# A Novel Device Alternative to Temporary Diverting Ostomies after Rectal Cancer Surgery

> **NIH NIH R43** · AVERTO MEDICAL INC · 2022 · $55,000

## Abstract

After colon resections for rectal cancer, anastomotic leaks can occur in up to 36% of patients with a
mortality of up to 22%. Currently, diverting ostomies are often placed above the anastomosis to protect
against leaks and the consequences of leaks, but ostomies are highly morbid and expensive to the healthcare
system. Savage medical is developing an intraluminal fecal diversion technology that utilizes a novel
anchoring mechanism that is safe, reliable, easily reversible, and eliminates the need for temporary ostomy
surgery. We have tested our device in short term studies to demonstrate the function and safety of the
technology. There are more than 300,000 ostomies performed each year in the US, and a majority of these
can be eliminated with the development of the proposed technology. Eliminating the need for a temporary
ostomy would on average save over $25K per patient in direct surgical costs and eliminate $8.5K per patient
in annual maintenance costs. The Savage Medical's proprietary technology is now at the stage where long
term testing in anatomic animal models is required to complete and validate the design. The proposed
project is to fund large animal testing, possible design revision requirements, and validation of this novel
device as a precursor to human clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10557387
- **Project number:** 3R43CA246987-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** AVERTO MEDICAL INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenton Dodyan Fong
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $55,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-06-22 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10557387

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10557387, A Novel Device Alternative to Temporary Diverting Ostomies after Rectal Cancer Surgery (3R43CA246987-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10557387. Licensed CC0.

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