Fresenius Medical Care, a provider of dialysis products and services, has unveiled WetAlert wireless wetness detector to detect venous needle displacement (VNS) and prevent blood loss during home dialysis.
The FDA-approved WetAlert transmitter, which can be reused for up to six months, senses moisture at the VNS site and automatically stops the blood pump, closes the venous clamp, displays a visual alarm, and sounds an audible alarm.
If the venous needle becomes dislodged or disconnected from the patient's vascular access, it could cause the patient to hemmorhage, according the company.
Fresenius Medical Care chief medical officer Jose Diaz-Buxo said, "The WetAlert wireless wetness detector is a brand new option that may help reduce the fear of blood leaks during home dialysis because the blood pump stops on the 2008K@home machine, thereby decreasing the amount of potential blood loss if VND occurs."