FDA Clears LifeVac Anti-Choking Device

The portable suction device is the first of its kind authorized for use in the U.S.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 8:35pm

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized LifeVac, a portable suction device designed to help remove objects blocking the airway when standard rescue methods fail. LifeVac is the first and only device in its category authorized for marketing and distribution in the United States.

Why it matters

Choking is the fourth leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., with about 5,000 choking-related deaths each year, including one child every five days. LifeVac offers a new tool to help save lives when traditional methods like the Heimlich maneuver are unsuccessful.

The details

LifeVac uses a one-way valve system to pull an obstruction out of the airway without pushing it further down. The lightweight, $70 device can be used on both adults and children and is already used by families, schools, fire departments, and healthcare professionals in many countries. Last year, Texas mandated that every school in the state keep a LifeVac on site.

  • LifeVac was authorized by the FDA in March 2026.
  • Texas mandated LifeVac devices in schools in 2025.

The players

LifeVac

An anti-choking device designed to remove airway obstructions when standard rescue methods fail. It is the first and only device of its kind authorized for use in the United States.

Arthur Lih

The founder and CEO of LifeVac, who started the company 13 years ago after hearing about the death of a 7-year-old girl who choked. Lih's motivation was also shaped by a traumatic car crash earlier in his life.

Gregg Abbott

The governor of Texas, who signed legislation in 2025 mandating that every school in the state keep a LifeVac on site in case of choking emergencies.

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What they’re saying

“I made it to save my daughter.”

— Arthur Lih, Founder and CEO of LifeVac

“I didn't want others to face a lifetime of pain.”

— Arthur Lih, Founder and CEO of LifeVac

What’s next

The FDA emphasizes that established choking rescue protocols should always be used first during a choking emergency, including back blows and abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). LifeVac is intended as a second-line treatment when those methods fail.

The takeaway

LifeVac offers a new tool to help save lives in choking emergencies, providing an additional option when traditional rescue methods are unsuccessful. Its FDA authorization and growing adoption, including in Texas schools, highlight the device's potential to prevent tragedies and reduce the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.