The device, named Javelo, was founded by Dr Ashton Barnett-Vanes, a medical doctor with a PhD from Imperial. He developed the product after witnessing how easily intravenous lines can become dislodged in hospital settings. "As a doctor, I saw how something as seemingly simple as securing an IV line could have a significant impact on both patients and staff," stated Dr Barnett-Vanes. "When a line becomes dislodged or fails, the patient may need another cannula inserted, treatment is interrupted and clinical or nursing time is taken up replacing and managing lines. We wanted to create something simple, comfortable and easy to use within everyday hospital care."
One serious complication of dislodged IV lines is extravasation, where medication leaks into surrounding tissue, potentially causing pain, tissue damage, and long-term injury. The NHS has reportedly settled over 200 claims related to extravasation in the past decade, costing approximately £16 million. Javelo's device, worn around the wrist, uses a mechanical design instead of adhesives, allowing patients greater mobility without dislodging the line.
Independent evaluation by researchers at Imperial, funded by the EPSRC, found the Javelo device to be the most comfortable and effective IV line securement product tested. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE. Dr George Morgan, Research Associate in Imperial’s Department of Bioengineering and lead author of the study, commented: "This study developed an evaluation method that better reflects the conditions patients experience in clinical practice. It has been encouraging to work with innovators such as Ashton and the Javelo team, who have subjected their technology to rigorous testing and peer-reviewed publication."
Professor Sara Rankin from Imperial’s National Heart and Lung Institute highlighted Dr Barnett-Vanes's journey: "Ashton’s journey demonstrates how bringing together expertise from different disciplines can equip clinicians and scientists with the skills needed to create practical solutions to real healthcare challenges. It is exciting to see an innovation shaped by that approach now delivering benefits for patients and healthcare professionals in the NHS and beyond."
The UK-manufactured device is currently being used at NHS sites managed by East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust and the Wye Valley NHS Trust. It will be made available nationwide through the NHS Supply Chain IV Cannula and Associated Products Framework starting April 2027. Javelo has received support from Adjuvo, Kidney Research UK, Scottish Enterprise, and Old College Capital.
