MedSource Labs N.I.K. Needle Decompression Indicator Kit - MEDSOURCE Labs

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MedSource Labs N.I.K. Needle Decompression Indicator Kit

Name: MedSource Labs N.I.K. Needle Decompression Indicator Kit
Brand: MEDSOURCE Labs
Price: 29.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Your Price: $29.95

Size: 10 Gauge

10 Gauge

14 Gauge

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Type: Needle Decompression

Vendor: MEDSOURCE Labs

PRODUCT INFORMATION

The MedSource Labs N.I.K. Needle Decompression Indicator Kit combines a 3.25" PTFE catheter decompression needle (available in 10G or 14G) with the Capnospot® — a colorimetric CO₂ indicator that turns from blue to yellow on successful pleural decompression, providing objective visual confirmation within seconds. Packaged in a 7" × 3" metalized pouch. ~0.9 oz total. Single-use. Buy American Act compliant.

Key Specifications

Specification	Detail
Manufacturer	MedSource Labs
Item #	MS-87110 (10G) / MS-87114 (14G)
Available Gauges	10 Gauge, 14 Gauge (select at checkout)
Needle Length	3.25 inches
Catheter Material	Rigid PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)
Needle Tip	Triple-facet, back-cut, beveled — minimizes insertion trauma
Case	Hard shell — protects from needlestick, maintains sterility
Opening Mechanism	Twist-off cap for rapid one-hand access
Capnospot® Indicator	Blue → Yellow color change confirms CO₂ (successful decompression); male luer lock ISO 80369
Package Dimensions	7" × 3" metalized pouch (clear front)
Total Weight	~0.9 oz (26 g)
Sterilization	EO (ethylene oxide) sterilization
Use	Single use only
Latex / DEHP	Not made with natural rubber latex; not made with DEHP
Compliance	Buy American Act (BAA) compliant

Clinical Context: Needle Decompression in TCCC

Needle chest decompression (NDC) is an advanced, provider-level skill. The procedure is indicated for tension pneumothorax — a life-threatening condition and the third leading cause of preventable battlefield death — and requires training, authorization, and appropriate clinical context. Tension pneumothorax may occur spontaneously in the setting of penetrating chest trauma, or may develop after chest seal application (especially with non-vented seals). Signs include severe or progressive respiratory distress, absent or decreased breath sounds on the injured side, SpO₂ < 90%, tachypnea, shock, or traumatic cardiac arrest without obviously fatal wounds.

Per the 2024 TCCC Guidelines, the initial treatment for suspected tension pneumothorax is: (1) burp or remove any chest seal in place; (2) decompress the chest on the side of injury with a 14-gauge or 10-gauge needle/catheter unit inserted perpendicular to the chest wall, just over the top of the lower rib, at either the 2nd intercostal space midclavicular line (2nd ICS MCL) or the 4th/5th ICS anterior axillary line (4th/5th ICS AAL). Insert to the hub and hold 5-10 seconds to allow full decompression; then remove the needle and leave the catheter in place.

The N.I.K. Advantage: Visual Decompression Confirmation

The critical gap in standard NDC procedure is confirmation: once the needle is inserted, how does the provider know the catheter has reached the pleural space? Auscultation of a rush of air is unreliable in noisy tactical environments. SpO₂ improvement may take 30-60 seconds. Without objective confirmation, providers may withdraw a successfully placed catheter prematurely or fail to recognize a misplaced needle.

The Capnospot® CO₂ indicator solves this problem. When attached to the decompression needle via the standard luer lock fitting, the Capnospot detects CO₂ from pleural gas. Because pleural gas in a pneumothorax contains CO₂ exhaled from the lung and trapped in the pleural space, successful penetration of the pleural space causes the colorimetric paper inside the Capnospot to change from blue to yellow within seconds — visible even in low-light environments. A failed decompression (catheter not in pleural space) shows no color change. This immediate, objective confirmation allows the provider to adjust catheter position or attempt a second decompression at the alternate site with confidence.

The decompression needle itself combines a triple-facet, back-cut, beveled tip for reduced insertion trauma with a rigid PTFE catheter that resists kinking — the primary cause of post-decompression catheter failure. The hard-shell case prevents accidental needlestick during carry and maintains sterility; the twist-off cap enables rapid one-hand access under stress. For comprehensive chest trauma capability including a vented chest seal, see the SENTINEL Chest Trauma Kit. Browse MED-TAC's full chest & thoracic supplies collection.

NDC Procedure Summary (Provider Level)

⚠ Needle decompression is a provider-level invasive procedure. This summary is for training reference only and does not substitute for formal TCCC/TECC training and medical authorization.

Confirm tension pneumothorax: respiratory distress, absent breath sounds (affected side), SpO₂ < 90%, shock, or cardiac arrest with mechanism.
Identify insertion site: 2nd ICS MCL (do not insert medial to nipple line) or 4th/5th ICS AAL.
Attach Capnospot® to the N.I.K. needle via luer lock fitting.
Insert needle perpendicular to chest wall just over top of lower rib; insert all the way to hub; hold 5-10 seconds.
Confirm decompression: Capnospot® turns from blue to yellow if pleural space reached.
Remove needle; leave catheter in place. Monitor for symptom resolution. Reassess continuously.

All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Available Options:

10 Gauge
14 Gauge

SPECS & MEASUREMENTS

Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.

CLINICAL RATIONALE

Evidence & Training Rationale

Objective confirmation vs. subjective cues: Capnospot is described as a visual carbon dioxide detection device intended to provide immediate visual feedback during needle thoracostomy, and is marketed as an alternative to relying on auditory assessments.
Designed for standard connections: The indicator is described as compatible via standard Luer lock, supporting integration with common decompression needles/catheters.
Device regulatory reference (Capnospot): FDA documentation referenced publicly for CapnoSpot™ Pneumothorax Decompression Indicator (K223625). (This references the indicator device; always verify your procurement requirements and IFU.)

Training rationale

Use as part of a complete tension pneumothorax workflow: recognition, site selection per protocol, decompression, reassessment, and definitive care/transport.
Train to interpret the device as one input among others (patient response, ventilatory mechanics, hemodynamics), and to re-check for catheter kinking/occlusion or misplacement when clinical improvement is absent.
Follow the manufacturer IFU and your medical director’s protocol for indications, technique, and post-procedure monitoring.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Capnospot® and how does it confirm successful chest decompression?

The Capnospot® is a colorimetric CO₂ indicator included in every N.I.K. kit. It attaches to the decompression needle via a standard luer lock fitting (ISO 80369 compliant). When the needle successfully enters the pleural space, CO₂-containing pleural gas flows through the needle and into the Capnospot. The colorimetric paper inside — blue before decompression — turns bright yellow upon contact with CO₂, providing objective visual confirmation of successful decompression within seconds. In a failed decompression (catheter not in pleural space), no color change occurs, allowing the provider to immediately recognize the situation and attempt at the alternate site. The Capnospot functions in low-light environments.

What gauge options are available for the N.I.K. kit, and which does CoTCCC recommend?

The N.I.K. is available in 10-gauge and 14-gauge (both at 3.25" length). The 2024 CoTCCC TCCC Guidelines recommend using a 14-gauge or 10-gauge needle/catheter unit for needle decompression. The 10-gauge option was added as an alternative for cases where a 14-gauge needle fails to reach the pleural space due to chest wall thickness — a documented issue in casualties with more muscular chest walls. The 3.25" length is the recommended minimum for reliably penetrating the chest wall across the population range. Providers should follow their unit or protocol guidelines on gauge selection.

Why does the N.I.K. use PTFE for the catheter material?

Rigid PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is chosen for the N.I.K. catheter because it maintains its shape under the compressive forces encountered during insertion and after the needle is removed and the catheter is left in the intercostal space. Standard thin-wall plastic catheters commonly kink in the intercostal space after needle removal, which occludes the decompression pathway and requires a second NDC attempt. The rigid PTFE material resists this kinking, maintaining catheter patency and first-attempt decompression success. The triple-facet, back-cut, beveled needle tip minimizes tissue trauma at the insertion site.

Is needle decompression appropriate for all levels of responders?

No. Needle chest decompression (NDC) is an advanced, provider-level skill that requires formal training, scope-of-practice authorization, and appropriate clinical judgment. It is indicated for tension pneumothorax — a life-threatening condition — but misapplication carries risks including pneumothorax creation in a non-pneumothorax patient, vascular injury, and cardiac puncture. TCCC training specifically includes NDC as a Tactical Field Care skill for trained combat medics, paramedics, physician assistants, and physicians. The N.I.K. kit is designed for trained providers. Anyone carrying this device should have completed appropriate NDC training and have medical authorization to perform the procedure.

How does the hard-shell case protect the N.I.K. needle during field carry?

The N.I.K. needle is housed in a rugged hard-shell case with a twist-off cap. The hard shell serves two purposes: it protects the provider from accidental needlestick injury during kit access and carry (a significant occupational safety concern for needles this size), and it maintains the sterility of the needle and catheter until the moment of use. The twist-off mechanism is designed for one-hand access in emergency situations — allowing the provider to open the case quickly without requiring both hands. EO (ethylene oxide) sterilization ensures the needle/catheter system is sterile until opened.