Background

It is a well-known fact that intravenous medication over several hours is possible only by means of a drip stand, since the force of gravity and the distance of the bag's location over the patient's heart are crucial factors for providing the correct medicine dosage. Unfortunately, the drip stand is impractical, unhygienic, not always available in the departments, and makes patients immobile. A survey among 200 nurses suggests that on average nurses spend 20 minutes a day to track down drip stands in their departments.

With the mechanical drip box, MDB, the patient will be free of the wheeled drip stand and can receive his intravenous medication at any time and at any place as the drip bag is a portable device to carry in a backpack or place on a bed or a chair instead of on a drip stand.

The mechanical drip box, MDB, is a small compact device weighing only 200 grams whereas a wheeled drip stand weighs about 5 kg and is difficult to manoeuver due to wheels tending to jam, gather dust and break.

The MDB is a closed, all-in-one- system. This gives the patient and hospital staff better control over the product. Furthermore, there is no risk of air bubbles since the MDB provides constant pressure via a spring system. This also means that there is no risk of drug spillage.

Purpose/Vision

Developing the prototype, the project will focus on functionality and design as well as tests carried out at the Køge-based Zealand University Hospital within relevant applications. The first prototype tests will take place at Metropolitan University College followed by tests at Zealand University Hospital.

The project also intends to screen the product's usability in different areas of the Danish health service.

Activities

• Completion of the prototype
• Test of the drip box, MDB, within relevant applications
• Collection of data
• Documentation and evaluation from the MAST method's seven domains

Expected Results

Upon completion of the testing phase, the data findings will pave the way for a wide range of application areas and (e.g.):

• improve the quality of life for patients in own home
• improve the workflow for healthcare professionals
• have a labour-saving potential, also during medevac and intravenous medication
• lead to more days spent in own-home care and fewer days spent in hospital
• result in better management of own (health)care

The project expects to develop a complete, thoroughly tested product, ready for sale on the Danish healthcare market - hospitals being the main target group.