Dialysis: review and innovation
Problem: IV access is not always successful on the first attempt leading to cause complications due to extra attempts by surgeon and extra wounds on patient
NEED Statement: Introduce a system that can integrate ultrasonic imaging smoothly into vascular access procedure.
Beneficiary: Patient, Surgeon, Nurse
Description:
- The system would be composed of: An attachment point for an ultrasound probe, linked to a system capable of performing Doppler ultrasonography to quickly locate and discriminate veins and arteries
- A needle guide, adjustable in depth and approach angle, able to accommodate needle sizes and formats that are widely used in vascular access. Advancement of the needle would be performed manually
- An algorithm or add-on to the ultrasound system software, which would compare the diameter of a previously saved target blood vessel to the current image, and inform the system operator if the system is no longer aligned to the center of the target blood vessel.
Result:
- Useful for medical staff for basic access for vascular treatments
- Reduce complication rate and average procedure time
- Affordable as it does not contain complex components and ultrasound probes have already achieved widespread deployment in hospitals
- Market demand is quite large as vascular access is needed in all major surgeries