Rocket Medical Plc. and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust have announced the launch of a groundbreaking medical device called the Tydeman® Tube. The device, created by NHS Fife consultant obstetrician Dr Graham Tydeman, is designed to aid in the delivery of the impacted fetal head at caesarean section and improve outcomes for patients and babies.
According to a recent national survey, the majority of obstetricians have encountered the challenging situation of an impacted fetal head at caesarean section.[1] In these cases, the baby’s head is tightly lodged in the pelvis, making delivery difficult and potentially dangerous for both the mother and baby.
Traditionally, an assistant is asked to manually push up on the baby’s head using their fingers, which can require significant force and may result in serious injuries such as maternal trauma, fetal eye injury, skull fracture, or death. This issue has been identified as an emerging clinical problem by NHS Resolution, with 9% of cases involving impacted fetal head and/or difficult delivery of the head.[2]
The Tydeman Tube aims to address these challenges with its unique design featuring a soft cup that is placed on the baby’s head before a push up is applied. The hollow handle of the device allows for greater elevation and spreading of the pushing force across a larger surface area, reducing the risk of injury. Additionally, the device relieves any suction effect that may be present. The surgeon can also direct the assistant on the amount and direction of force to be applied. The Tydeman Tube can be used from 7cm dilation onwards, making it suitable for use in cases of impacted fetal head at full dilation or prior to it.[3]
Initial feedback on the device has been positive, with Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health Andrew Shennan of King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust stating, “We have used the Tydeman Tube at St Thomas’ Hospital and our senior clinicians have found it extremely useful in cases of suspected or encountered impacted fetal head at caesarean section.”
Daniel J. Agustus, PhD., Managing Director of Rocket Medical Plc., expressed excitement about the partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to bring the Tydeman Tube to market. He stated, “At Rocket Medical, we are dedicated to improving patients’ lives, and we believe that this device will make a difference to users, patients, and babies in what can be difficult and stressful deliveries.”
Dr Debra Guest, Head of IP Commercialisation at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Centre for Innovation, Transformation and Improvement (CITI), also commented on the partnership, saying, “Partnering with Rocket Medical has been incredibly positive, and we are delighted to launch the Tydeman Tube, which we believe will make emergency C-sections safer. At CITI, we are proud to support clinicians in developing solutions to healthcare’s most pressing problems and to work with industry partners like Rocket Medical to make those ideas a reality.”
NHS Supply Chain Innovation Specialist Jo Norris added, “Bringing this product to market will further help surgeons during caesarean sections to safely deliver babies in cases of impacted fetal head.”
The Tydeman Tube will initially be available in the UK through Rocket Medical and NHS Supply Chain, with plans to expand to other regions in the future.
For more information, please visit www.rocketmedical.com or email customerservices@rocketmedical.com.
About the Tydeman Tube
The Tydeman Tube was invented by NHS Fife consultant obstetrician Graham Tydeman and developed in collaboration with Prof. Andrew Shennan of King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and Prof. Annette Briley of Flinders University and Northern Adelaide Local Health Network. It is supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Centre for Innovation, Transformation and Improvement (CITI) and the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity.
The Tydeman Tube is manufactured and sold by Rocket Medical Plc. under license from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
About Rocket Medical Plc.
Rocket Medical Plc. is a global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of medical devices, specializing in Women’s Health and Drainage.
About Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust provides 2.6 million patient contacts in acute and specialist hospital services and community services every year. The Trust includes Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital, Harefield Hospital, and adult and children’s community services in Lambeth and Southwark.
As one of the biggest NHS trusts in the UK, with an annual turnover of £2.8 billion, Guy’s and St Thomas’ employs around 25,300 staff. The Trust is part of King’s Health Partners Academic
