Medical Tubing and Extrusion

Medical tubing and extrusion technologies

7 innovations that made nurses’ jobs easier

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Changing from glass bottle IV solutions to plastic bags

viaflex
Viaflex IV solutions and glass bottles [Image from Baxter]
The first plastic IV solutions were introduced in the early 1970s. The plastic IV bags were more flexible than glass bottle solutions that were developed in 1933, according to Baxter.

Plastic solutions were previously used to store blood during World War II. By 1970, Baxter introduced its ViaFlex plastic IV container that allowed for the infusion of IV solutions within a closed system, reducing the risk for contamination. The IV products were also available with premixed IV drugs ready-to-use to make nurses’s jobs easier.

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About Danielle Kirsh

Danielle Kirsh is an award-winning journalist and senior editor for Medical Tubing + Extrusion, Medical Design & Outsourcing and MassDevice. She received her bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and mass communication from Norfolk State University and is pursuing her master's in global strategic communications at the University of Florida. You can connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn, or email her at dkirsh@wtwhmedia.com.