Placement of a peripherally inserted central line so its tip is located at the lower third of the superior vena cava, just prior to the right atrium, is always a guessing game. Nowadays, the only way to confirm position of the line is to do an X-ray of the chest. VasoNova out of Sunnyvale, California wants to change the rules of the game. The company is introducing a device that uses Doppler ultrasound to monitor direction of blood flow and ECG to help position the catheter at the optimal location.
The VasoNova VPS consists of several components: the VPS Stylet, the VPS Power Injectable PICC catheter and the VPS Console.
The VPS Stylet contains two sensors at its tip: a Doppler Ultrasound sensor and an intravascular ECG lead. Due to the ingenuity of our R&D group, VasoNova was able to miniaturize the two sensors and construct a highly technical and flexible stylet that can fit into the lumen of the VPS Power Injectable PICC line with comparable dimensions to other market available PICC lines12. Once the VPS stylet is loaded into the VPS catheter and connected to the VPS console per the Instruction for Use, the VPS Stylet is able to detect the patient’s physiological data, such as blood flow characteristics and ECG waveform.From the point of insertion, patient data are sent to the VPS console for analysis. Using the highly advanced hardware and complex algorithm, the VPS console analyzes multiple vectors derived from these data and determines the location of the catheter tip while it is advanced through the patient’s vasculature. Using the data gathered by the sensors and analysis done by the console, the VasoNova VPS console displays visual indicators. These indicators guide the clinician in real-time as the catheter is advanced through the vasculature:
The green arrow indicates the catheter tip is moving with the blood flow towards the heart, as appropriate.
The orange “do-not-enter” sign indicates the catheter is moving against blood flow, such as into the internal jugular vein and away from the heart, or has passed the lower third of the SVC and going into the right atrium.
The yellow triangle indicates there is not enough information available, which may occur if the catheter tip is against the vessel wall.
The blue bull’s eye indicates the tip has arrived in the lower 1/3 of the SVC or at the caval-atrial junction.
From the point of insertion, patient data are sent to the VPS console for analysis. Using the highly advanced hardware and complex algorithm, the VPS console analyzes multiple vectors derived from these data and determines the location of the catheter tip while it is advanced through the patient’s vasculature. Using the data gathered by the sensors and analysis done by the console, the VasoNova VPS console displays visual indicators. These indicators guide the clinician in real-time as the catheter is advanced through the vasculature:Product page: VasoNova VPS…