Health-care professionals at Sunnybrook are inventing the future of health care by developing innovative tools and devices that aim to solve some of health care’s most complex challenges. By working with trusted partners in both public and private sectors, our inventors can identify, innovate and protect new technologies, and bring discoveries to the medical marketplace so they reach and benefit more patients. From bench to bedside, Sunnybrook inventors are working to trailblaze patient care one idea at a time.
Maria Plummer is an oncology nurse in the Odette Cancer Program and founder of Yewtwist, a tool that helps nurses disconnect tight intravenous (IV) and feeding tube connections safely and efficiently. She named the tool after the Pacific Yew tree because compounds derived from the tree’s bark are used in chemotherapy treatments to inhibit cancer cell growth. Yewtwist is currently available to help nurses deliver better patient care across North America.
What inspired you to develop Yewtwist and how has it impacted patient care?
I’ve been an oncology nurse for more than 30 years and have looked after thousands of IV lines. Nurses disconnect IV lines and feeding tubes multiple times a day and many of these lines are difficult to handle due to overtightening, their small size, or lack of grip. My experience inspired me to create a solution that would help my colleagues and I provide better care for our patients.
In my research, I found that nurses could lose anywhere from three to 30 minutes trying to disconnect a tight IV line. Nurses across North America often resort to using metal forceps or pliers, which could cause stress fractures that can damage the line and increase the risk of infection among patients.
Yewtwist addresses the many concerns that nurses have when disconnecting tight lines. Lines can often be disconnected in less than 10 seconds, and the tool adapts to different sizes and shapes. Yewtwist is made up of thermoplastic elastomer materials which won’t damage lines and provides additional grip. It’s also designed as single-patient use tool, which reduces the risk of infection and cross-contamination.
What advice do you have for nurses and other health-care professionals who want to launch a medical device or company to commercialize their offerings?
We are a very creative profession; we experience and feel the pain points in our job, see where there are inefficiencies and have a deep understanding of how improvements can be made. If there is an area of your role that you feel strongly about improving, you just need to go for it. When you get amazing feedback from colleagues and patients who benefit from your invention, the rewards are worth the challenges.
How did Sunnybrook enable you to commercialize Yewtwist?
Sunnybrook encourages innovation throughout the organization. Whether it’s through one of its manufacturing resources, or in my case, the invaluable support and guidance from my fellow nurses and Sunnybrook educators and supervisors, Sunnybrook played a critical role in getting Yewtwist into the hands of nurses around the world.
There are so many aspects to inventing a medical tool to bring to the market, and you often feel a lot of self-doubt while you’re going down this path. Sunnybrook’s commercialization landscape and drive to innovate patient care gave me fuel to keep going and turn my ideas for Yewtwist into reality.
Published August 1, 2024, Your Health Matters, Stories and Expert Health Tips from Sunnybrook
Author: Anna McClellan
