Bioengineers in South Korea have created an intravenous needle (IV) that is hard at room temperature, but becomes soft as it enters the body. The IV needle is hard when it’s room temperature, similar to the hardness of a normal needle. Once it is put inside the body, it softens within 60 seconds, responding to the body temperature. Normal IV needles break or become damaged when they enter the body and as you move around, this needle is soft so it can prevent that and also decrease inflammation.
Scientists at KAIST believe that the softening of the needle can potentially reduce the risk of damage to the body of a person using IV treatment. The softening needle has benefits for patients and for health workers. Healthcare workers have a higher risk of contracting blood borne infections, such as Hepatitis B and C, and HIV, especially after the use of IV needles because of their direct contact with blood.
In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 40 percent of the 16 billion injections administered worldwide each year were given with reused syringes and needles without sterilization. This led to 1.3 million deaths annually and almost 26 million years of life lost, mainly because of transmission of hepatitis B and C, or HIV. The researchers behind the study hope that the softening needle can prevent the unethical reuse of IV needles.
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https://www.euronews.com/health/2023/12/12/scared-of-injections-new-iv-needle-designed-to-go-soft-in-the-body-could-be-safer-and-hurt
https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/syringe/needleguage.pdf
https://www.kdlnc.com/how-to-choose-right-iv-catheter-needles-specific-medical-procedure/
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