Needleless Systems

The term needleless systems refers to any devices that provide an alternative to needles for procedures with a risk of injury involving contaminated sharps. Examples include IV systems that administer medication or fluids through a catheter port using nonneedle connections. Consider jet injection systems that deliver liquid medication beneath the skin or through a muscle as another example. 

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The needle stick log will help both employees and employers track all needle sticks to help identify problem areas. The log must be maintained to protect the confidentiality of the injured employee. In addition, employers must have a written Exposure Control Plan that is updated annually. During the annual review, inquiries must be made about new or prospective safer options. If new safer devices are available, they should be adopted for use in the agency. The new guidelines will help reduce needle stick injuries among health care workers and others who handle medical sharps. Safety engineered devices such as self-sheathing needles and needleless systems can be used. 

Abbott Laboratories http //www.abbott.com Premixes, IV solutions—Lifecare, injectable drug delivery systems, needleless systems, infusion pumps, Add-Vantage... 

Becton, Dickinson and Company http //www.bd.com Needles, vascular access, needleless systems, catheters... 

Diabetics have traditionally been forced to perform self-injection, so auto-injectors have been developed for use in this area and look like a modem felt-tip pen. Quantities of insulin can be pre-set by turning a knob on the pen which has features including an audible click, clear resistance prior to each dose and a visual indication on the scale thus helping to eliminate dosing errors. Quick and easy dosing is possible with such systems. Auto-injectors are marketed by a number of companies under the following tradenames Novopen , Novepen II, NovoLet , Optipen II and D-Pen . Pressurised needleless systems are also now available. 

Syringes which resheathe the needle, needleless systems, and other safe devices should be used when appropriate. 

IV delivery systems that use a catheter port with a needle housed in a protective covering Needleless Systems... 

Use and maintenance of equipment used to reduce exposures such as ventilated cabinets, closed system drug transfer devices, needleless systems, and PPE Work practices covering manipulation techniques... 

Bloodborne pathogens engineering controls—Sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles, safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps injnry protections and needleless systems that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace. 

Needleless systems— Devices do not use needles for the collection of bodily fluids or withdrawal of body fluids after initial venous or arterial access is established. 

While patient-controlled intravenous delivery of opioids has often been a standard therapy for moderate-severe acute pain management, this needleless system allows for rapid delivery of drug across intact skin, without the need for an intravenous line or pump (Figure 114.2). Using iontophoresis, an imperceptible current generates an electric field that repulses the... 

The most prevalent needleless system is the Nanospider system manufactured by Elmarco in the Czech Republic. The systems are capable of producing mean fibre diameters as low as 50 pm, depositing as little as 0.03 g/m at widths of 1.6 m and speeds of up to 60 m/min. 

Electrospinning (solvent) Long, continuous nanofibres Fibre diameters are quite uniform Wide range of fibre diameters possible Needleless systems have high throughput Small pore size Uniform fibres with diameters <50 nm difficult Needle systems, low productivity Jet instability Solvent recovery issues Low mechanical properties... 

Needleless systems devices that do not use needles for the collection of bodily fluids or withdrawal of body fluids after initial venous or arterial access is established Negative pressure a condition caused when less air is supplied to a space than is exhausted from the space air pressure in the space is less than that in surrounding areas Negligence failme to do what reasonable and prudent persons would do under similar or existing circumstances... 

Examples Non-glass capillary tubes, biohazard containers, SESIPs, needleless systems)... 

In the healthcare industry, employers must evaluate, select, and use appropriate safer medical devices, such as self-sheathing needles or needleless systems. 

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