AccuCirc® safety: Why the safest device isn't used in hospitals

At SafeCirc®, we exclusively use the AccuCirc® device for infant male circumcision, not because it's trendy or niche, but because it is proven to be the safest option available. It's the only device with a built-in shield to protect the head of the penis during the procedure with a system in place so it is impossible to mismatch parts. So if AccuCirc® safety is clearly superior, you might wonder: Why isn't this used in hospitals?

Why isn't the AccuCirc® used in hospitals?

Dr. David Tomlinson, founder of SafeCirc® and clinical associate professor of Family Medicine, spent nearly two decades asking this exact question.

In the early 2000s, Dr. Tomlinson partnered with Clinical Innovations, a medical device company, to help bring the AccuCirc® into hospitals. Over the course of ten years, the team invested millions of dollars in developing, studying, and promoting this safer device. Together, they worked tirelessly to educate providers, present data at national conferences, and pursue institutional approval.

Yet despite the evidence and the effort, most hospitals declined to adopt it.

Why?

For one, hospitals are notoriously slow to approve new devices, especially for procedures considered routine. Institutional policies, device committees, and purchasing contracts all pose hurdles. Even when a device is clearly safer, if it's not already part of the system, getting it approved and adopted can take years or never happen at all.

Another major obstacle: infant circumcision is divided between specialties. OB-GYNs typically perform the procedure in the newborn period, while pediatricians or family medicine physicians take over care shortly afterward. This fragmented ownership means that no single department takes full responsibility, making training and protocol changes especially challenging.

Convincing two entirely different specialties to change their workflow, learn a new device, and adapt their practice patterns proved to be a nearly insurmountable challenge.

The beginning of SafeCirc®

After nearly 20 years of trying to create change from within, Dr. Tomlinson made a different kind of choice: he decided to give parents one.

He founded SafeCirc®: Newborn Male Circumcision Center of Excellence, a dedicated outpatient clinic offering families a safer, more transparent, and more respectful experience. At SafeCirc®, the AccuCirc® is used every time. Families know exactly what clamp is being used, what to expect during the procedure, and how to care for their child afterward. The Center offers extended post-op support and care rarely available in hospitals.

Dr. Tomlinson didn't build SafeCirc® to push circumcision. He built it to ensure that if families choose circumcision, they can access the highest standard of care.

Now, that choice is finally available.

What makes AccuCirc® safety superior:

• Built-in shield protects the glans during procedure

• Impossible to mismatch device parts

• WHO-approved and FDA-cleared

• Backed by multiple clinical trials

• Used in international HIV prevention programs

Understanding AccuCirc® safety features

The AccuCirc® device was developed with input from international experts, including Dr. Anthony Caldamone, a leading pediatric urologist. According to the World Health Organization, the AccuCirc® is prequalified for use in male circumcision programs globally. The device underwent extensive clinical trials sponsored by the NIH and Gates Foundation, demonstrating superior safety outcomes compared to traditional methods.

For families considering circumcision, understanding AccuCirc® safety features helps explain why SafeCirc® exclusively uses this device. Learn more about our approach to newborn circumcision or read about the health benefits of circumcision.

Ready to experience the difference? Schedule your baby's care at SafeCirc® to access the safest circumcision technology available.

Frequently asked questions

What makes AccuCirc® safety features better than other devices? AccuCirc® has a built-in shield that protects the glans and an anti-mismatch system that prevents device errors. It's WHO-approved, FDA-cleared, and backed by multiple clinical trials showing superior safety outcomes.

Has AccuCirc® been clinically tested? Yes, extensively. The first clinical trial was conducted at Hasbro Children's Hospital. The NIH and Gates Foundation sponsored two randomized controlled trials and two large field trials, leading to FDA clearance and WHO prequalification.

Why don't more providers use AccuCirc®? Hospital adoption of new devices is slow due to institutional policies, device committees, and the challenge of training multiple specialties. SafeCirc® was founded specifically to give families access to this safer technology.