About 80 percent of hospital patients in the United States require IV therapy and 50 percent of IV lines fail due to infiltration, a clot in the cannula, an inflammatory response of the vein, or separation of the cannula from the vein. IV infiltration is usually accompanied by pain, erythema, and/or swelling at the cannula tip or the insertion site. Severe infiltration may lead to necrosis requiring skin debridement, skin grafting, or amputation. Early detection of infiltration prevents the occurrence of serious incidents that may require surgical correction. The Phase I aim of this research is to develop an optical technology for detecting IV infiltration and demonstrate the sensitivity of the technology at or better than that of visual and tactile inspection performed by trained observers. In Phase I, a prototype device will be developed and feasibility of the technology will be demonstrated. The Phase I research will include an analysis of the measurements to determine when to alert healthcare providers and the means of alarming. The Phase II research will include an investigation of the technology applied for neonates within an intensive care setting.
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