Many of us cringe at the thought of getting an injection. Perhaps even worse is getting an IV stick, especially for children. In fact, some report it’s the number one fear for pediatric patients. So, protecting a successful IV insertion can be especially reassuring in small children.
I.V. House, Inc., and Metaphase Design Group have partnered to address that specific concern, working in concert to develop devices to improve patient safety while increasing nurse efficiency.
I.V. House provides medical splints, dressings and devices that offer safe and gentle IV protection. Metaphase offers expertise in hand-intensive products and packaging, and is involved in research and design of ergonomic products.
The two St. Louis-based firms have created IV therapy protection and joint stabilization products that include the following:
• TLC® Splint, available for the wrist, foot, and elbow
• I.V. House UltraDome®, which fits hands, feet and the scalp
• I.V. House UltraDressing® to fit either hand, arm, foot or leg
All three universally designed products combine human factors and ergonomics to help protect and stabilize an IV insertion site, while allowing easy access for medical professionals.
TLC Splint features an ergonomic design with see-through openings that allow nurses a 360-degree view of the extremity, as well as the ability to use their fingertips to check the insertion site for signs of complications, such as swelling and changes in temperature.
The design and ergonomic innovations offer comfort for patients by eliminating edges digging into their skin tissue and gives nurses a clear and unobstructed view of the IV insertion site. At a recent trial of the TLC Splint at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, patients wearing the TLC Splint showed zero infiltrates compared to 12 IV infiltrates in the patients wearing traditional armboards.
NursingCenter.com says infiltration “occurs when IV fluid or medications leak into the surrounding tissue. Infiltration can be caused by improper placement or dislodgment of the catheter. Patient movement can cause the catheter to slip out or through the blood vessel lumen.”
I.V. House’s UltraDome is a clear plastic IV site protector that provides securement and stabilization of the catheter hub and loop of tubing at the IV site. Designed to be gentle on the skin, UltraDome features a specialized foam padding that is secured around the outer edge of the device and prevents pediatric patients from accidentally dislodging or removing their IV catheters. The device not only helps prevent dislodgement of the IV but also provides safe, instant access to IV sites for care and maintenance to increase nurse efficiency during regular IV insertion site assessment.
Meanwhile, the I.V. House UltraDressing aims to “fit like a glove” and offers tape-free protection of the IV insertion site. The newest 330 series of the I.V. House UltraDressing features a smaller dome than previous models and is specifically designed for neonatal patients, for a safe and comfortable, tape-free way to protect a successful IV insertion.
