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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
“IV pole clamp” is used for more than one kind of part: clamps that attach an accessory to a pole, and IV pole accessories that clamp to furniture such as a chair. This page separates them, names the other parts of an IV pole (hooks, shaft, base), and shows how the FDA classifies the whole product.
What an IV pole clamp is
The FDA does not have a separate category for an IV pole clamp. It is listed under the same device type as the pole itself. In FDA’s device database (GUDID), a Pryor Products listing named “IV Pole Clamp” (brand BD) carries product code FOX, “Stand, Infusion”, and so does a second Pryor listing described as an “IV pole clamp accessory”. An Oakworks listing is described as “Accessory – IV Pole & Accessory Clamp”, and a Midmark listing says its IV pole accessory attaches to either side of a chair so that IV bags can be close to the patient without using floor space.
Clamps with a similar name that are not IV pole parts also exist in the same database. A CIM med GmbH listing describes a “pole clamp” with a diameter of 38 mm, and another a universal pole clamp for 23 to 40 mm poles. These mount equipment arms onto an existing pole or rail. A manometer listing from Anesthesia Associates mounts to a pole of 3/8 inch to 1.5 inch diameter. In each case the clamp is described by the pole diameter it fits, so the diameter is the first fact to check on any listing.
How the FDA classifies an IV pole
Under 21 CFR 880.6990 an infusion stand is “a stationary or movable stand intended to hold infusion liquids, infusion accessories, and other medical devices.” It is Class I (general controls) and exempt from premarket notification (510(k)), subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 880.9. The openFDA classification record for product code FOX gives the device name “Stand, Infusion”, device class 1, regulation number 880.6990 and the medical specialty General Hospital. It is not flagged as life-sustaining or as an implant.
IV pole parts: hooks, shaft, base and clamp
The vocabulary below comes from manufacturers’ own GUDID descriptions of FOX-coded products.
IV pole hooks
The top of the pole carries the hooks that hold bags. Listings describe tops with 2, 4, 6 and 28 hooks, for example “2 Hook Top”, “4 Hook Top”, “6 Hook Top” (Mid Central Medical) and “Stainless Steel, Six-Leg, 6-Hook IV Pole” (Clinton Industries).
Pole (shaft) and height lock
One Mid Central Medical listing describes a 1 inch diameter stainless steel pole with a “no lose” friction lock knob. Others use a “thumb knob” to lock the height. A “lift assist” model is described as height adjustable from 56 to 96 inches with a crank, and a foot-controlled model adjusts height with a foot control that leaves the hands free.
IV pole base
Bases are described by number of legs, diameter and casters. A 5-leg or 6-leg “spider base” with 3 inch casters and a 22 inch diameter is described as having a low centre of gravity with added weight for stability. Another listing gives a 24 inch, 5-leg base with 2 inch casters, and a space-saving 16 inch base is described for operating rooms.
Example listings (IV stand parts as manufacturers describe them)
| Listing (company) | Hooks | Base | Casters |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS IV Pole with Thumb Knob (Mid Central Medical) | 2 | 5-leg spider, 22 inch diameter | 3 inch |
| Chrome IV Pole with Thumb Knob (Mid Central Medical) | 4 | 6-leg spider, 22 inch diameter | 3 inch |
| SS IV Pole, no-lose thumb knob (Mid Central Medical) | 2 | 5-leg, 24 inch diameter | 2 inch |
| 4 Hook SS Lift Assist IV Pole (Mid Central Medical) | 4 | six-leg epoxy coated steel tube; height 56 to 96 inches | 3 inch |
| Stainless Steel, Six-Leg, 6-Hook IV Pole (Clinton Industries) | 6 | six legs | not stated |
| IV Pole Clamp (Pryor Products, BD) | not applicable | clamp accessory | not applicable |
Source: FDA GUDID records returned by openFDA for product code FOX, checked 2026-10-30. Listing counts and wording change as manufacturers update records.
Ergonomics of hanging bags
A peer-reviewed study of IV pole use measured neck and shoulder load while hanging a bag. On a traditional pole, cervical extensor activity was 43.29 % of maximum voluntary effort for the bag task, against 28.55 % on a redesigned ergonomic pole, and peak right shoulder flexion was 102.88 degrees against 55.44 degrees (Forman et al., International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2020, PMID 29667514). The authors conclude that caregivers interact with IV poles frequently.
Frequently asked questions
Is an IV pole a regulated medical device?
Yes. Under 21 CFR 880.6990 an infusion stand is Class I (general controls) and exempt from premarket notification, subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 880.9.
What FDA product code covers IV poles and their clamps?
Product code FOX, “Stand, Infusion”. The IV pole clamp listings quoted above carry the same code.
What are the parts of an IV pole?
Manufacturer listings describe a top with hooks, a pole (shaft) with a height lock, and a base with legs and casters.
Related pages
Poles are one of the accessories listed in medical cart accessories, and bed frames provide mounting points described in what is a hospital bed. For the item that hangs from the hooks, see what is an IV bag and empty IV bag. Supply catalogues group related products under infusion supplies.
Sources
- 21 CFR 880.6990, Infusion stand (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School), checked 2026-10-30: law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/880.6990
- openFDA device classification, product code FOX, checked 2026-10-30: api.fda.gov device classification
- FDA GUDID device records via openFDA UDI endpoint, product code FOX, checked 2026-10-30: api.fda.gov device UDI
- Forman GN et al., Upper extremity posture and muscle activity during IV pole interaction, Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2020;26(2):413-422, PMID 29667514, doi 10.1080/10803548.2018.1466526
