A new IV catheter system designed to minimize the risk of needle-stick injuries and occupational exposure to blood has received market clearance from the Food and Drug Administration.
Tangent Medical Technologies Inc. announced Sept. 13 that FDA has approved its NovaCath Secure IV catheter system. The system integrates a series of next-generation technologies designed to address IV therapy challenges including catheter stabilization, health-care worker safety, tubing management and patient comfort.
“Up to 50 percent of all short-peripheral IV catheters develop complications that negatively impact catheter dwell times, clinical outcomes, patient safety and patient satisfaction,” said Curtis Bloch, vice president of sales and marketing for the Ann Arbor company, which was founded in 2009 as a spinoff of the University of Michigan's Medical Innovation Center.
The design also incorporates passive needle encapsulation and blood control on every short-peripheral IV start, Bloch said.
“FDA clearance will pave the way for us to advance the safety and efficacy of IV therapy,” he said in a news release.
In addition, the integrated stabilization technology can eliminate an external “j-loop” based on its redirect of the fluid path internal to the device, according to the company.
“Clinicians were quick to point out the novel design and benefits it would bring the practice of IV therapy, as well as patient and clinician safety,” said Tangent CEO and Chairman Jeff Williams.
