The new technology – a computer-controlled drug delivery system – has the capability to independently prepare injections from standard multi-dose anesthetic and steroid drug vials for the relief of join pain.
Navigator DS then administers the medication into under precise computer control.
Carticept say automating the injection system will increase efficiency by ensuring a highly accurate dose preparation which not only saves wastage, but also by reducing dose preparation time in busy practices.
The system also has the potential to increase productivity in medical records by recording the treatment data for transfer to an electronic record management system or direct print-out.
Timothy J. Patrick, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carticept, said: "The Navigator DS is the first injection system of its kind.
“Receiving FDA clearance is an important milestone for Carticept Medical that will allow us to launch this proprietary technology to the U.S. orthopedic and sports medicine market.”
“This technology can be a valuable tool for the accurate and efficient delivery of injections,” added John Reach, MD, Director, Yale Foot and Ankle Service, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine. “This system can significantly enhance practice logistics and increase patient throughput in orthopedic and sports medicine clinics.”
Safety first
Multiple needle exposure is a pressing issue for medical workers, and needle stick is a constant source of concern.
In a 2008 study by the American Nurse Association showed nearly two-thirds of nurses reported being accidentally stuck.
And since a federal law was passed a decade ago, requiring safer syringes and blood- drawing devices in medical facilities across the nation, R&D teams like the one led by Bruce Hedgepath at St.John’s, Springfield – who have developed a physical protective barrier between hand and needle - have been trying to create a solution.
Carticept’s new design could be the next step to solving the issue.
VP, marketing, at Carticept Barry Hassett told in-PharmaTechnologist: “The Navigator DS completely eliminates the use of all sharps and needles in the preparation of an injection, which is a big step forward in addressing needle sticks.
“Of course a needle is still used during the delivery of the injection, as with a conventional syringe.”
Forward thinking
Carticept is currently partnering with hand-carried and mounted ultrasound specialists Sonosite for their second generation Navigator DS to provide the additional capability of image guidance when delivering injections with the system.
Sonosite also has exclusive distribution rights for the hospital market in the US and all markets outside of the US.
But now Hassett is looking to the future of the design and what that could mean for potential investors.
He said: “A number of companies have shown interest in the design.
“In addition to delivering injections for pain relief in the joints, the Navigator DS can benefit any application where an accurate injection is required. The company will be exploring applications in pain management and anesthesia in the immediate future."