Bethlehem tech company gets clearance for ‘smart needle’

 Bethlehem tech company gets clearance for ‘smart needle’ 

By K.C. Lopez

October 19, 2020

Bethlehem medical tech company B. Braun has received FDA clearance for a breakthrough ‘smart needle,’ which as WLVR’s K.C. Lopez reports, can help patients recover from surgery faster and leave the hospital sooner.

B. Braun’s new ‘Onvision’ technology allows doctors to track where a needle tip is inside the body, helping anesthesiologists reduce procedure time.

Dr. Wes Cetnarowski is the company’s chief medical officer.

“Today in this COVID time, patients should absolutely get in and out of their procedures and in and out of the hospital as quickly as possible to avoid any additional COVID-19 risk.”

Dr. Cetnarowski says accurate needle placement is crucial for success. Up to 20% of traditional regional anesthesia can end up being ineffective after a single-injection. 

B. Braun has been working with health technology company Philips on the ‘smart needle” for the last three years. It is expected to become available for use in the U.S. soon.

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