Light Line Medical
The Torchbearer for Preventing Device-Associated Infections

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) from Foley/ urinary drainage catheters and peritonitis from peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters are life-threatening and difficult to treat complications, particularly with antibiotic-resistant microbes. Unfortunately, the standard of care today is limited to careful sterile precautions (like gloves and isopropyl alcohol). These preventative actions taken on the exterior of the devices are dependent on fallible humans. When a line becomes infected, treatment options are limited to antibiotic therapy and often require device removal (robbing the patient of access conduits). For example, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida—prevalent in peritonitis and CAUTI—are refractory to antibiotics and often lead to patient death, particularly in immune-compromised patients.

Enter Light Line Medical, Inc.

Light Line Medical addresses all these challenges and revolutionizes device-associated infection prevention. The company has designed a novel Visible Light Photo-Disinfection™ System—a cost-efficient, easy-to-use technology for new and indwelling invasive catheters. This gives patients and caregivers a new line of defense to prevent catheter colonization in a wide variety of clinical applications, including PD and urinary drainage catheters, as well as respiratory and vascular access catheters. “Healthcare associated infections result in over 100,000 patient deaths and cost the healthcare system $28-45 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Our goal is to change this status quo,” says Vicki Farrar, CEO, Light Line Medical. “Our technology has been demonstrated to kill and control fungus and drug-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including, E. coli, S-epidermidis, S-aureus, S-pneumoniae, P-aeruginosa and C-albicans. By preventing colonization from the inside of the catheter out, the technology will prevent biofilm, thereby precluding infections without the use of antibiotics and at the same time, reducing the incidence of human error.”

Light Line Medical’s system utilizes non-ultra violet visible light to disinfect catheters, reducing pathogens that cause PD-related infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. “Instead of UV light that degrades catheter materials and adversely impacts human tissue, we use visible light that is safe and effective,” says Farrar. “Although the efficacy of a visible light antimicrobial has been established for decades, no one could figure out how to deliver visible light via a fiber optic in a catheter to prevent infection. We have validated and patented the method of delivery.” The company uses high-energy visible light to excite endogenous porphyrins in the microbe cells. The excitement leads to the creation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage the microbe’s lipids, proteins, and cell membrane, resulting in cell death. This mechanism of action prevents infection with no risk or side effects. Moreover, silver degrades over time in silver-coated catheters and does not solve the problem of CAUTIs. Subsequently, hospitals with high CAUTI rates face penalization. Light Line Medical’s visible light antimicrobial efficacy rescues healthcare providers from all these troubles. In addition, the Visible Light Photo-Disinfection™ system is compatible with off-the-shelf catheters and doesn’t require a customized catheter.

We are not treating infections; we are preventing them from occurring

Light Line Medical’s patented technology is currently in the later stages of development and is expected to be launched by 2022. The company plans to launch the technology for PD catheters initially and then ultimately target other markets such as foley (urinary) catheters, endotracheal tubes, and vascular catheters. Not stopping there, they’re aiming at leveraging the visible light technology across multiple indications with significant unmet needs related to microbial infections. “The CDC has recently highlighted the importance of adopting aggressive strategies that keep germs away and infections from occurring in the first place. Light Line Medical is ready to lead this journey. We are not treating infections; we are preventing them from occurring,” concludes Farrar.