Luminoah receives FDA clearance for feeding system

Luminoah, a Charlottesville-based medical technology company, announced last week that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an enteral feeding system designed to improve the experience of patients who rely on tube feeding.

The product, known as Luminoah Flow, is a small, lightweight, portable enteral pump compatible with smartphones and capable of tracking nutritional intake. The company says it combines portability, precision and connected technology in a system designed for patients and clinicians.

It also provides access to real-time data, simplifies workflows and is intended to improve mobility and independence.

“FDA clearance of Luminoah Flow marks a major milestone in our mission to transform enteral nutrition,” Luminoah Founder and CEO Neal Piper said in a statement. “Inspired by my family’s experience, we built Luminoah to address persistent challenges faced by patients and caregivers.”

Piper launched the company in 2020 after his son, Noah, was diagnosed in 2019 at age 3 with a rare brain tumor that left him dependent on enteral nutrition, also known as tube feeding. At the time, care often required being tethered to an IV pole or carrying a bulky backpack. Piper previously said he created Luminoah to develop a more flexible option for patients. Noah is now cancer-free.

Dr. Gary Nace Jr., a pediatric surgeon at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said one of the biggest gaps in enteral care is limited visibility once patients leave the hospital.

“Clinicians often rely on reported information rather than objective data when managing nutrition outside the hospital,” Nace said in a statement. “A system like Luminoah Flow may help provide greater visibility into what is being delivered at home and support more informed clinical decision making.”

Key features of Luminoah Flow include:

• Compact, lightweight design to enhance mobility and discretion
• Real-time data tracking to improve visibility into nutrition delivery
• Touchscreen pump interface for patients and caregivers
• USB-C charging capability for flexibility and convenience

Luminoah said it will begin a phased commercial rollout of the system across the United States, partnering with healthcare providers, home health organizations and patient groups.

The company did not provide details on the rollout timeline and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.