Vascular access training · Hong Kong
Safer vascular access starts with better training.
We build AI-guided practice tools and vein-imaging technology that help nursing and medical students learn IV cannulation with confidence, before they reach a patient.
Why it matters
IV cannulation is learned by doing, and trainees get too little of it.
56%
of trainees surveyed get under 10 hours of dedicated IV instruction.
62.5%
have no access to a simulation lab or task trainer.
81%
have seen or caused a failed insertion that distressed a patient.
VascuTech trainee survey, 2026: nursing students, medical students, junior doctors and phlebotomists in Hong Kong, mainland China, the UK, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The evidence behind this
Repeated attempts
In a cohort of 1,063 adults cannulated by experienced anaesthesia staff, 17% failed at the first attempt.[2]
Catheters that fail
A literature review puts peripheral IV catheter failure at 35% to 50%.[1] An audit of 40,620 catheters in 51 countries found many symptomatic, idle or poorly dressed.[3]
Local complications
Phlebitis and catheter-related infection are recognised risks of peripheral venous catheters.[4]
Harder for some patients
Veins that cannot be palpated or seen, a diameter of 2 mm or less, and a history of difficult access each predicted a failed first attempt.[2] The scale was later validated across several hospitals.[5]
More from our trainee survey
75% feel least prepared for needle insertion technique, and 56.3% rate their confidence 2 out of 5 or lower for a first unsupervised insertion. Obese patients with deeply buried veins were named hardest to cannulate by every respondent. Trainees most want real-time feedback on insertion (75%) and step-by-step procedural guidance (75%).
References
- Helm RE, Klausner JD, Klemperer JD, Flint LM, Huang E. Accepted but unacceptable: peripheral IV catheter failure. J Infus Nurs. 2015;38(3):189-203. doi:10.1097/NAN.0000000000000100
- van Loon FHJ, Puijn LAPM, Houterman S, Bouwman ARA. Development of the A-DIVA scale: a clinical predictive scale to identify difficult intravenous access in adult patients based on clinical observations. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(16):e3428. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003428
- Alexandrou E, et al. Use of short peripheral intravenous catheters: characteristics, management, and outcomes worldwide. J Hosp Med. 2018;13(5). doi:10.12788/jhm.3039
- Zingg W, Pittet D. Peripheral venous catheters: an under-evaluated problem. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2009;34(Suppl 4):S38-S42. doi:10.1016/S0924-8579(09)70565-5
- van Loon FHJ, van Hooff LWE, de Boer HD, et al. The modified A-DIVA scale as a predictive tool for prospective identification of adult patients at risk of a difficult intravenous access: a multicenter validation study. J Clin Med. 2019;8(2):144. doi:10.3390/jcm8020144
Our products
Two tools for one skill.
Recognised and supported by
2026 · Hong Kong national winner
SPIN · Life and Health Technology
HKChallenge+ 2026
2026 · Hong Kong national winner
SPIN · Life and Health Technology
HKChallenge+ 2026
2026 · Hong Kong national winner
SPIN · Life and Health Technology
HKChallenge+ 2026
How they fit together
Learn it. See it. Practise it.
Learn
Anatomy, technique and complications in the VascuAI learning hub, with a chatbot that answers from curated clinical references.
See
DualVein shows where the veins are in near-infrared light, so learners connect surface anatomy with what lies beneath.
Practise
Record an attempt on a manikin and get phase-by-phase feedback to review and repeat, alongside an instructor.
Our tools support instructors and do not replace supervised clinical practice. They are for education and practice, not for clinical decisions.
For educators and researchers
Help us build this properly.
We are looking for nursing educators, simulation experts and biomedical engineers to give feedback, run small pilots and shape how these tools are used in teaching.
Start a conversation
contact@vascu-tech.com