It’s time to give patients with pleural effusions a higher standard of care.
Discover the freedom to breathe life in, with ACES®
“ACES gave me back my life.”
—Edward, ACES Patient
Meet ACES
ACES is the first fully internal treatment for pleural effusions designed to help prevent pleural effusions from coming back—giving you simple, lasting relief.
Breathing-powered therapy
ACES is placed discreetly under your skin, in between your ribs. Once in place, it uses your body’s natural breathing motion to gently move excess fluid from your lungs into your abdomen, where your body naturally absorbs it.1
This allows you to breathe easier, feel more comfortable, and move more freely.
“I was having a lot of trouble breathing— needing my right lung drained every few weeks— which really impacted my quality of life. My doctor thought I might be a candidate for ACES. After the simple procedure I was able to breathe normally. I can go to the beach with my family… I would say ACES was a Godsend!”
—Lori, ACES Patient
Freedom from painful, repeat procedures
ACES is a simple implant, with a one-day hospital stay. The procedure is quick—usually under an hour—and most patients go home the next day.1
Discreet by design: Your doctor makes a small incision and places the implant under the skin between your ribs. Two small tubes gently guide fluid from around your lungs into your abdomen, where your body absorbs it naturally.1
With ACES, everything stays under the skin—keeping fluid out of sight and out of mind.
“There was no pain from beginning to end.”
—Edward, ACES Patient
See how ACES has made a difference for people living with recurrent pleural effusions
Freedom to do more1,2
ACES was created to give you more freedom to enjoy life, without frequent hospital visits or daily drainage at home. Other treatments for pleural effusions can be uncomfortable, requiring external equipment and ongoing care. ACES is different—there’s no pleurodesis and no external drainage catheter.
1 single implant.1 1-day hospital stay.1,2*
No travel restrictions.
No shower
or swimming restrictions.
No bottles.
No tubes.
No drainage.
No external hardware.
How does ACES Compare to other treatments for recurrent pleural effusions?
Typical treatments for chronic pleural effusions are pleurodesis and indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs). Pleurodesis is a procedure that uses a chemical to cause scarring and prevent fluid from building up in the pleural space.1 It can cover a permanent solution but is a painful procedure that requires a hospital stay.2 It is not appropriate for many patients. Indwelling Pleural Catheters (IPCs) are implanted catheters that have an externalized port to allow drainage of pleural effusions.3 This method requires regular drainage into single-use vacuum bottles, which often requires home healthcare assistance. IPCs have a high risk of infection and symptoms may return between drainage.4 The ACES device allows you to live your life more freely than other options. The ACES device is implanted in a short procedure with a brief hospital stay. There are no external catheters to drain or drainage bottles to manage and no restrictions on things like swimming or bathing.
1. Ali M, et al. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
2. www.cancercenter.com/treatment-options/pleurodesis. 2025.
3. www.thoracic.org/ patients/patient-resources/resources/indwelling-tunneled-pleural-catheters. Patient Education | Information Series. 2025.
4. Lui, Complications of indwelling pleural catheter use and their management, BMJ 2015.
What is the procedure like and how long does it last?
The surgeon will make three incisions in the side of your chest, one for the pump and the others for the abdominal catheter. The implant procedure typically takes about an hour and is done under general anesthesia with a short hospital stay.
Is there much pain?
The pump incision may be tender for a few days. Some people have ongoing discomfort at the pump site that may require pain medication. Speak to your physician if you experience persistent pain.
What happens to the fluid that is pumped into my abdomen?
When the fluid from your chest is pumped into the abdomen, it is safely resorbed by the body.
Will I feel the device or will there be discomfort?
The ACES is a low-profile device that you will be able to feel under the skin so you can pump it if needed. It is implanted in an area that is typically not bothersome. Most patients do not report any discomfort.
What are the risks of ACES?
Risks include injury to lung, liver or bowel during implantation that can cause bleeding, air leaking out of your lung, or air and bacteria leaking out of your bowel. These would likely require additional treatment and a hospital stay. While the ACES is a low-maintenance option for patients, it is possible for the ACES to become clogged and stop working or become damaged; that fluid may again build up in your chest or begin to build up in your abdomen; that fluid may leak out of the incisions; that the incisions may become infected or that you could develop an infection in your chest or abdomen. Most of these issues can be easily resolved. Review the materials on caring for ACES carefully and contact your physician as directed.
Can I shower and swim?
Yes. Because ACES is fully internal, you can enjoy water activities once cleared by your doctor
This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.
All medical procedures carry some risks and potential complications. Please discuss these in detail with your healthcare provider before making a decision.
References: 1. Automatic and Continuous Effusion Shunt (ACES) Instructions for Use. P/N 01127, Rev. A. Release 2025. 2. Data on File. Pleural Dynamics. The ACES Study for Aseptic Pleural Effusion. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06210685.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.
All medical procedures carry some risks and potential complications. Please discuss these in detail with your healthcare provider before making a decision.