Portable Intravenous Fluid Production Device for Ground Use Project

There are several medical conditions require the administration of intravenous (IV) fluids, but limitations of mass, volume, shelf-life, transportation, and local resources can restrict the availability of these important fluids. Such limitations are expected in long-duration space exploration missions and in remote or austere places on Earth. Furthermore, current IV fluid production requires large factory-based processes. This device is easy to use, portable, and has the ability for onsite production of IV fluids that would eliminate these limitations. This design uses regular drinking water that is pumped through two filters to produce, in minutes, sterile, ultrapure water that meets the stringent quality standards of the United States Pharmacopeia for Water for Injection (Total Bacteria, Conductivity, Endotoxins, Total Organic Carbon). The device is 2.2 lbs (1kg) and 10L x 5W x 3H inches (25L x 13W x 7.5H cm) in its storage configuration. This handheld device produces one liter of medical-grade water in 21 minutes. Total production capacity for this innovation is expected to be in the hundreds of liters. The device contains one battery powered electric mini-pump. Alternatively, a manually powered pump can be attached and used. Drinking water enters the device from a source water bag, flows through two filters, and final sterile production water exits into a sealed, medical-grade collection bag. The collection bag contains pre-placed crystalline salts to mix with product water to form isotonic intravenous medical solutions. Alternatively, a hypertonic salt solution can be injected into a filled bag. The filled collection bag is detached from the device and is ready for use or storage. The entire system can then be flushed, sealed, and radiation-sterilized.

This technology can provide benefits to NASA and the International Space Station. With further development, this unit could suffice as the technology for portable sterile water and intravenous fluid production in spacecraft and lunar and planetary habitation missions. Long duration asteriod, lunar, Mars and other planetary habitation missions will also benefit from the use of this portable device. The device can be further developed to increase its durability and is expected to be used anywhere that storage, resupply, or resources are limited, such as military field operations, humanitarian relief efforts, submarines, and commercial cruise ships.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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