Project Description:

Peripheral intravenous infiltration and extravasation (PIVIE) are complications of intravenous (IV) therapy when fluids leak outside the vein into surrounding tissue. In the United States alone, 54 million adults experience PIVIE annually, with chemotherapy, critical care, and elderly patients facing greatest vulnerability. Due to their placement in smaller veins, peripheral IVs (PIVs) are more prone to leakage via misplacement, patient movement, and repeated sticks. Detection and treatment are typically delayed as current practices depend on patient reports and nurse assessments; nurses, primarily responsible for IV infusions, have no real-time way of identifying PIVIE. Current management ranges from limb elevation and thermal therapy to antidote administration or limb amputation, with delays in care resulting in irreversible harm. Nurses within inpatient settings need early and accurate detection of IV fluid infiltration and extravasation to halt fluid administration, preventing tissue and nerve damage. The ExtravaSTOP, an external, single-use accessory that clamps on IV tubing, addresses this clinical need by mitigating injury from PIVIE altogether. The device uses a microactuator to apply small impulses on the line every 2.9 seconds; a pressure sensor analyzes the resulting waveform for a damping coefficient signaling PIVIE. When fluid leakage is detected, a linear actuator occludes the IV line, completely halting the flow of medication into the body. This triggers the infusion pump’s occlusion alarm to alert nurses, reducing downstream impacts on workflow by minimizing patient complications. Only one other device on the market addresses PIVIE through alerts, demonstrating the novelty and innovation of the device’s occlusion technology. With a particular focus in high-risk oncology and critical care units, the ExtravaSTOP enables safe, reliable IV therapies and focused patient-centered care.

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