ICU Nurse Creates Armband to Secure Tubes and Cords—Secures Nurse Capital Investment
- Nurse Capital, a Chicago-based venture capital fund founded by nurses, has made an undisclosed investment in RoddyMedical, Inc., a women-founded medical device startup based in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
- RoddyMedical, Inc. produces the SecureMove-TLC, a patented, wearable armband that organizes and secures medical tubes, lines, and cords and prevents hazardous pulling and dislodgement for up to 30 days.
- The device was created by Lindsey Roddy, RN, PhD(c).
In 2018, a patient in the ICU nearly lost their life when a medical line was accidentally yanked loose during routine care. For many of us, this would be a "document and debrief" situation, but nurse Lindsey Roddy saw it as a call to action. Instead of letting this incident be just another note in the chart, Lindsey got to work—and her solution is now improving patient safety in hospitals across the country.
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Lindsey developed the SecureMove-TLC® device, a wearable armband that stabilizes medical tubes, lines, and cords, preventing them from being dislodged or moved. The device neutralizes up to 80 pounds of force, while central venous catheters can become dislodged with as little as four pounds of force. It can be worn for up to 30 days.
The device has been on the market since 2022, but thanks to a recent investment from Nurse Capital for its flagship company, RoddyMedical, Inc., it may become more accessible.
The Tangled Mess We Know Too Well
The SecureMove-TLC is important, not just for patient safety and comfort, but because it solves an important and unfortunately, all-too-common issue in hospitals.
For instance, did you know that about 19 million lines are accidentally pulled out every year in the U.S. alone? Not only does this put patients at risk, but it also costs hospitals a staggering $266 million annually to replace those lines.
On top of that, there's the time nurses spend trying to keep everything straight. Research shows 64% of health professionals' time during early mobility and ICU therapy is spent wrangling tubes like a medical rodeo.
The SecureMove-TLC solves those issues in a wearable armband that organizes and secures multiple tubes, lines, and cords. It not only secures the cords, preventing them from detangling or getting mixed up, but it also mitigates tension, so they can't be pulled out from the patient's body. It’s simple, effective, and stays in place for up to 30 days.
Ensuring cords and lines stay secure helps the healthcare team increase patient mobility, which is key for recovery and reducing complications.
Nurses Solving Problems Nurses Face
Lindsey didn’t just design this device in a vacuum—she built it based on firsthand experience. That’s the thing about nurses: we’re not just problem-spotters; we’re problem-solvers. And that’s why Nurse Capital, a Chicago-based venture capital fund, has taken notice.
Nurse Capital, which is nurse-founded and based in Chicago, focuses exclusively on supporting nurse-led innovations, and they recently invested in Lindsey’s company, RoddyMedical, Inc.
“Nurses don’t just see problems—they engineer solutions that work,” said Beth A. Brooks, PhD, RN, FACHE, Co-founder of Nurse Capital, in a press release.
Lindsey’s solution is already being used in hospitals in six states, including big names like Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and The Ohio State University Hospital.
Oh, and did we mention the device has five global patents? Talk about nursing innovation on a global scale.
What’s Next for Nurse-Led Innovation?
Source: Roddy Medical
RoddyMedical is now raising $5 million in Series A funding to expand manufacturing and get the SecureMove-TLC® into more hospitals. That might sound like a big number, but given the scope of the problem this device addresses, it’s an investment in safer patient care and more efficient nursing workflows.
And let’s take a moment to celebrate what this really means for nursing as a profession. Lindsey Roddy’s work highlights something we’ve known all along: nurses are key innovators in healthcare. We’re not just there to carry out orders; we’re the ones who see the gaps, figure out what’s missing, and create solutions that make things better—for our patients and for ourselves.
So next time you’re staring down a spaghetti bowl of lines and cords, remember this: one nurse turned that frustration into a life-saving invention. Who knows? Maybe you’re next.
🤔Nurses, what do you think about this device? Share your thoughts below.
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