Liverpool-based medtech innovator, Enteral Access Technologies (EAT), has secured £500,000 in a bridging round led by British Design Fund, for its innovative patient safety device.
The round also saw continued support from existing investors, with the funding intended to contribute to EAT’s work in advancing patient safety through innovation in enteral access.
The company’s flagship product, DoubleCHEK, is a device designed to prevent misplacement of nasogastric feeding tubes, a persistent and dangerous issue in clinical settings and one of the most frequently reported Never Events in the NHS - serious, preventable incidents that should not occur when proper safety procedures are followed.
DoubleCHEK’s CO₂ indicator helps flag accidental lung placement by detecting carbon dioxide, which is an indication that the nasogastric tube is in the airway and not the esophagus, and should be removed prior to full insertion. When there is no indication of CO₂, the tube can be fully inserted to the stomach where DoubleCHEK’s pH indicator can then confirm the acidic environment of the stomach. This combined approach provides a fast, reliable, and easy-to-interpret bedside check, reducing reliance on X-rays and subjective interpretation, and aligning with emerging NHS safety guidance.
The company was founded by George Gallagher, an electrical engineer and seasoned entrepreneur, who has spent the last 20 years designing and manufacturing medical devices. Recognising the scale of the challenge with misplaced nasogastric feeding tubes - a treatment he himself needed as a child - George was determined to develop a solution.
The latest injection of capital will support the company’s ongoing efforts to introduce its patient safety device to healthcare settings internationally.
EAT’s UK traction continues to build. The company’s flagship device, DoubleCHEK, is gaining momentum as healthcare providers align with updated safety guidance that favours combined CO₂ and pH verification.
Internationally, EAT is also scaling rapidly. In the United States, demand increased following the device’s adoption by a leading children’s hospital in January. Growth was further bolstered when a comparable product was withdrawn from the market.
In Europe, rollout is underway, with Italy emerging as an early adopter. Repeat orders and strong initial uptake have contributed to early signs of traction across the region as hospitals seek safer, more reliable solutions for enteral access.
EAT is currently preparing for its next phase of development and is exploring options for future funding.
