B. Braun today announced that it launched its Introcan Safety 2 IV catheter with one-time blood control.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based B. Braun designed the Introcan Safety 2 catheter to reduce the risk of needle stick injuries and exposure to blood to make IV access safer for clinicians.

The catheter is designed with a one-time blood control septum that restricts the flow of blood from the catheter hub after a needle is removed until the first connection of a luer access device.

IV access is integral to infusion therapy, according to B. Braun. Needlestick injuries are one of the highest risks physicians can face, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 385,000 sharps injuries per year with over 30% of them from hollow-bore needles similar to those used in peripheral IV catheters.

“We are excited to broaden our portfolio within the Introcan family of passive safety IV catheters,” Chad Laity, director of marketing, vascular access and IV systems, said in a news release. “The newly launched Introcan Safety 2 will allow clinicians to experience passive needlestick prevention and a reduced risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens when removing the introducer needle from the Introcan Safety 2. This is all achieved with a product similarly sized to the widely popular Introcan Safety catheter.”