A new peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line combines a standard catheter enclosed in a polymer sleeve with a special silicone insertion unit to produce a self-contained sterile catheter insertion field.

The FirmGrip is comprised of a soft midterm catheter (20-cm long) encased in a compact sterile sleeve. The catheter is then inserted using a peel-away needle or a standard intravenous (IV) cannula as port of entry. Having the midterm catheter encased in the sterile sleeve reduces the chance of infection and the need for an external sterile environment. The FirmGrip provides physicians the flexibility to leave a soft catheter in place for midterm (up to 29 days) treatment periods.

Some of the advantages of the new catheter include a reduced risk of infection and touch contamination, a reduced risk of glove powder contamination, and a reduced chance of airborne pathogens accessing the catheter. The reduced insertion time, together with a simplified procedure and significantly lower procedure costs and staff time for preparation, offer a safer, more accurate insertion technique, and flexible treatment options.

The FirmGrip was developed by Flexicath (Misgav, Israel), and has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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