What is the Intraosseous Space?
The intraosseous (IO) space is the interior of the bone where bone marrow is located and where blood and stem cells are made. It is the body’s largest non-collapsible vein, allowing for rapid infusion of fluids and medications into the central circulatory system as quickly as traditional intravenous lines (IVs).
Historically, access to the intraosseous (IO) space was obtained using a manual device consisting of a single needle with a round or T-shaped handle attached to the needle. Depending on the medical need, the needle was manually inserted into the patient in a forceful, strenuous and painful procedure. With Vidacare’s patented technology, the need for these arduous procedures is now obsolete.
The intraosseous (IO) space is a vital part of many medical, diagnostic and therapeutic applications: 1,2
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Vascular access. The intraosseous space is the human body’s largest non-collapsible vein, providing immediate access to the vascular system. Life-saving fluids and medications can be administered via the IO route when traditional vascular access is difficult or impossible, but medically necessary.
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Hematology and oncology diagnoses and treatment management. Accessing bone marrow via the intraosseous space is an essential part of the diagnostic process in hematology and oncology practices. Current research evaluating the use of the IO space for therapeutic applications also looks promising.
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Surgical bone access applications. Accessing the inner space of the bone is essential for many clinical procedures, including vertebroplasty.
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Bone marrow harvesting. Clinicians are more and more frequently accessing the intraosseous space to harvest bone marrow, and the stem cells contained in the marrow, for use in emerging regenerative medical procedures.
How is Vidacare’s technology platform improving the state of medicine related to IO today?
Vidacare’s innovative technology platform, based on its patented power drivers and needles, has dissolved a primary barrier in the field of intraosseous medicine – easy and safe access to the intraosseous space. This unique platform allows the continued expansion of intraosseous medicine into a number of clinical areas.
Since research has verified the transport of medications and fluids through the intraosseous space is equivalent to the intravenous route, the possibilities for using this non-collapsible vein have been evolving3. Well established as a standard of care for vascular access when intravenous access is either delayed or impossible, intraosseous technology is now being applied in a broader variety of health care settings to both non-emergent and emergent patients4.
For vascular access, the EZ-IO® Intraosseous Infusion System provides immediate, reliable and controllable intraosseous access, safely penetrating the bone marrow in seconds. The EZ-IO has set a new standard for intraosseous medicine by easily providing rapid infusion of fluids and medications to patients in need.
The OnControl™ Bone Marrow System provides the first significant advance in bone marrow procedures in over 50 years. In bone marrow biopsy and aspiration procedures, the same arduous manual process has been used for decades. These manual procedures can be lengthy and difficult for both the patient and the clinician – for the patient, due to the pain involved; and for the clinician, due to the strenuous method of obtaining the bone marrow. Patients appreciate the speed and precision of the OnControl System, which allows them to drastically decrease the amount of time spent in discomfort. For the clinician, a faster, easier way to perform bone marrow procedures and reliably capture samples can lead to improved diagnostic outcomes, time savings, reduced provider injury and a more satisfied patient.
Vidacare’s OnControl™ Bone Access System, launched in 2010, offers an alternative route to access the vertebrae in spinal procedures such as vertebroplasty.
Vidacare’s technology platform, with its patented power driver and needle set technology, enables medical professionals to bypass the strenuous and often painful process of manual insertion and access the intraosseous space for a number of medical and diagnostic procedures.
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