Linear Health Sciences to Debut Orchid Safety Release Valve at Annual Scientific Meeting of Association for Vascular Access

PHOENIX, Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Linear Health Sciences will debut the Orchid Safety Release Valve™ at the upcoming 31^st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) in Phoenix, Sept. 15- 19, 2017, at Exhibit Booth 515. The patent-pending Orchid SRV breakaway device is designed to help protect against accidental dislodgement of intravenous catheters in a variety of care settings.

A front-line view of the clinical perceptions of incidence and safety risks posed by these dislodgements will be highlighted in a scientific poster to be presented at AVA by Nancy Moureau, PhD, RN, CRNI, CPUI, VA-BC. Moureau is an internationally recognized expert and educational consultant in vascular access.

Moureau conducted a research survey of more than 1,500 clinicians actively working either directly with patients at the bedside or as specialists performing vascular access procedures. Among other findings, her presentation will reveal:

• Patient safety impacts of accidental IV dislodgement
• The most common type of device that gets dislodged
• The frequency of and factors contributing to dislodgements
• The volume of time spent replacing dislodged lines

"This research confirms that IV dislodgment is a serious and common problem affecting vascular access and patient safety," Moureau said. "I believe those attending AVA will be interested in the response to the survey and the details of the results."

Placement of IV catheters is the most common invasive hospital procedure performed worldwide. This type of intravenous access, which is the fastest way to deliver life-saving medications to the human body, is established in 70 to 90 percent of acute care patients in the United States.¹ Accidental dislodgement of these catheters can cost an average $30 to cover a complete replacement IV setup (needle, catheter/hub, extension set, administration set, etc.) plus labor costs, not to mention the effect on patient quality of life and outcomes overall.

"Linear Health Sciences is helping to solve the problem of dislodged medical tubing," said company founder and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Dennis, MD. The idea for the SRV was sparked when he visited a patient in the hospital whose medical tubing had gotten caught in the bed rails and dislodged, causing a relapse in her collapsed lung.

"I thought it was ridiculous that we were relying on sutures or adhesives to keep patients connected to the very life-saving machines they needed," Dr. Dennis says. "I thought, why don't we use breakaway technology just like at the gas pump?"

Dr. Dennis noted that Linear Health is seeking to collaborate with a small set of hospitals for initial clinical evaluation of the Orchid SRV. Anyone interested in learning more about this opportunity should contact Dan Clark, the company's Chief Marketing Officer, via email: [email protected].

How it works: The Orchid Safety Release Valve attaches to existing fittings between the IV administration set and the extension set. The SRV breaks away at a predetermined tension, such as patient movement or a snagged line, and seals off flow in the IV line, creating a sterile barrier. The IV pump alarm is then triggered when it senses the line is occluded, thereby notifying staff of the disconnection. To renew the flow of medication, the clinician simply attaches a new sterile valve to the line.

By reducing the number of IV restarts, the Orchid SRV has several potential advantages, including:

• Reducing the number of needlesticks
• Reducing potential for infiltrations, phlebitis and healthcare-acquired infections
• Improving patient satisfaction
• Reducing the potential for more invasive treatments such as central lines due to loss of peripheral IV integrity
• Cost savings due to less need to replace complete IV setups.

Linear is currently pursuing FDA clearance for the Orchid SRV.

About Linear Health Sciences
Founded by a physician and two engineers, Linear Health Sciences is the developer of the Orchid Safety Release Valve and other safety technology solutions for medical tubing. Those solutions are designed to improve the healthcare experience for patients, caregivers and healthcare institutions. The estimated market for the company's technology is $1 billion annually. For more information, visit www.linearsciences.com.

References

1. Helm, R. E., Klausner, J. D., Klemperer, J. D., Flint, L. M., & Huang, E. (2015). Accepted but Unacceptable: Peripheral IV Catheter Failure. Journal of Infusion Nursing, 38(3), 189-203. doi:10.1097/ nan.0000000000000100.

Contact: Liz Dowling, (415) 388-2794
Dowling & Dennis Public Relations
E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Linear Health Sciences

Related Links

http://www.linearsciences.com