Project description
New technology for safer intravenous therapy
Intravenous (IV) therapy is a common procedure, but not without risk for healthcare professionals and patients. For instance, accidental IV dislodgement and vascular air embolism are serious for the patient and cost the healthcare system tens of billions of euros annually. The EU-funded SAFE-Infusion project is developing new technologies that will help prevent accidental dislodgement and remove harmful air bubbles while maintaining a closed system. It is also making IV infusion smarter, with the use of internet connected sensors. This will enable real-time visibility anywhere for healthcare professionals and make care in both the hospital and at home safer, as healthcare professionals can be notified instantly via a dashboard of deviations in the prescribed treatment.
Objective
Intravenous (IV) therapy is the most performed invasive treatment with 3.8 bn disposables tubes used annually. This procedure is not safe, neither for healthcare personnel nor patients, with serious consequences such as accidental IV dislodgement and Vascular Air Embolism (VAE) generating additional healthcare costs of €43b every year. In addition, there is a growing trend to administer IV infusion at home presenting social and economic benefits to patients with chronic diseases, cancer and, being especially important, to the current aging European population. In views of the situation, there is an urgent need for IV therapy risk reduction by preventing dislodgement, VAE and spill of hazardous fluids/vapours, while simultaneously supporting the ‘bringing care home initiative’.
In response, we have developed ReAL, a weak-link tube connection and air removal devices that will make IV therapy more accurate and safer for healthcare personnel and patients by i) preventing accidental dislodgement, and ii) removing harmful air bubbles in a closed system,. ReAL helps patients to receive a more accurate dose with faster recovery, while healthcare providers save money. Providing IV therapy at home has shown a 90% potential cost saving compared to corresponding care provided in the hospital.
In this SAFE-Infusion project we aim to disrupt the IV tube market by maturing, testing, and launching the next- generation tube connection and air removal device. Within the first five years post project, we estimate total accident-related cost-savings of €3.3bn for healthcare (i.e. €28 for each €1 spent in ReAL), 57 tonnes of plastic waste saved, €114m in accumulated revenues and €44m in accumulated operating profit for the SAFE-Infusion industry partners together.
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Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
111 39 Stockholm
Sweden
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.