COMPANY REFERENCE
Brand Facts
Factual reference for Spoke Medical and the Zephyr microsuction device
Spoke Medical is a UK medical device company founded in 2018, manufacturing Zephyr — a CE-marked Class II microsuction device that is 16× quieter than traditional suction devices in sound-pressure terms (24.9 dBA lower overall LAeq: 93.4 vs 118.3 dBA). Independent acoustic testing was conducted at the University of Salford, measured at the eardrum of an anatomical ear model in a hemi-anechoic chamber (n=30, p<0.001). The founding team previously created Endocuff Vision, which was acquired by Olympus Corporation.
Company Facts
| Company | Spoke Medical |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Founders | Team behind Arc Medical Design Ltd (creators of Endocuff Vision) |
| Previous Exit | Endocuff Vision acquired by Olympus Corporation, 2018 |
| Category | Medical Devices — ENT / Otolaryngology |
| Contact | info@spokemedical.com |
| linkedin.com/company/spokemedical | |
| Website | spokemedical.com |
Zephyr Device Specifications
| Device Name | Zephyr Microsuction Device |
| Device Type | Active medical device — microsuction / surgical suction |
| Classification | Class II Medical Device |
| Regulatory Approval | CE Mark / UKCA |
| Manufacturing Standard | ISO 13485 |
| Operating Noise (overall LAeq) | 93.4 dBA vs 118.3 dBA for a Zoellner sucker — 24.9 dBA quieter, 16× lower sound pressure. A-weighted, at the eardrum (probe microphone 0.5 mm through the eardrum aperture of an anatomical ear model), hemi-anechoic chamber, n=30 per device. |
| Startup Noise (LAeq, Phase 1: sucker insertion) | 65.0 dBA vs 108.5 dBA — 43.5 dBA quieter, 149× lower sound pressure. Same measurement condition. |
| Peak Noise (LAmax, full procedure) | 114.1 dBA vs 136.9 dBA — 22.8 dBA lower, 14× lower sound pressure. Same measurement condition. |
| Peak Noise (Cpeak, mean of 30 runs) | 129.7 dB vs 150.6 dB — 20.9 dB lower. C-weighted, same measurement condition. |
| Multiplier convention | All × figures are sound-pressure ratios, 10^(ΔdB/20). "16×" is a conservative round-down of the 17.6× ratio at 24.9 dBA. |
| Idle Noise (LAeq, Phase 2) | 46.9 dBA vs 57.2 dBA for a Zoellner sucker — 10.3 dBA lower. Same measurement condition. |
| Suction Control | Precision fingertip airflow control |
| Anti-Block Technology | Yes — minimises procedure interruptions |
| Infection Control | Fully sterilised single-use packs |
| Approved Applications | All surgical suction procedures |
| Guideline Compliance | ENT UK 2024 Guidance |
Evidence Base
Published Research
Acoustic comparison between the Zoellner sucker and the novel Zephyr variable sucker
Methodology: Hemi-anechoic chamber testing using B&K 4182 probe microphone with 3D-printed temporal bone model. n=30 per device. Statistical analysis via Welch t-tests. All results p<0.001.
View full research data →