By Tim Ryan

Hey, Innovate Hampton Roads community! We’re buzzing with pride over another stellar win from one of our own: Newport News-based ivWatch. On July 10, 2025, a fresh study in BMJ Open dropped, linking ivWatch’s optical sensor tech to a jaw-dropping reduction in severe IV injuries among newborns. This isn’t just a medical milestone—it’s a testament to how Hampton Roads is cranking out game-changing innovations that save lives and supercharge our local economy.

Let’s dive in. The four-year retrospective study, led by neonatal vascular access expert Roland van Rens at Qatar’s Women’s Wellness and Research Center NICU, crunched data from over 32,700 peripheral IV catheters inserted between 2019 and 2022. In the first half (2019-2020), detection relied on traditional “Touch Look Compare” (TLC) checks—periodic visual and tactile assessments. But from 2021-2022, they layered in ivWatch’s continuous monitoring system alongside TLC.

The results? While overall IV infiltration and extravasation (PIVIE) events stayed steady at around 30%, the severity plummeted. Using the Intravenous Extravasation Grading Scale (IEGS), cases with over 30% tissue involvement dropped from 243 to 54—a 78% plunge. Even more stunning: events affecting more than 15% of tissue crashed from 2,613 to 180, a 93% reduction. Median tissue damage shrank from 15% to 5%, and catheter dwell time dipped from 35.5 to 32.4 hours, hinting at earlier interventions that nip problems in the bud.

Van Rens nails it: “By identifying infiltration events at a much earlier stage, healthcare providers can intervene sooner and thereby reduce patient harm.” He highlights ivWatch’s 93-100% sensitivity in prior studies, calling it a “transformative tool” that spots tiny fluid leaks before they escalate into nightmares like skin necrosis, scarring, or worse. In NICUs, where fragile newborns face up to 50% IV failure rates, this tech is a lifesaver—literally.

At its core, ivWatch’s FDA-cleared, CE-marked system uses visible and near-infrared light plus a predictive algorithm to scan IV sites 18,000 times per hour, alerting clinicians in real time. Founded in 2010 right here in Newport News, ivWatch has built a powerhouse: nearly 70 patents, over 35 clinical evidence bodies, and expansions into 60+ global sites. Remember their 2024 FDA nod for the SmartTouch Sensor detecting iron extravasations? Or the June 2025 EU approval for iron infusions, which slashed injuries 100% in UK trials? Add in NIOSH-approved N95 production during COVID, a Top 3 spot in the 2024 Startup World Cup (from 8,000+ contenders), and being crowned Virginia’s “Coolest Thing Made”—backed by 757 Angels’ investments that’ve created hundreds of local jobs.

For us in Hampton Roads, ivWatch’s trajectory screams opportunity. It’s proof our ecosystem—think 757 Collab, REaKTOR, and workforce initiatives—can nurture startups from lab to global stage, drawing talent, funding, and prestige. Entrepreneurs, this is your blueprint: Solve real-world problems like the “silent threat” of IV failures, and watch your impact ripple worldwide while boosting our region’s economy.

As van Rens puts it, early detection “could significantly improve patient outcomes and help raise the standard of care.” ivWatch is doing just that, and Hampton Roads is along for the ride. Check out the full BMJ Open study here and explore ivWatch’s tech overview.

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