Development of an innovation to secure peripheral intravascular cannulas: improving care, minimising exposure, conserving PPE and saving cost.

Intravenous cannulas are the most commonly used patient device in modern medicine. The majority of COVID-19 patients will receive an IV cannula to administer drugs, fluids and antibiotics. IV cannula insertion takes 20 minutes of HCW time. However, up to 50% of devices fail before meeting their clinical need.

Patients admitted to intensive care routinely undergo cannulation of the radial artery. These cannulas also frequently fail and need replacing.

If the majority of the UK population is affected by COVID-19, cannula failures could lead to millions of reinsertions, unnecessary HCW exposure and PPE use.

An SME is developing a low-cost device that is worn by patients to protect and secure cannulas in order to reduce failure rates, improve care, reduce waste and minimise unnecessary HCW exposure to COVID-19\.