Help for Children —
Difficulty in locating veins in the extremities for IV access in neonates and infants is an ongoing problem. Some pediatric statistics are detailed below for the success rates if inserting peripheral IV catheters:
As you can see, some children require four to more attempts to successfully place an IV with stories existing of some patients being stuck over ten times for one IV placement. In addition, the need for multiple IV sites over the patients’ stay at the hospital just multiplies the number of needle sticks the patient must endure. A convenient, simple to use and reliable device to help minimize the number of needle sticks would be very well received by the clinicians. Many such devices already exist in the marketplace but none of them has the full breadth of characteristics to make the device a ‘standard of care’ for gaining access to the peripheral veins of the pediatric patients. Because of this most clinicians abandon the use of them and return to the traditional, non-assisted method for locating and accessing the vessels. The traditional approach frequently causes additional needle sticks, pain and discomfort and the increased risk of infection. Some clinicians would like to make vessel locating with such a device a standard practice for each IV placement provided it can demonstrate a reduction in needle stick events required. We Can Do Better…
Hope for Families —
Improved Peripheral Vein Locator
A vein transilluminator [locator] is a device that aids in the location of peripheral veins for introducing diagnostic or therapeutic devices into the venous system. It accomplishes this through the passage of light through targeted body tissues and illuminating the underlying veins. While many vein transilluminators are available on the market, none of them has the full breadth of characteristics to make the device a ‘standard of care’ for gaining access to the peripheral veins of the pediatric patients. Because of this most clinicians abandon the use of a transilluminator and return to the traditional, non-assisted method for locating and accessing the vessels. The traditional approach frequently causes additional needle sticks, pain and discomfort and the increased risk of infection as opposed to a transilluminator-assisted approach if a more ideal transilluminator device was available.
The main focus of this project is to develop a vein transilluminator that has been designed to meet the needs of the NICU IV technician / nurse / clinician. This device will help simplify the method of obtaining venous access and increase the efficiency [reduced needle sticks and procedural time] with which venous access is gained.
The main features of this product include:
- Improved vein imaging performance from currently available products
- Convenient to use
- Safe, effective
Current Activities Include:
- Finishing fully functional prototype development
- Characterization of preferred human factors requirements
- Transfer project back to sponsor – Children’s Medical Ventures and Institute for Pediatric Innovation [IPI]
Project History:
- Project identified and supported through Children’s Medical Ventures and IPI
- Concept work volunteered through DesignWise Medical
- Fall 2009, 2-Semester Senior Design Project initiated with University of St. Thomas Engineering
- Fall 2009, Industrial Design Project initiated with University of Wisconsin – Stout
If you have interest in to help with this project please visit the section of the website.