The VascuLogic VenousPro Can Improve Patient and Practitioner Experience

World’s First Venepuncture Device Developed

A new medical device has been developed that will provide phlebotomists and clinicians with a technology to enable first stick accuracy at significantly higher levels then are currently obtainable in the difficult venous access patient demographic. This enhanced accuracy will markedly reduce patient discomfort as well as cost to the clinical facility.

A team of researchers from VascuLogic, LLC, have developed the world’s first automated venipuncture medical device (VenousPro) that automates the phlebotomy procedure, for blood draws, or the placement of IV and PICC lines. In both in vitro and in vivo validation studies, including validation on human subjects, indicated that the device demonstrated greater than 97% first stick accuracy, and additionally outperformed human phlebotomist controls. The VenousPro also allows for the automation of animal blood draws, and the treatment of spider veins.

“The device will initially be developed for difficult venous access patients,” stated Martin Yarmush, M.D., Ph.D. The group conducted their own research of over 400 US based phlebotomists, identified difficult venous access as a significant problem in small children, geriatric, and chrnolically ill patietnts, as well as obese patients. The VenousPro offers a substantial increase in patient care particularly in terms of pain, time, and patient and parent anxiety due to difficult/multiple needle stick(s). Additionally they have validated that patient acceptance of the device to over 98%, given demonstrated efficacy and safety of the device.

“We are encouraged by the autonomous device as it demonstrates a solution to alleviate the anxiety both parents and children experience with a phlebotomy procedure,” said Tim Maguire, Ph.D., “For patients and their families living with the occurrence of difficult or multiple needle sticks, the fear of a visit to their doctor is very real, so any peace of mind we can provide, particularly when a child is fearful or needs ongoing venous access, would be a tremendous benefit.”

“The paramount consideration for the design of VenousPro has been safety, “ stated Alvin Chen. To this end, the publication describes the overall device which includes numerous mechanical, electronic, and software safety systems have been implemented for fault detection and improved operational safety based on regulatory compliance standards. “The overall approach toward ensuring device safety is to distribute internal and external safety mechanisms and software/hardware redundancies across the device’s sensor, effector, electrical, computer, and operator components. We have also taken substantial strides to ensure complete practitioner safety, ” said Alvin Chen.

Image Caption: Multi-layer cutaway design render, demonstrating the major components of the fully autonomous venipuncture device namely: 1) medical grade plastic shell; B) support structure; C) imaging system; D) injection actuation system; 5) automated needle handling and disposal.