Vidacare was established in 2001, committed to developing innovative new products for medical professionals facing the challenges of emergency vascular access. From the beginning, Vidacare focused on access to the intraosseous (IO) space, considered a central highway for the delivery of fluids and medications to the body.

After several years of joint development with the University of Texas Health Science Center–San Antonio, Vidacare received FDA approval in 2004 for EZ-IO — the first battery-powered device providing immediate access to the IO space. In October 2005, the FDA approved use of the EZ-IO PD device for pediatric emergency medical care.

Marking a significant breakthrough for the EZ-IO product line, the American Heart Association announced revised guidelines in December 2005 recommending intraosseous infusion as the first alternative to IV access in cardiac arrest patients. Further boosting the company’s market potential, Vidacare received a $750,000 Small Business Innovative Research award to investigate “Novel Methods for Delivery of Lifesaving Fluids and Medications” for the US Air Force.

By late 2007, Vidacare reported significant adoption of their EZ-IO product system — over 1,800 EMS systems and over 1,400 hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Having opened their first international office in 2006 (in the U.K.), Vidacare has also succeeded in spreading the market to 43 countries around the world, with plans for continued expansion.

Exploring other applications within their technology platform, Vidacare branched out from their highly successful emergency product and introduced the OnControl™ Aspiration System for bone marrow aspiration in October 2007. Using the same lithium-powered driver technology as the EZ-IO system, OnControl marked the first effort in decades to improve the safety, control, and comfort of the aspiration procedure.

As the market has expanded, Vidacare has also won acceptance in the medical education field — both Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine placed the EZ-IO in the syllabus of their pre-residency programs, beginning in April 2008.

Vidacare continued to make improvements to its product line and launched the next-generation G3 Power Driver for military applications in May of 2008. The company now looks to introduce the OnControl Biopsy System, which will bring bone marrow biopsy and stem cell harvesting procedures into the 21st century, in August 2008.