- TPE as seal material in syringes
- Material fulfills the most stringent requirements
- How does the single use syringe work?
Especially in developing countries, syringes that are contaminated through reuse cause innumerable infections, often with life-threatening consequences. In response to this problem, the Middle Eastern company ADMD (Abu Dhabi Medical Devices Company) has developed an Auto Disable syringe (AD Syringe), which activates at zero seconds and cannot be refilled and reused. The key to this technology is in the small TPE seals manufactured from the medical grade material Thermolast M from Kraiburg TPE.
Medical grade TPE is used in this single use syringes (source: Kraiburg TPE)
How does the single use syringe work?
The suction from filling the syringe with liquid activates an integrated one-way valve. After the medicine is injected, a plastic pin in a TPE seal closes the opening to the needle, sealing it reliably. The needle is blocked, preventing reuse of the syringe. This Auto Disable (AD) mechanism effectively eliminates the risk of transmitting infections from one patient to another by pathogens carried by the blood, such as HIV or hepatitis B. Global health organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, PAHO and UNRWA acclaim these syringes and use them in their vaccination programs around the world.
In addition, ADMD launched a one of a kind and patented AD Needle, with the same technology as the AD Syringe. The needle can be mounted on single-use standard syringes or prefilled syringes.
Material fulfills the most stringent requirements
The special medical grade Thermolast M series features similarly low compression set values and also has been awarded comprehensive medical certifications (USP Class VI, USP 661, DIN ISO 10993-4 “Haemolysis, indirect in human blood”, ISO 10993-5 “Cytotoxicity”, ISO 10993-10 “Intracutaneous Irritation”, ISO 10993-11 “Acute Systemic Toxicity”). In the single use syringe application the seal is manufactured by injection molding, then colored in conformity with medical regulations and manually inserted into the syringe.
