AccuVein LLC has launched its AccuVein AV300, what spokesmen say is the world’s first hand-held, non-contact vein illumination device that helps healthcare professionals locate hard-to-find veins. 
IV starts and blood draws can be a source of patient anxiety and discomfort, and accessing veins in difficult patients can take up to 10 minutes and require multiple needle sticks.  Vein puncture is the most common invasive medical procedure with an estimated 2.7 million procedures conducted every day in the United States alone. The AV300 can help reduce the need for multiple needle sticks, with the goal of improving patient care and the time to access veins.

“In fast-paced environments like the ER or in ambulances, reducing the time to access veins and ensuring other tests are conducted and medication is provided quickly is paramount to improving patient care outcomes,” said Diane Sixsmith, MD, chairman of New York Hospital Queens.  “In some cases, establishing IV access may involve multiple attempts, which can increase the risk of IV site complications.”

Stephen P. Conlon, president of AccuVein, said the AccuVein AV300 can help to advance patient care in a variety of settings by assisting healthcare professionals in locating the vein quickly for blood draws, intravenous lines and delivery of medications. 

Detecting and highlighting hemoglobin, the AV300 scans up to 8mm below the skin’s surface to help locate peripheral veins normally used for vein puncture. 

The device projects a pattern of light on a patient’s skin revealing vein position to help the healthcare professional locate veins for access.

“The AV300 enables healthcare professionals to see a vein map on the skin, which represents an exciting medical innovation striving to improve the time, comfort and cost of care,” Conlon said.

“Furthermore, we’ve found that patients respond positively when they can see a display of their veins for these procedures, so we expect that the AV300 will contribute to increased patient satisfaction — a priority in the healthcare community.”

Weighing only 10 ounces, the AV300 uses point-and-click technology — the healthcare professional simply presses a button and positions the device above the patient’s skin to display a map on the skin of underlying veins. 

With a range of hands-free options, the AV300 can quickly switch between a hand-held and hands-free mode, freeing the practitioner’s hands to perform the vein puncture.

For more information, see www.AccuVein.com.