Fresenius unveils detector designed to help home dialysis patients

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

Fresenius Medical Care, a Waltham-based provider of dialysis products and services, said Monday it is unveiling a new product that is designed to prevent blood loss for dialysis patients at home.

The product is called the WetAlert wireless wetness detector, and its job is to issue alerts when the needle used in dialysis procedures gets dislodged by accident.

The WetAlert transmitter senses moisture at the needle site and sets off a process to automatically stop the blood pump, close the venous clamp, display a visual alarm, and sound an audible alarm, the company said.

If the needle becomes dislodged or disconnected from the patient’s vascular access, it could cause the patient to hemmorhage, the company noted in its press release.

“The WetAlert wireless wetness detector is a brand new option that may help reduce the fear of blood leaks during home dialysis,” Dr. Jose Diaz-Buxo, chief medical officer at Fresenius Medical Care, said in a statement.

The Food and Drug Administration recently cleared the WetAlert wireless wetness detector for use, the company said.