GLP-1 RAs delay gastric emptying, resulting in elevated residual gastric contents before anesthesia. Pai et al., Anesth Analg 2026
Investigational Medical Device · Perioperative Airway Safety
Rethinking aspiration prophylaxis.
Aspirvent is a first-in-class alginate-based intragastric barrier device, forming a coherent gel raft on the gastric surface to physically prevent pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia induction and sedation.
Clinical Urgency
A silent crisis in perioperative airway safety.
GLP-1 receptor agonists can delay gastric emptying enough that patients may still have residual gastric contents despite standard pre-operative fasting. The vulnerable moment is practical and specific: immediately before and during induction of general anesthesia, when consciousness and airway reflexes are impaired.
GLP-1 first
Aspira is prioritizing patients on GLP-1 therapy before expanding into broader pre-operative gastric-content protection.
Most common complication reported by clinicians who witnessed perioperative complications in GLP-1 patients. Brennan et al., Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim 2025
Annual US cost burden of aspiration pneumonia, pneumonitis, and related ICU admissions. HCUP National Inpatient Sample, 2022
FDA-cleared intragastric mechanical barrier devices for aspiration prophylaxis on the market today. FDA 510(k) & De Novo database, April 2026
Problem · Primary Target Population
GLP-1 patients first, then broader pre-operative patients who need gastric-content aspiration protection.
Aspirvent is positioned as a practical pre-induction adjunct for patients whose gastric emptying is unpredictable. The initial focus is GLP-1 therapy, where delayed gastric emptying is directly changing anesthesia workflow and cancellation risk.
No evidence RSI reduces aspiration risk (Neilipovitz & Crosby, Can J Anaesth 2007)
1 in 8 adults currently taking a GLP-1 drug
0 FDA-cleared intragastric barrier devices
GLP-1 Risk Landscape
GLP-1 prescriptions have altered the perioperative aspiration-risk landscape, with no device-based aspiration protection available.
Aspirvent Mechanism
Gastric physics, engineered.
When swallowed, Aspirvent's alginate-based matrix expands to create a pressure-resistant seal at the gastroesophageal junction, delivering measurable, benchmarked protection against regurgitation.
Liquid dose
HCl activation
CO2 buoyancy + Ca2+ crosslinking
Raft caps gastric contents
01
Ingest Liquid
An orally administered liquid is taken before the vulnerable peri-induction window, designed to fit into pre-operative workflows before anesthesia induction.
02
Acid Triggers Raft Formation
Gastric HCl protonates alginate; bicarbonate generates CO2 microbubbles; calcium crosslinks the alginate network in acidic gastric conditions.
03
Seal Resists Pressure
The buoyant raft is designed to seal at the gastroesophageal junction and resist upward movement during laryngoscopy and induction.
04
Natural Clearance
After the peri-induction risk window, the alginate raft is intended to clear through normal gastric processes without a systemic pharmacologic footprint.
Scientific Foundation
Built on decades of alginate science.
Alginate gel-raft technology
Sodium alginate cross-links with divalent calcium ions in the gastric environment to form a coherent viscoelastic gel raft.
PCT patent application filed
International patent application filed March 2026 covering device composition, method of use, and novel formulation embodiments.
GMP-capable development partner
CMC development and GMP-grade formulation manufacturing partnership in place to support regulatory submissions and the first-in-human imaging study.
Scientific Foundation
Peer-reviewed science
Aspira is translating bench formulation work and perioperative aspiration-prevention scholarship into a focused medical-device development program.
Anesthesiology · Focal Point Article
[Title withheld pending publication]
Anesthesia & Analgesia · Original Article
A novel method to reduce aspiration risk in anesthesia and critical care settings using alginate gel formulation
Development Roadmap
Aspirvent roadmap.
Staged development designed to reach first-in-human data with minimal cash outlay through equity-based partnerships.
Aspirvent
Active Development
Alginate gel raft · Oral solution · Investigational medical device
Active development
Primary indication
GLP-1 patient perioperative aspiration prophylaxis
GLP-1 patient perioperative aspiration prophylaxis
Study design
First-in-human fluoroscopy & ultrasound imaging study
First-in-human fluoroscopy & ultrasound imaging study
Regulatory
Q-Sub Pre-Submission → IDE → First-in-Human → De Novo
Q-Sub Pre-Submission → IDE → First-in-Human → De Novo
Team
The team behind Aspira.
Leadership and advisors advancing Aspira's investigational medical device program.
Kevin Olsen, MD
Founder & CEO
Triple board-certified anesthesiologist in Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Neurocritical Care. Author of 17 peer-reviewed publications.
Anesthesiology
Critical Care
Neurocritical Care
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To be announced
Lead Chemist · Co-Inventor
Expert in alginate polymer chemistry and biomaterial formulation. Co-inventor on the PCT patent covering Aspirvent's core composition, gel-raft mechanism, and novel formulation embodiments.
Polymer Chemistry
Biomaterials
GMP Formulation
-
To be announced
Scientific Advisor · Co-Inventor
Anesthesiologist with expertise in perioperative patient safety and oncologic anesthesia. Co-inventor and clinical collaborator for the first-in-human fluoroscopy imaging study design.
Anesthesiology
Clinical Research
Patient Safety
Building the team that protects every airway.
Interested in joining Aspira's scientific, clinical, or regulatory advisory bench?
Get in touch