For anyone who has ever had their blood drawn, you know that one of the most important factors in the process is finding a vein that is easy to access. If the phlebotomist has difficulty finding a vein, it can not only make the process more difficult and painful, but it can also result in bruising.
This is especially true when it comes to children, who often have smaller and harder to find veins. Thankfully, there is a new technology that is making it easier for phlebotomists to find veins in children (and adults), and that is vein finder technology.
Vein finder technology uses infrared light to illuminate the veins beneath the skin, making them easier to see and access. This article will explore how this new technology works and how it is making it easier to draw blood from patients of all ages.
How Vein Finder Technology Works
Vein finders use either infrared light or ultrasound waves to locate veins just below the surface of the skin, with near-infrared being the most commonly used technology. The device emits a safe, low-level light that is absorbed more by oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood than by other tissues in the body.
This allows the veins to be seen more clearly against the background tissue. Doppler ultrasound devices, on the other hand, emit high-frequency sound waves that “bounce” off of blood cells as they flow through vessels.
The Doppler devices then translate these sound waves into outgoing signals that indicate the direction and speed of blood flow. By tracking these signals, medical professionals can locate veins and insert needles with ease.
The Benefits of Vein Finder Technology | How Is It Helping Children and Adults
There are many benefits of using vein finders, both for patients and medical staff alike.
In addition to making needle sticks less painful for children, using a vein finder can also help prevent complications that can arise from missed or botched needle sticks. When a child’s veins are difficult to find, medical staff may have to stick them multiple times before finally hitting the mark.
This not only prolongs the child’s discomfort but also increases their risk of infection. Vein finders can help reduce both of these risks by making it easier to locate veins on the first try. In addition to reducing pain and complications for patients, vein finders can also help save time for medical staff.
When IVs and blood draw procedures go smoothly and quickly, it frees up nurses and doctors to see more patients—which is especially important in busy hospitals where every minute counts. And if you want to get benefit too, then think not twice and get Aimvein Vein Finder Go 2.0 after a thorough research on it.
Using a Vein Finder on Children | How to do It?
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use a vein finder to locate veins in children.
- Wash your hands and put on gloves.
- Turn on the vein finder and select the appropriate setting according to the patient’s age and size.
- Hold the device 1-2 inches away from the skin surface and scan the area until you see a vein.
- Once you’ve located a vein, mark the area with a pen or sterile skin marker.
- Remove the gloves and wash your hands again before proceeding with venipuncture or IV insertion.
Are vein finders safe?
Both infrared light and ultrasound waves are considered safe for both children and adults. Infrared light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which also includes visible light, x-rays, and microwaves. However, unlike x-rays and microwaves, infrared light does not have enough energy to damage human tissue.
As for Doppler ultrasound devices, they emit very high frequency sound waves—higher than what is audible to humans—but these waves are not strong enough to cause any physical damage. In fact, Doppler ultrasound has been used safely for decades in pregnant women to track their babies’ heartbeats.
FAQs
Here are some common questions about vein finders and how they work.
How accurate are vein finders?
Vein finders are very accurate, with a success rate of nearly 100%. In fact, they are so accurate that they are often used in place of ultrasound to locate veins in patients who are difficult to stick.
Are vein finders safe?
Yes, vein finders are safe. The light emitted by the devices is very low level and poses no risks to patients.
Do all hospitals have vein finders?
Not all hospitals have vein finders, but more and more are beginning to use them as they become more popular.
Is it okay to use a vein finder on a child?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to use a vein finder on a child. In fact, it can help make the experience less painful for them.
Do I need special training to use a vein finder?
No, you do not need special training to use a vein finder. However, it is important to read the instructions carefully before using one.
Conclusion
Vein finder technology is a new development that is making it easier for phlebotomists to find veins on patients of all ages. The technology uses infrared light to illuminate the veins beneath the skin, making them easier to see and access.
There are many benefits of using vein finder technology, including reducing the amount of time it takes to draw blood and reducing the likelihood of bruising. In addition, vein finder devices are portable so they can be used in a variety of settings.
If you are considering getting your child’s blood drawn soon, ask if your phlebotomist will be using a vein finder device!
