A better auto-injector with Covestro polycarbonate
Convenience and comfort
Anaheim, Calif., February 11, 2020 — Auto-injectors, drug delivery medical devices that automatically administer an injectable dose for a patient, have grown in popularity over the past decade. This is in part due to their ability to simplify self-administration, improve safety and encourage compliance for patients. Unfortunately, many patients still experience anxiety associated with affordability, portability and usability when relying on an auto-injector.
To solve the existing challenges with the affordability, portability and usability, Pirouette Medical designed a patented, lower-cost, portable, low-profile, highly differentiated auto-injector for ease-of-use and safety while dosing epinephrine and other medications. Several components of the disk-shaped device are injection molded with Makrolon® 2458 polycarbonate from Covestro.
According to Conor Cullinane, Ph.D., president and CEO, Pirouette Medical, the device makes performing an injection as easy as pushing a button. To perform the injection, a safety cover is removed from the bottom of the device and then the device is applied to the injection location. Finally, the user activates the device to perform the injection by pushing down on the top of the auto-injector. These slow, easy and controlled steps are designed to help reduce anxiety.
“To meet our human-centered design requirements, we turned to Covestro for a medical-grade plastic that could perform at a high level,” Cullinane explained.
The selected material, Makrolon® 2458 polycarbonate, offers strength and toughness along with several other advantages including:
- Biocompatibility according to ISO 10993-1 test requirements
- Availability in transparent and opaque colors
- Low viscosity to allow for injection molding processes and design freedom
- Easy release characteristics for processing
- Excellent dimensional stability
“Makrolon® 2458 polycarbonate is a highly moldable and high-flow resin, which enables thin-walled designs – an important attribute when it comes to offering a convenient device for patients that is easy to carry,” said Anthony Leo, business development manager, Healthcare – Northeast region, Covestro LLC.
Working closely alongside medical device companies, like Pirouette Medical, Covestro is able to provide support that goes well beyond what is offered by many materials suppliers, according to Lauren Zetts, Americas market manager, Healthcare – Polycarbonates, Covestro LLC. “The combination of our advanced materials and technical support can help medical device manufacturers meet their important design, manufacturing and end-use requirements,” she explained.
Attendees at MD&M West Conference and Exposition, February 11-13, in Anaheim, California, can visit the Covestro booth (#2221) to learn more about the company’s medical applications and materials.
About Covestro LLC:
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business, which is among the world’s largest polymer companies with 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, electrical and electronics, and healthcare industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 16,800 people at the end of 2018.
Find more information at www.covestro.us or www.solutions.covestro.com/en/materials/plastics.
About Pirouette Medical:
Pirouette Medical has developed and is bringing to market a revolutionary auto-injector. Auto-injectors are automated injection systems designed to allow self- or caregiver- administration; even by untrained individuals. Pirouette is initially developing an epinephrine auto-injector (EAI), which is used for the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions. Existing EAIs leave patients actively seeking an alternative to address the anxiety they feel associated with affordability, portability, and usability. Pirouette Medical is answering that call for something better, delivering a new EAI to revolutionize the marketplace and the overall patient experience. The patented device will be portable, intuitive, and easy-to-use. Pirouette is poised to deliver a device that addresses all the major pain points through our human-centered design focus.
Beyond EAIs, Pirouette’s technology is diversely applicable to many drugs that require fixed dose, single-use intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. Specifically, we are targeting several emergency applications as well as a number of routine at-home injections.
Makrolon® is a registered trademark of Covestro Group.
Covestro Contact:
John Skabardonis, Phone: +1 412 413 5444
John.Skabardonis@covestro.com
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This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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