A medical device for nosebleeds, founded by a Black woman doctor, has reached the WNBA.
Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne, who earned her Doctor of Medicine from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, is the founder of NasaClip. This company offers a hands-free nosebleed relief device that stops nosebleeds “quickly, cleanly, and comfortably” for children and adults, according to its website.
NasaClip works through several steps. First, clean the nose. Next, open the clip arms, rotate the sponges inward, and insert them into the nostrils. Once the clip is in place, squeeze it firmly so the pad is secured against the face. The device should be worn for 10–20 minutes before removal to check whether the bleeding has stopped. If bleeding continues, repeat the process two to three times. Rinse the sponges before each new attempt.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the idea stemmed from Dr. Clayborne’s time working in the emergency room as a resident, witnessing various patients coming in with a nosebleed. Despite being viewed as a “lower acuity issue,” she acknowledged that they were time-consuming. She decided to create a prototype for the device, which is marketed as a “Band-Aid for nosebleeds,” after her residency in Emergency Medicine at the George Washington University Hospital.
This led to the formation of NasaClip in 2015.
“I was frustrated as a resident. Often what I was doing is taping together two tongue depressors to make a clip and MacGyvering together these other solutions. And I’m like, ‘How is there not a device that just helps people apply pressure and can take care of nosebleeds in any environment?’ So that is what NasaClip is. It is my physician-designed compression device that has intranasal sponges that can be medicated,” she said over a Zoom webinar in October 2024, according to AFROTECH™.
The device has made its way to the WNBA. It was used recently by Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink during her team’s victory game against the Las Vegas Aces on May 23 in Las Vegas, according to Larry Brown Sports.
”Playoff pressure, literal pressure. NasaClip delivered both. Chosen to help Cameron Brink control a heavy nosebleed, our hands-free device applied constant, comfortable compression so she could focus on the next possession. Nosebleed off. Game on,” a statement read from NasaClip on Instagram.
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