Today, our expert TEE probe repair laboratory presents a brand new application of ultrasound that will delight healthcare professionals and their patients. What is it? Perfecting blood sampling!
Automated blood sampling
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have developed an ultrasound-based device to improve blood sampling in patients who do not have visible veins. The device searches for a vein and orientates itself using ultrasound from a probe. Once positioned, the device draws blood.
Their research has just been published in the journal Technology on February the 5th 2020. This innovation has several objectives.
The benefits of ultrasound
Saves time and money for healthcare professionals
Firstly, it will save healthcare professionals time, allowing them to focus more on their patients… instead of a repetitive task such as taking blood samples. Josh Leipheimer, one of the researchers, says: “Such a device could help clinicians obtain blood samples quickly, safely and reliably.”
Ultrasound to improve the success rate
In the US, 1.4 billion blood samples are drawn each year. However, for patients without visible veins, the error rate is 27%. This device aims to reduce that percentage.
In their study, the Rutgers University team tested 31 people. The success rate was 87%. Even better, in the 25 volunteers who had no difficulty, the success rate rose to 97%.
Improving patient comfort
The benefit to the patient is undeniable. Josh Leipheimer says it “saves patients unnecessary complications and pain from multiple needle insertion attempts“.
Next steps
In fact, this is just the beginning. At the moment, this device can only be used on patients with no visible veins. The next step is to improve this prototype so that patients with hard-to-reach veins can be treated.
In addition, the researchers want to extend the scope of their equipment. There is even some discussion about giving the robot the task of inserting peripheral venous catheters.
The new applications for ultrasound are becoming increasingly numerous and diverse. For example, we recently blogged about the benefits of ultrasound in Parkinson’s disease and atherosclerosis. Proof that ultrasound is everywhere… And not necessarily only in a TEE probe!
