Contrast Delivery System Reduces Medical Errors in CT Imaging Procedures

A new contrast delivery system helps reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening medical errors in computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures.

Covidien (St. Louis, MO, USA) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Covidien Imaging Solutions' contrast delivery system with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. The components integrate innovative RFID technology to create a system that is devised to enhance patient safety by reducing the risk of medical errors in radiology departments.

Covidien's contrast delivery system combines its unit-dose Ultraject prefilled contrast media syringes with its Optivantage DH power injectors to provide the only RFID-enabled contrast delivery solution available in North America. RFID is an automatic identification technology that captures, stores, and transmits data between the Ultraject syringe and the Optivantage DH power injector using devices called RFID transponders, or tags.

"Covidien's new, innovative system has the potential to reduce medical errors and increase efficiency in CT imaging,” said Steve Hanley, President of Covidien Imaging Solutions. "We expect this technology to be the platform for future innovation.”

With RFID technology, the system creates an intelligent interface between the contrast media syringe and the power injector that enables radiology technologists to better ensure that each patient receives the prescribed drug and drug dose during a procedure. The interface allows the injector to physically alter the RFID label on a syringe once it is used, which considerably reduces the probability of life-threatening air injections or air embolisms because the system automatically prevents the injection of contents from a previously used RFID-labeled syringe. Covidien's system also indicates if the drug in an RFID-labeled syringe is past its expiration date. Moreover, the system automatically transfers drug and achieved exam protocol information onto a printed label for the patient record, which reduces the need for manual data entry, thereby improving efficiency, and accuracy.

As the pioneer in prefilled syringes for contrast imaging, Covidien has helped customers reduce the risk of certain medication dispensing and mislabeling errors that may occur when clinicians manually fill syringes from bulk packaging. The integration of RFID technology into the Covidien contrast delivery system builds on the company's ongoing efforts to address safety-related needs in radiology departments. RFID-labeled syringes strengthen Covidien's ability to help radiology facilities address Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) and U.S. Pharmacopoeia 797 standards, which are geared at ensuring compliance with labeling and unit-dose requirements, as well as the use of aseptic techniques.

"Risk reduction is one of the key challenges facing the radiology community,” Mr. Hanley added. "Our new delivery system underscores Covidien's commitment to helping our customers address safety-related concerns.”

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical systems for better patient outcomes. Covidien manufactures, distributes, and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in four segments: medical devices, imaging systems, pharmaceutical products, and medical supplies.


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