Mitigating Complications Caused by Intravenous Therapy: The IV Patency Monitoring Device

Abstract

Although intravenous therapy (IV) is one of the most frequently utilized approaches for fluid delivery in modern healthcare, it is associated with some form of complication up to 40% of the time. While many complications are minor, occlusion and extravasation can prevent the delivery of a needed fluid-based intervention or cause delivery into the subdermal space, which can lead to distributed tissue damage and necrosis. To address this need, this group developed the IV patency monitoring device (IVP) to generate and analyze a small pulse wave within the IV fluid. The study hypothesis was that changes in the IV’s communication with the blood stream could be detected as an alteration in this signal. This study investigated wave characteristics generated by the IVP in a benchtop tissue phantom. Results demonstrated that wave characteristics change detectably between simulated patent communication with a simulated blood stream and states of extravasation or occlusion. Future work will focus on improved detection methods and integrating a real-time alert system, which will better prepare the IVP for clinical translation and impact.

Scoping Review of Early Intravenous Infiltration and Extravasation Detection Devices

“…On their benchtop platform, while testing their near-infrared spectroscopy photodiode set, Lin et al 22 discovered it would be difficult to identify extravasation with a single sensor. Portillo et al 24 tested their catheter patency device on a phantom arm model, in which they were able to distinguish infiltration/extravasation flow rate from normal flow.…”

“…Five of the articles extracted focused on developing devices that only utilize mechanical deformation in their detection of infiltration 12,16,19,20,24. The mechanical deformation sensors used in these technologies are of 4 main types: (1) strain gauges, (2) load cells, (3) piezoelectric resistors, and (4) pressure sensors, all which function by converting force into electrical signals.…”

“…Eagle et al12 used a pressure sensor within the catheter to measure changes in venous flow rate. Cheng et al16 and Lim et al19 used strain gauges, and Damalerio et al20 and Portillo et al24 used piezoelectric sensors to measure edema caused by infiltration or extravasation.…”

“…Five of the articles extracted focused on developing devices that only utilize mechanical deformation in their detection of infiltration. 12,16,19,20,24 The mechanical deformation…”

“…Eagle et al 12 used a pressure sensor within the catheter to measure changes in venous flow rate. Cheng et al 16 and Lim et al 19 used strain gauges, and Damalerio et al 20 and Portillo et al 24 used piezoelectric sensors to measure edema caused by infiltration or extravasation. These mechanical deformation detection devices were secured near the VAD site with the goal of providing consistent monitoring of swelling or changes in fluid flow or pressure that could be caused by an infiltration.…”