FDA-cleared Device Significantly Improves IV Therapy Safety

Many patients are afraid of needles, especially IVs. However, a FDA-cleared device makes it easier to get treatment.

This is a staggering statistic: around 80 percent of hospital patients are given an IV. About a third of IV lines stop working due to problems within the vein. A new improvement can make it easier for patients to have a positive experience. ivWatch400

The device was developed by ivWatch, LLC, a company that is committed to “aid in the early detection of intravenous (IV)

infiltration and extravasation events,”According to its website (www.ivwatch.com. In short, IV fluids can inadvertently penetrate tissue near the IV insertion site. This is called extravasation or infiltration. Infiltrations are less harmful leaks, but can cause swelling, redness and pain. Extravasations may be caused by IV medications such as chemotherapy. Extravasations and infiltrations are medical dosing errors. In severe cases, they can cause tissue necrosis, loss or death. Clinicians can use the ivWatch technology to detect these adverse events quickly.

“It’s very rare that you get an opportunity to be involved in something that can have such a huge impact,”Gary Warren, president & CEO of ivWatch, LLC. “IVs are probably the most common medical procedure that’s performed and 30 percent of them fail. It’s a huge problem.”

Warren’s assessment is echoed by Darcy Dolemann (RN, MSN), VA-BC, clinical manager, Vascular Access Team, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where clinical trials have been conducted.

“This is really a game-changing technology for infusion therapy and should become the new standard of care,” says Dolemann. “The device impacts every unit and almost every patient. For clinicians and patients, this will change the experience.”

The ivWatch technology has been in development for over a decade. It uses an optical sensor to illuminate the tissue around the IV site with near and visible light. The sensor is connected to a patient monitor, which receives the feed from sensor and processes it. If conditions indicate that there has been an extravasation or infiltration, the clinician will be notified. Warren says that there are many benefits to the sensor, including increased nurse productivity, reduced medication errors, IV restart costs and a safer patient experience.

“Our goal is to be on every IV pole in the country,” says Warren. “This issue is so prevalent, and we have a way to fix it.”