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Regulators approve device to prevent needle injuries

The device would help the 800,000 U.S. health workers who are subjected to inadvertent needlesticks each year.

April 23, 2012 at 4:33PM

Smiths Medical, an international medical device firm with its U.S. headquarters in Arden Hills, said Monday U.S. regulators have cleared a device designed to reduce the risk of blood exposure and needlestick injury.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Smiths' ViaValve Safety I.V. Catheter can help reduce the risk of blood exposure by integrating a tiny valve in the catheter's hub. This impedes the backflow of blood from the patient's vein after the initial puncture.

This helps prevent the transfer of blood-borne pathogens from the patient to caregiver on soiled gloves, clothing, bedding and dressings by maintaining a clean access site, the company said.

The new catheter also helps prevent inadvertent needlesticks, which affect about 800,000 U.S. hospital health care workers a year.

Smiths Medical is the North American division of Smiths Group, based in Great Britain.

Janet Moore • 612-673-7752

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about the writer

Janet Moore

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Transportation reporter Janet Moore covers trains, planes, automobiles, buses, bikes and pedestrians. Moore has been with the Star Tribune for 21 years, previously covering business news, including the retail, medical device and commercial real estate industries. 

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