Nova Scotia-Born Medical Device, Ring Rescue, Makes Dramatic Appearance on HBO’s ‘The Pitt’

A ring-removal device co-created by a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia physician is gaining national and international attention after being featured in a recent episode of the hit HBO medical drama, The Pitt. The device, known as Ring Rescue, is now used in over 2,200 medical facilities across North America, including every emergency room in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

From Emergency Room Frustration to Innovation

Dr. Kevin Spencer, a 15-year veteran emergency room physician at Dartmouth General Hospital, co-founded Ring Rescue with medical engineering graduates Patrick Hennessey and Brad MacKeil in 2022. The inspiration behind the device stemmed from the common, yet often challenging, problem of removing rings from swollen fingers. “Without the right tool, health-care professionals are often left improvising,” Dr. Spencer explained to CBC News.

Traditionally, removing stuck rings involved using tools not designed for medical purposes, potentially causing further injury. Ring Rescue offers a safer, more efficient solution. The device utilizes a guard to protect the finger and a blade to carefully cut through the ring, all while preventing heat buildup that could burn the patient. The entire process takes approximately three minutes.

A Hollywood Endorsement

The Ring Rescue team connected with Noah Wyle, the lead actor of The Pitt, and show producers at a medical trade show in the United States last year. Dr. Spencer demonstrated the device’s functionality, leading to its inclusion in a recent episode. “This is a great exposure opportunity for our product and for Nova Scotia and our homegrown invention, which is getting onto the world stage with what, I think, is arguably the biggest show on TV right now,” Dr. Spencer said.

Dr. Spencer noted the show’s commitment to medical accuracy, stating, “One of the things I love about that show is that it’s medically relevant and it’s clinically accurate.”

Real-World Impact and Growing Demand

On average, Dartmouth General Hospital’s emergency room sees approximately two patients per week with rings stuck on their fingers. Ring Rescue has already impacted countless individuals, including an 11-year-old girl in Georgia who nearly lost a finger after a ring became trapped. A Chatham County EMS supervisor used the Ring Rescue kit to successfully remove the ring after previous attempts at two other hospitals failed. The girl’s father credited the device with saving her finger.

The company has sold over 50,000 blades to date.

Nova Scotia’s Rising Profile in Life Sciences

The success of Ring Rescue highlights Nova Scotia’s growing innovation in the life sciences sector. Dr. Spencer believes the exposure from The Pitt will further expand the reach of their device and benefit more patients. Katie Redmon, manager of marketing for Ring Rescue, jokingly remarked, “This is kind of like the complete goal, so I think I can retire after this.”