Redsense Monitor
Significant, or even fatal, blood loss can easily occur when a venous needle becomes dislodged. It doesn’t take long. This can happen when the patient turns over in their sleep or if the needle gets caught without someone noticing. Fortunately, the vast majority of bleeding incidents are resolved quickly and efficiently by dialysis professionals who are only too aware of the risks involved. But while the chances of losing the patient may be small, waking up in a pool of blood is traumatic experience. In the US alone, 7-10 patient deaths due to needle dislodgement are reported each year. It is feared that the true death in the US is 3 to 4 times higher.
Needle dislodgement
Significant, or even fatal, blood loss can easily occur when a venous needle becomes dislodged. It doesn’t take long. This can happen when the patient turns over in their sleep or if the needle gets caught without someone noticing. Fortunately, the vast majority of bleeding incidents are resolved quickly and efficiently by dialysis professionals who are only too aware of the risks involved. But while the chances of losing the patient may be small, waking up in a pool of blood is traumatic experience. In the US alone, 7-10 patient deaths due to needle dislodgement are reported each year. It is feared that the true death in the US is 3 to 4 times higher.
Introduction
Redsense is a blood loss detection device comprising two parts: a sensor patch and a base unit. Connected to the base unit by a small cable, the sensor patch employs fibre optic technology to continuously monitor the venous needle access point. If bleeding begins, the base unit worn on the patient’s arm will raise the alarm. An infrared signal is transmitted from the base unit to the sensor patch using fibre optic cable In the event of bleeding, inner layers of the patch smear blood over the optical sensor trigger the alarm. Outer layers of the patch are absorbent.
Machine monitoring
Hemodialysis is a form of renal therapy so common that over a million lives depends on it worldwide. Quite understandably, patients believe that hemodialysis equipment offers a high level of safety – and that in the event of venous needle dislodgement; the machine will stop pumping blood and sound an alarm. In reality, the equipment attempts to predict blood loss by measuring blood pressure. This is inadequate as a venous needle dislodgement may not show a drop of the monitored blood pressure. Needless to say, it doesn’t work.
Patented Technology
Using patented technology developed in response to demands made by Dialysis professionals, Redsense is a blood loss detection device for monitoring access points. It can be a vital aid to the dialysis caretaker, or an entire safety system for patients performing dialysis on their own.
