Neurax® was developed in 2001 to stop injections into the spine that were meant to be injected into other parts of the patient. It was tested in 2002 along with other competitive systems.

All the proposed systems failed the same test. The test was designed to misconnect the system and get liquids (which could be drugs or food) through the system into the patient.

In 2004 the Neurax® connector system passed the test. It was developed further to incorporate various vents, castellations and bobbles into the connector design to improve its safety. In 2010 the Neurax® spinal and epidural system passed its final test.

It was at this time that the World Standards Committee decided to introduce a new safety standard which all systems would need to comply with for all procedures. The draft ISO for Neuraxial came out in 2013. At first Neurax® understood that their system had been used as the standard. However it was clear that it was our old system without the safety features which had been used. GEDSA named the standard NRFit^TM.

When asked why no safety features had been incorporated the answer came back as: "It would be too difficult to standardise all the features". 

The new ISO standard NRFit^TM came into force in April 2017 and simply relates to the size of the taper/thread.

NRFit is a trademark of GEDSA used with permission.

All hospitals have to comply with the new ISO standard from 2017 and to have fully made the change by 2021.