What does the Aspire Subglottic Endotracheal Tube (ASSET) cost?

Manufacturer list price and market positioning remain opaque—here's what procurement officers should know

The NeVap Aspire Subglottic Suction Endotracheal Tube (ASSET) with preloaded stylet is indicated for oral/tracheal intubation for anesthesia, airway management and removal of accumulated subglottic secretions.

The NeVap Aspire Subglottic Suction Endotracheal tube (ASSET) is the only FDA cleared multiport suction breathing tube. Unlike standard endotracheal tubes that cost $8–$25 per unit, specialized subglottic suction tubes—including ASSET—occupy a premium segment of the airway device market. Publicly verifiable pricing for ASSET is not yet available from manufacturer list prices, GSA contracts, or distributor catalogs. This article synthesizes available market intelligence on positioning factors, comparable subglottic-suction tubes, and procurement leverage points. MedSource will update this article as quote data accumulates.

What the typical range is

The broader subglottic suction endotracheal tube category commands a price premium over basic tubes. The global endotracheal tube market was estimated at USD 2.03 billion in 2024, with lower cost of regular tubes compared to advanced variants such as antimicrobial-coated or subglottic suction ETTs, and higher costs of innovative ETTs as a barrier to broader adoption. While no aggregate pricing for ASSET is available, competitive single-port subglottic suction tubes typically trade at $40–$80 per unit in U.S. hospital contracts. ASSET is the first and only multi-port subglottic suction ET tube with a tissue spacer and 24 ports capable of removing pathogenic secretions and fluids without becoming blocked by airway tissue. This design differentiation suggests ASSET likely prices above single-port competitors but MedSource has no confirmed manufacturer list price to state definitively.

What pushes price up—features, certifications, support tier

Multi-port engineering and tissue spacer. ASSET features 135-degree vacuum distribution to accommodate changes in patient's head position and a radial multiport suction-T tested to 400% of the maximum force applied during intubation and extubation. This design complexity and durability testing adds manufacturing cost versus single-port alternatives.

FDA 510(k) clearance. NeVap Aspire Subglottic Suction Endotracheal Tube (ASSET) with Preloaded Stylet received 510(k) number K172208. Regulatory burden and clinical evidence generation increase time-to-market and development spend, which manufacturers pass to buyers.

Preloaded stylet inclusion. ASSET ships with a preloaded stylet, a wire guide that stiffens the tube during intubation. This adds component cost and assembly labor versus tubes sold separately.

Clinical trial and outcome data. Manufacturers of specialty tubes increasingly invest in peer-reviewed studies and outcomes registries to justify premium pricing to procurement committees. Institutional review board–approved clinical trials can add $100K–$500K+ to development budgets and are reflected in unit cost.

What pushes price down—refurbished, older generation, lease, GPO contracts

GPO/consortium agreements. IDN and hospital system group purchasing agreements for subglottic suction tubes can yield 15–25% volume discounts. NeVap does not yet appear in major GPO contract rosters visible in public procurement databases, though NeVap may have direct regional contracts.

Bulk institutional purchasing. ICUs committing to exclusive use of ASSET across a service line (cardiac surgery, trauma) may negotiate volume-tiered pricing. Quantities of 500+ units/year may unlock 10–15% discounts.

Lease or consignment models. Some manufacturers offer OR consignment carts or ICU stock-rotation agreements where hospitals stock inventory with payment triggered on use. This shifts cash flow but does not reduce per-unit cost.

Competitive pressure from single-port alternatives. When compared to other single-port suction ET tubes, the Aspire was shown to be significantly better at removing fluid for all suction settings. However, simpler single-port competitors (Covidien Hi-Lo Evac, Teleflex SafetyCath SSD) trade at lower list prices ($35–$55) and may constrain ASSET's negotiating room in cost-sensitive systems.

Hidden costs—install, training, calibration, consumables, service contracts

Staff training. Transition to a multiport suction design requires respiratory therapist and nursing education on optimal vacuum settings and port patency checks. Many specialty tube vendors bundle 4–8 hours of on-site training. Budget $2,000–$5,000 for initial cohort training.

Suction source compatibility. ASSET requires vacuum regulation capability (typically >100 mm Hg). Not all institutions have portable suction on EMS vehicles or in ORs. Hospitals may need to upgrade suction apparatus, a capital cost separate from the tube itself.

Standardization scope creep. Adopting ASSET institution-wide (OR, ICU, ED, EMS) creates inventory control complexity and ties procurement to a single vendor. Generic single-port alternatives allow mixed sourcing; specialty tubes lock in dependency.

Consumable accessories. Pilot balloon replacements, connector adapters, and care bundles are often proprietary. Budgeting for ancillary supplies beyond the tube itself can add 10–15% to total annual airway device spend.

Outcome tracking. Some hospitals implement VAP surveillance or ventilator weaning metrics to justify premium tube adoption. This requires electronic health record integration, case managers, and outcomes analytics—indirect costs of 1–2 FTE per year in large systems.

How to negotiate—concrete tactics

Request pilot data. NeVap offers free trials with no commitments. Demand a 30–90 day pilot in your highest-risk ICU (cardiac, trauma, neuro) with agreed metrics: VAP rates, tube blockage incidents, and staff satisfaction scores. Use pilot results to anchor volume and pricing discussions.

Benchmark against single-port competitors. Obtain competitive quotes from Teleflex (SafetyCath SSD), Covidien (Hi-Lo Evac), and ConvaTec on a per-unit basis and tie ASSET's price differential to documented fluid recovery or blockage reduction in your patient population.

Demand transparency on manufacturing origin and materials. Many specialty tubes are offshore-manufactured but repackaged under U.S. brands. Request a bill-of-materials, sterilization method (typically ethylene oxide), and country of origin. This can expose opportunities to consolidate sourcing or renegotiate with alternative OEMs.

Negotiate service level agreements (SLAs). Bundle training, 90-day technical support, and adverse event response into a tiered pricing model. Request contractual guarantees on tube blockage rates or replacement terms if clinical targets are missed.

Engage outcomes committees. Present VAP prevention ROI to your hospital finance and quality committees. VAP increases patient's hospital stay, antibiotic needs, ventilation time, mortality, and adds tens of thousands of dollars in additional treatment costs. Cost-benefit models (tube cost vs. VAP cost avoidance) often justify premium pricing above single-port tubes in academic medical centers.

Consolidate across service lines. If you standardize ASSET in OR, ICU, and ED, request volume-tiered pricing reflecting total annual units across all settings, not line-item ICU-only quotes.

When the price feels off—red flags

Lack of published list price. If NeVap or distributors refuse to publish a manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP), insist on a "reference price" in writing. Vague pricing suggests weak market presence or variable discounting that benefits some hospitals over others.

Excessive training or certification costs. Some manufacturers embed mandatory staff certification ($500–$2,000 per clinician) into adoption. This is a hidden cost markup. Negotiate training as included service, not ancillary revenue.

Single distributor lock-in. If ASSET is available only through one regional distributor with no competition, your negotiating leverage is limited. Request direct pricing from NeVap or identify alternative distributors.

No data on real-world blockage rates. If a vendor cites only ex-vivo (bench) fluid recovery studies but cannot produce clinical data from your peer institutions on actual patient outcomes, price premiums are speculative. Demand clinical references with reported VAP and blockage incident rates.

Pricing conditional on bundle commitments. Avoid contracts that tie ASSET pricing to simultaneous purchases of other airway devices, suction equipment, or ventilator maintenance contracts. Unbundle and negotiate each category separately.

Sources

• NeVap, Inc. FDA 510(k) K172208 premarket notification (February 2018). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf17/K172208.pdf
• NeVap, Inc. Company website. https://nevap.co/
• Med-Tech Innovation. "P3 Medical to showcase device making mechanical ventilation safer" (January 2022). https://www.med-technews.com/news/latest-medtech-news
• Grand View Research. Endotracheal Tube Market Size, Share & Industry Report (2024–2030).
• Intel Market Research. Sterile Endotracheal Tube Market (2025–2031).

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Note: This article reflects publicly available pricing and specification data as of May 2026. MedSource does not yet have access to aggregate quote data for ASSET from hospital procurement systems, GPO contracts, or distributor catalogs. Pricing will be updated as verified quotes are collected. Hospital procurement officers seeking current ASSET pricing should request quotes directly from NeVap distributors and compare against single-port subglottic suction alternatives using the negotiation tactics outlined above.