Medical grade TPE "key" to new single-use syringes for infection control

Medical grade thermoplastic elastomers from Kraiburg TPE are being used to seal a new range of single-use syringes designed to eliminate the risk of infection from reuse, particularly in developing countries.  

The Abu Dhabi Medical Devices Company (ADMD) has developed an ‘Auto Disable’ syringe (AD Syringe), which activates at zero seconds and cannot be refilled and reused.

The key to this new technology is in the small TPE seals manufactured from Kraiburg’s medical grade material, THERMOLAST M. The device works when 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 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 organisations, such as WHO, UNICEF, PAHO and UNRWA, are using these in their vaccination programmes around the globe.

In the single use syringe application the seal is manufactured by injection moulding, then coloured in conformity with medical regulations and manually inserted into the syringe.

“We chose KRAIBURG TPE as our development partner in this ambitious project because THERMOLAST M has all the relevant ISO10993 certifications and provides a reliable seal for our system in contact with media,” explained Mounir Haddad, General Manager of ADMD.

“In combination with extensive support offered by the company with its medical service package, we can be certain of maintaining our high quality requirements and product safety in the future, as well.”