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An intraosseous drill is a medical device used to place a needle into bone for emergency vascular access. Intraosseous access, or IO access, lets fluids, medications, or blood products enter the bloodstream through the bone marrow space. It is used when IV access is difficult or too slow during urgent care. Only trained clinicians should use an intraosseous drill.
read more about intraosseous drill ...The drill attaches to a sterile IO needle and helps place it through the outer bone into the marrow space. Once the needle is positioned, tubing can connect the site to fluids or medications. The care team confirms placement by checking stability, aspiration when possible, flushing, and tissue response. Pressure or an infusion device is often needed because IO flow can meet resistance.
An intraosseous drill can be used during cardiac arrest, shock, trauma, severe dehydration, or other emergencies when fast access is needed. It can be used in adults, children, and infants with size-appropriate needles and sites. Common sites include the upper tibia, lower tibia, and upper humerus, depending on age and anatomy. IO access is meant for urgent or temporary use until another access plan is available.
Staff should choose the correct needle length, insertion site, and drill setup before placement. Placement should be checked because fluid leaking into tissue can cause swelling, pain, or compartment problems. The site should be watched for infection, bleeding, dislodgement, poor flow, or limb changes. IO access should be removed when it is no longer needed or when a safer longer-term access route is available.
IO drill drivers are reusable devices, while needles are commonly single-use sterile components. The driver should be cleaned, charged, inspected, and stored according to the device instructions. Staff should check battery status, needle packaging, expiration date, and size availability before placing the device on an emergency cart. A damaged drill or expired needle should not be used.
No. IV access goes into a vein, while IO access goes into the bone marrow space. Both can allow fluids and medications to reach the bloodstream.
Placement can hurt if the patient is awake, and fluid infusion can also cause pain. Clinicians can give pain control when the situation and care plan allow it.
IO access is meant for short-term emergency use. The care team removes it once another access route is placed or when it is no longer needed.
Warning signs include swelling, leaking, severe pain, poor flow, bleeding, redness, cool skin, or a loose needle. Staff should check the site right away if any of these appear.
Intraosseous Vascular Access. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554373/. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
How To Place an Intraosseous Catheter, Manually and With a Power Drill. MSD Manual Professional Edition. https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/critical-care-medicine/how-to-do-peripheral-vascular-procedures/how-to-place-an-intraosseous-catheter-manually-and-with-a-power-drill. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
Intraosseous Access. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/intraosseous_access/. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
Intraosseous Access. Perth Children's Hospital, WA Health. https://pch.health.wa.gov.au/For-health-professionals/Emergency-Department-Guidelines/Intraosseous-access. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
EZ-IO Power Driver Instructions for Use. Teleflex. https://www.teleflexvascular.com/files/ifu/8048A.pdf. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.