The
Genesis
“Sometimes the biggest innovations start with fixing the smallest frustrations.”
Affix started with a simple frustration we kept seeing in the hospital: despite decades of
innovation in minimally invasive procedures, the way we secure drainage catheters to the
skin hasn’t really changed. In most cases, drains are still fixed with sutures and
tape—solutions that were never designed for long-term comfort, easy dressing changes, or
modern clinical workflows.
After seeing drains dislodge, dressings become difficult to manage at home, and patients
struggle with irritation around the insertion site, we started asking a basic question: why
are we still doing it this way? The problem wasn’t the catheter—it was the interface between
the drain and the skin.
So we went back to the drawing board. Working closely with patients, nurses, and clinicians
with decades of experience managing drains, we re-approached fixation from a patient-first
perspective. The result is a system designed to make drains more secure, simplify dressing
changes, and make life easier for the people who place them—and the patients who live with
them.
The Journey
2023: The Need Identified
After witnessing the high complication rates of traditional
sutures in interventional and surgical drainage, our team started a set of
investigations to better understand drain related adverse events.
2024: Engineering the Clip
Through rigorous rapid-prototyping, we developed the patented
the Affix Clip to secure the catheter securely without compromising the skin or
lumen patency.
2025: Validation
Bench testing and early formative clinical use demonstrated
strong catheter fixation while improving usability for both clinicians and patients.
Early feedback highlighted easier dressing replacement and improved patient comfort
compared with traditional fixation methods.
2026: The Next Standard
Affix is now being implemented in early clinical settings with
encouraging results. As we continue gathering real-world feedback, we are working toward
broader adoption and establishing a new standard for percutaneous drain securement.