New Device Helps Locate Perfect Spot For Epidural

BOSTON (CBS) – Millions of women undergo epidurals to ease the pain of childbirth but as many know, sometimes getting the needle in the right place can be challenging. But as Dr. Mallika Marshall reports, a hand-held device could make placing that needle a lot easier for the doctor and the patient. “There’s a large failure rate in epidural injections,” says Kevin Owen, Co-Founder of Rivanna Medical, “And obviously we worked in an ultrasound research lab, so it was a good idea, and easy for us to try and develop something to solve this problem.” Owen and Co-Founder Will Mauldin came up with the idea in a science lab at the University of Virginia. Their invention scans the skin for the spot to insert the needle, something that’s normally done “blind”. Accuro ultrasound epidural device (WBZ-TV) “People think they can do these epidurals without any problem,” explains Owen, “Then they remember that they had the 300 pound patient where they really struggled.” Mauldin says within seconds it gives you every angle. “While there’s an ultrasound background image, we automatically detect the spinal anatomy in 2D and in 3D,” he explains. Mauldin and Owen say it reduces error since every person has a different spine. Some people have scoliosis, older people patients can have calcifications and sometimes it’s just difficult, for no apparent reason. The medical community seems to be getting on board. “[At] the trade shows...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Watch Listen Dr. Mallika Marshall Epidural Mass General Hospital Source Type: news