TORONTO, ON — By significantly improving the safety, speed, and success of infant lumbar punctures (LPs), the SMöLTAP Positioner marks a critical advancement in pediatric care, according to a new study conducted by researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).
The results, which were presented at #PAS2025 (Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting) in Honolulu, Hawaii, found:
- First-pass success rates jumped from 41% to 63% using the SMöLTAP Positioner—a 22% improvement over traditional positioning techniques.
- Traumatic lumbar punctures, which can compromise diagnostic accuracy and patient safety, dropped from 59% to 36%—a 3.5x improvement in non-traumatic outcomes.
- These results held even after adjusting for variables such as provider experience, acuity level, and procedural timing, reinforcing SMöLTAP’s consistent clinical superiority.
“Traumatic lumbar punctures can lead to diagnostic uncertainty and increased stress for both families and care teams,” said Dr. Natasha Collia, an attending pediatric emergency medicine physician. “This device demonstrates meaningful reductions in trauma and improvements in first-pass success, which can translate to faster diagnoses and better outcomes.”
Designed with ease and efficiency in mind, the SMöLTAP Positioner showed impressive results among first-time users:
- 65% first-pass success rate among new physicians.
- 76% of LPs were non-traumatic.
- 88% reported time savings, and 71% perceived it as safer than conventional methods.
- Over 80% of clinicians found it easy to use, adjust, and clean–demonstrating a minimal learning curve and strong user confidence.
In addition, SMöLTAP removes the need for a dedicated infant holder, significantly reducing staff burden and allowing more streamlined procedures in fast-paced clinical environments.
“From time savings to safer outcomes, SMöLTAP is more than a positioning tool—it’s a procedure enhancer,” said Robert Cooper, CEO, SMöLTAP, Inc.
This research underscores SMöLTAP’s role in transforming pediatric lumbar puncture procedures by prioritizing patient safety, procedural efficiency, and provider usability.
SMöLTAP hit the market in 2023 and is now in over 60 hospitals across the United States and Canada, including:
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Banner Health’s Diamond Children’s Medical Center Baxter HealthBoston Children’s Hospital Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters Children’s of Alabama Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Essentia Health Johns Hopkins – All Children’s Johns Hopkins – Baltimore Johns Hopkins Bayview John Muir Health Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Logan Health Loma Linda University Children’s Health Maine General Health | Massachusetts General Mayo Clinic Mission Children’s Hospital Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Piedmont Athens Regional Prisma Health SickKids of Toronto SouthCoast Health St. Luke’s Children’s St. Mary’s Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Tséhootsooí Medical Center UC Health University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital University of Virginia Children’s Hospital VCU Children’s UTMB Health Children’s Hospital Wolfson Children’s Hospital Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation |