UMB Medical Device Aims to Improve Vascular Access Safety

Vascular catheter placement could soon be simplified with the help of a new device developed between the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices.

The Automated Vascular Access Device (AVAD) was designed to improve the accuracy and safety of placing catheters into major blood vessels. Conceptualized by Dr. Rajabrata Sarkar, chief of vascular surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Fischell Fellow, and brought to life with the help of Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices Senior Engineer Kevin Aroom and Engineer Ryan Smith, the device combines imaging, physiologic feedback and automation to replicate the precision and technique of a skilled vascular surgeon.

Placing catheters into major blood vessels, such as the femoral artery or internal jugular vein, is a common but high-risk procedure performed an estimated five to seven million times a year in the United States. Despite advances in ultrasound-guided techniques, complication rates remain between 4% and 11% and can lead to stroke, amputation, or death.

“When someone is hemorrhaging, whether in a hospital or on the battlefield, clinicians need immediate access to the correct vessel,” Smith said. “One of the biggest challenges was refining how the system identifies vessels and ensuring it performs.”

AVAD uses handheld ultrasound imaging connected to a mobile app developed by the institute to visualize blood vessels beneath the skin and distinguish between arteries and veins based on physiological and hemodynamic characteristics. Once the correct vessel is identified, the system allows the user to initiate automated advancement of the needle and guidewire. The app receives data from other sensors and actuators and displays the information on the screen. By automating these steps, the technology aims to reduce human error and standardize a procedure that is often performed under pressure.

The latest version of the device, AVAD-2, advances the design with enhanced sensing capabilities, real-time ultrasound visualization and automated actuation, allowing for more accurate and consistent cannula insertion into major blood vessels.

The project has received funding support from UM-BILD, through an NIH REACH subaward, a TEDCO Phase I grant, a TEDCO Phase III Company Formation grant, and the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program. Additional funding applications are under review for the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Catalyze Program and a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I award. The team is also pursuing funding from the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.

Future work will focus on expanding the system’s capabilities to replicate all aspects of vascular access and conducting further testing using benchtop, animal and cadaver models.

In October 2025, Dr. Sarkar was recognized by the University of Maryland, Baltimore with the David J. Ramsey Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his leadership and contributions to medical innovation, including the development of the AVAD.

The technology is being commercialized through Vascular Rescue Inc., a Maryland Department of Commerce portfolio company co-founded by Dr. Sarkar, which is leading efforts to bring the device to market.

Published July 17, 2026