NIO Pediatric™ Intraosseous Device
A semi-automatic IO access device for pediatric patients ages 3–12, with adjustable penetration depth and a needle stabilizer hub for landmark guidance.
What is the NIO Pediatric™? A semi-automatic intraosseous (IO) access device for pediatric patients ages 3–12 (SKU NIO-P). It features adjustable penetration depth via a removable red spacer (14 mm for ages 3–9; 18 mm for ages 9–12), a needle stabilizer hub with built-in location arrows for landmark guidance, and spring-loaded activation — with no batteries, assembly, or extra parts.
Intraosseous vascular access is an invasive procedure performed only by appropriately trained and credentialed personnel under their scope of practice and local protocol. This page is product information, not a procedural how-to, site-selection guide, or substitute for accredited clinical training.
Key Specifications
| Manufacturer | PerSys Medical / Safeguard Medical |
| SKU | NIO-P |
| Weight (unit) | 6.0 oz / 85.6 g |
| Packaged Dimensions | 7.6 in H × 3.3 in W |
| Needle Gauge | 18G |
| Needle Effective Length | 38.1 mm (1.5 in) |
| Depth — Ages 3–9 | 14 mm (red spacer intact) |
| Depth — Ages 9–12 | 18 mm (red spacer removed) |
| Mechanism | Semi-automatic spring-loaded |
| Indication | Proximal tibia IO access, pediatric ages 3–12 |
| Sterility | Sterile, single-use |
| Shelf Life | 5 years from manufacture |
| Packaging | Peel-back blister pack with fixation dressing |
| Safety | Rotating safety latch + required dual-activation |
What It Is
Pediatric intraosseous access fills a specific role in emergency vascular access: children aged 3–12 have peripheral veins that are smaller than an adult's and more prone to collapse under physiologic stress, yet are beyond the range of the NIO Infant's depth-limiting mechanisms. The NIO Pediatric bridges that gap with a semi-automatic spring-loaded design and an adjustable penetration-depth system that covers the full 3–12 year range in a single device.
The adjustable depth is the device's most distinctive feature: a removable red spacer sets the stop depth at 14 mm for younger pediatric patients (ages 3–9) or 18 mm for older ones (ages 9–12), so a single device adapts across the age range without separate sizing tools. The needle stabilizer hub adjusts depth, carries the location arrows used for landmark guidance, limits depth to help prevent over-penetration, and stabilizes the needle against the limb after insertion to resist dislodgment.
Activation requires two simultaneous actions — downward compression and squeezing the trigger wings — which, combined with the rotating safety latch, helps prevent accidental deployment during kit access or transport. Depth selection, landmark identification, placement confirmation, and fixation are clinical steps performed by the trained provider under local protocol.
See also: NIO Infant Intraosseous Device, NIO Ruggerized Adult (NIO+), and Go IO Intraosseous Start Kit.
Clinical Situations for the NIO Pediatric IO Device
- Pediatric cardiac arrest where peripheral IV access is not established within 60 seconds
- Pediatric traumatic arrest with hemorrhagic shock requiring rapid fluid resuscitation
- Septic shock in pediatric patients where peripheral veins are collapsed and inaccessible
- Pediatric status epilepticus requiring immediate anticonvulsant administration
- Pre-hospital pediatric emergency (EMS, HEMS) where IV access is time-prohibitive
- Pediatric burn victims with no accessible peripheral veins due to full-thickness burns
NIO Pediatric vs. Other Pediatric IO Access Options
- NIO Pediatric™: Automatic spring-loaded; red spacer adjusts penetration depth for pediatric bone; no batteries; single-use sterile; pocket-sized
- EZ-IO Pediatric (Teleflex): Battery-powered drill; interchangeable needle sizes; requires driver maintenance; reusable driver
- NIO Infant™: Manual, Stepped Needle® design; for patients from gestational age 36 weeks to 3 years only; not for 3–12 yr age range
- Manual IO needles (Cook, Jamshidi): Manual screw-in insertion; no depth control; provider skill-dependent; no pressure indicator
- Pediatric BIG: Spring-loaded automatic; single-use; different needle sizing and hub geometry than NIO Pediatric
- Landmark guidance: NIO Pediatric includes location arrows on the needle stabilizer hub — most pediatric IO devices require landmark identification by memory alone
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What age range is the NIO Pediatric indicated for?
A: The NIO Pediatric™ is indicated for pediatric patients aged 3 through 12 years. For patients under 3 years (from gestational age 36 weeks / minimum 5 lb / 2.3 kg), use the NIO Infant™ with its manual Stepped Needle® design. For patients over 12 years and adults, use the NIO Adult™ or NIO+ Ruggerized.
Q: What is the red spacer on the NIO Pediatric?
A: The NIO Pediatric™ includes a removable red spacer that adjusts the device's penetration depth to accommodate pediatric tibial anatomy. Pediatric tibias have a thinner cortex and smaller medullary cavity than adult bones; the spacer limits needle advancement to the appropriate depth, reducing the risk of far-cortex perforation that could occur if an adult-sized IO device were used in a pediatric patient.
Q: Does the NIO Pediatric require batteries?
A: No. The NIO Pediatric™ is a spring-loaded automatic device — no batteries, no assembly, no extra parts required. It deploys in 10 seconds or less. This distinguishes it from battery-powered drill-type IO devices (such as the EZ-IO) that require battery maintenance to remain operationally ready.
Related searches: NIO pediatric, pediatric intraosseous device, pediatric IO access, adjustable depth IO, proximal tibia pediatric IO.
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Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.
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