19 May
2016
Present discussion, is not about life-threatening diseases which require complex therapeutic modalities. It is about the beauty of contriving simpler solutions attending causes at the root of all complications. Technology has led human life too far into present day scenario, enhancing lifestyle at all fronts. Intravenous access industry has seen its fair share of reforms along with other segments in the present era of advancements in translational science. Here is a take on four interesting innovations in the industry, transforming contemporary practices.
Death due to hemorrhage are reported at a rate higher than expected. Multiple complications are induced by the injured, even if vital functions do not fail. Obviously, initial aids are extremely critical in case of accidents that cause excessive bleeding. Instances, when traditional hemostatic methods or agents fail to perform, or may fall inadequate in a given situation, are common. Certainly, applying force with absorbent pads and wiping off with chitosan do not help in the case of deep wounds. Handling gets even problematic when animals are in context. Medical device developers knew the exact need for sealing off wounds was a definitive solution. Exemplary innovations in material sciences were translated into two revolutionary hemostatic solutions.
XSTAT by RevMedx for junctions in a human body, non-accessible to tourniquet devices. Developers found it suitable for arterial bleeding in groin and axilla region. Miniscule sponges of high-absorption capacity expand on contact with blood, eventually packing the wound. A light-weight easy-to-handle silicon injector is thrust into the opening, the handle then depressed to release material until resistance is met. In order to maintain packing, additional bandaging is recommended.
Not far beyond, Suneris brings VETIGEL to complement the list of hemostatic agents. Although, current usage has been restricted for companion animals only, under the supervision of licensed veterinarian. Operative, lacerative, or enucleating procedures result in loose ends for blood tracts. Auxiliary procedures to stitch, or pack those ends, add to confusion and pain borne by animals. VETIGEL is laced with convenience factor in application, effectively blocking blood flow.
Finding accessible veins had been a real issue for long at clinical facilities. Intravenous access is prone to human fallacies under supervision from experts and trainees alike. Limited training hours in nursing schools do not provide enough practice to gain expertise. Then there are times when patient type hinders the quest for a suitable vascular tract. Repetitive penetration to either inject or draw fluids adds to patient’s discomfort.
VeinViewer technology from Christie Medical Holdings is causing ripples as a patient friendly device in the industry. Projected radiations closer to infrared range are reflected by muscles, while blood proteins absorb them. The resultant image is superimposed back by the device on selected area, providing a peripheral view of vascular network in real-time. Accurate venipuncture is achieved in a single attempt, thus resulting in better patient outcomes. Practitioners can monitor fluid transfusion as it occurs with little, or no tuning.
Unhealthy practices pile on cholesterol plaque to narrow down blood vessels. According to a survey report by WHO, a whopping 30 percent of registered deaths across the globe are due to fatal cardiovascular events resulting from high-cholesterol levels. Locating blocked nodes in vessels is one half of the solution. The other half, lay in a patent device brought by Dahir Insaat for non-surgical removal of cholesterol deposits in blood vessels.
The nanoscale machine is positioned intravenously, closest to the deposit under expert monitoring. A slight maneuver helps machine to attach itself firmly to vessel walls. A cutter spins through plaque, to erode the deposit layer-by-layer. Once satisfactory flow has been restored, the device is retracted through the same route.
Despite the promise of a paradigm shift in procedures aforementioned devices are bound to cause, each possess individual restraints against full-fledged applications. XSTAT, for example, is not recommended for use in regions apart from groin and axilla as there are risks of interference with vital body organs. VETIGEL, is yet gain regulatory approval for application in human surgical procedures. High costs and expertise are some issues as far as both VeinViewer and cholesterol removal technique are concerned.
On the bright side, market implementation of these life-saving technologies has already begun. Having dealt with factors underlying in the scope for improvement, they offer intravenous access industry huge growth prospects.
Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar
Author's Bio- Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from the reputed Vishwakarma Institute of Technology. He has a special interest in the fields of forensics, world history, international relations and foreign policy, sports, agriculture, astronomy, security, and oceanography. An ardent bibliophile and melophile, Akhilesh loves to write on topics of his interest and various other societal issues. This love for writing made him enter the professional world of content writing and pursue his career in this direction.
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