risk.