Intravenous needle insertion or cannulation

1. A device for facilitating insertion of a needle or a cannula into a vein of a patient, the device comprising a pressure-reduction module adapted to be applied to a surface of the patient's skin and create a localized area of reduced pressure at the surface of the patient's skin over which the pressure-reduction module has been applied, so as to facilitate expansion of an underlying part of the vein, wherein the pressure reduction module has the form of an enclosure having a peripheral flange and the device incorporates a dressing for the patient, the dressing being located against the flange and defining a surface of the device that contacts the skin of the patient during creation of the localized area of reduced pressure, and the device is arranged to enable insertion of a needle or cannula into the expanded part of the vein, whilst the pressure-reduction module remains applied to the surface of the patient's skin.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dressing is adapted to attach the needle or cannula to the skin of the patient, following insertion of the needle or cannula into the vein.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted to remain in place following insertion of the needle or cannula to act as a dressing.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure-reduction module is detachable from the dressing.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface of the device that engages the skin of the patient is adapted to substantially match the contours of the part of the patient's skin with which the device is to be engaged.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device includes a fluid chamber provided with an outlet, whereby expulsion of fluid from the fluid chamber through the outlet results in the creation of an area of reduced pressure at a surface of the patient's skin.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the device includes a resiliently deformable fluid chamber, which is adapted to be collapsed by a user so as to expel fluid through the outlet.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a resiliently deformable enclosure having the form of a dome.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device includes an access point suitable for enabling a cannula to be inserted into the expanded part of the vein over which the device has been applied, and the device including a first end that is adapted to apply more pressure to the skin of a patient than the pressure applied by a second end of the device, where the first end is adapted to be located, in use, downstream relative to the second end, with reference to blood flow within the vein, and the access point is located at the second end of the device.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first end includes a projection for engaging the skin of the patient with a reduced contact surface.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second end includes a region of reduced thickness relative to the remainder of the device, in order to increase the flexibility of the second end of the device.

12. A device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the access point has the form of a cut-away portion of the device, in order to facilitate location of the needle or cannula during use.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the access point enables the needle or cannula to be inclined relative to the surface of the skin during insertion.

14. A method of inserting a needle or cannula into a vein, which method comprises the steps of creating a localized area of reduced pressure at a surface of the patient's skin, so as to facilitate expansion of an underlying part of the vein, and inserting a needle or cannula into the expanded part of the vein, wherein the method is performed using a device as defined by claim 1 .

15. A device for facilitating insertion of a needle or a cannula into a vein of a patient, the device comprising a pressure-reduction module, the pressure-reduction module being a resiliently deformable enclosure having the form of a dome, and a peripheral flange adapted to be applied to a surface of the patient's skin, the dome being adapted to collapse by the application of thumb or finger pressure thereto by a user and thereby expel fluid therefrom such that the resilience of the deformable enclosure creates a localized area of reduced pressure at the surface of the patient's skin over which the pressure-reduction module has been applied, so as to facilitate expansion of an underlying part of the vein, wherein the device is arranged to enable insertion of a needle or cannula into the expanded part of the vein, whilst the pressure-reduction module remains applied to the surface of the patient's skin.