A Brief History of IV Infusion Therapy

Intravenous therapy is so familiar in modern healthcare that it’s easy to forget how long it took to reach its current form. The idea of delivering fluids directly into the body has existed for centuries, but the path from early experimentation to dependable clinical practice was far from straightforward.

Early Curiosity and Risky Experiments

The earliest references to infusing substances into the bloodstream date back to the Middle Ages. At that time, medical knowledge was limited, and some physicians tried moving blood between humans and even across species. These efforts were dangerous and usually unsuccessful, and church authorities eventually ordered them to stop.

Curiosity did not disappear, though. In the 1600s, English scientist Sir Christopher Wren devised a crude infusion device using a pig’s bladder and a quill. It was not durable or easy to control, but it allowed him to introduce liquids into a dog’s veins. His work encouraged other researchers to design improved instruments and proved that the concept itself had potential. A few years after Wren, Richard Lower was able to successfully transfuse blood between species.

Growing Understanding in the 18th and 19th Centuries

Through the 1700s, physicians continued exploring transfusion, shifting their focus toward human-to-human procedures. English obstetrician Dr. James Blundell became one of the first to use transfusion to treat postpartum hemorrhage. Although the equipment was basic, he observed that delivery speed influenced patient outcomes and later created a device that helped regulate flow. These insights shaped how clinicians approached IV therapy in the years that followed.

Widespread progress accelerated in the 1800s. As Europe faced cholera outbreaks, doctors began experimenting with saline infusion to restore fluids. Basic needles, syringes and anesthesia became more common, making IV fluid delivery safer. Even so, contamination remained an issue because early infusions were stored in open containers covered with gauze. Glass bottles eventually replaced these makeshift setups.

From Glass Bottles to Modern Devices

IV therapy changed rapidly in the 20th century. Nurses became the primary caregivers administering IV therapy during World War II. Vacuums in glass bottles helped control flow, and by the 1950s, plastic tubing and later PVC lines made IV administration easier to manage. By the 1960s, infusion devices were a familiar sight in American hospitals. At the same time, practitioners explored new uses for IV therapy, including delivering vitamins and minerals to support chronic conditions.

Today’s Evolving Technology

IV therapy is now a core part of patient care. Smart pumps, safety features and better materials have made the process more precise. Med One supports this progress by making reliable infusion pumps and related equipment accessible through simple rental and leasing options. To learn how Med One can support your facility, review our solutions or contact us.