8 minute read
Digital spy
from MPN EU Issue 52
by MPN Magazine
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MEDTECH UPDATE
www.moon.ai and www.protolabs.co.uk Trials set to begin for potentially lifesaving medical device
Anew medical device that could prevent worsening illness and loss of life is set to begin trials in Norwegian hospitals.
The trials are being made possible by manufacturing support from UK based custom prototype specialist, Protolabs.
The medical device – the Evo System, is able to monitor vital signs of hospital patients through an unobtrusive and cost-effective device which is fitted behind the ear. The device feeds real time data back to medical professionals who can then intervene when a patient’s health is deteriorating.
Moon Labs first protoyped the device using its own 3D printing technology. After receiving the European Cool Idea Award, the organisation was able to upload its CAD designs in to Protolabs’ software to check the suitability for injection moulding. Technicians at Protolabs also helped to provide advice on medical grade plastic.
The Evo System will be trialled in three hospitals in Norway, and Moon Labs hopes to gain CE marking so it can manufacture the technology by early 2021.
Moon Labs co-founder and product lead, Tord Asnes commented: “Without the support of the European Cool Idea Award, the cost of funding this next stage of development could have proven prohibitive for us.”
https://pubs.acs.org/ Bacteria-repelling plastic B acteria that cannot be killed with antibiotics are considered a real and important threat. Bacteria form biofilms so they are able to adhere to surfaces as well as other bacteria. Therefore, by reducing biofilm formation on surfaces the transfer and growth of pathogenic bacteria is reduced. Scientists in Canada have conducted research focused around the concept that preventing bacteria from spreading is a suitable way to control it. Through combining both nanoscale engineering and chemistry, the scientists have created technology that even superbugs such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas cannot sit on.
The results were achieved due to hierarchal structuring in the plastic wrap which makes it difficult for bacteria to attach as well as ensuring the material is waterproof. The research was published in the American Chemical Society journal.
NEWS UPDATE
3M SELLS DRUG DELIVERY BUSINESS L ife sciences company, 3M, has agreed to sell its drug delivery contract service unit to investment group, Altaris Capital Partners. The business reportedly achieves $380 million annually, however, sales were down about 11% in 2019. Altaris Capital Partners is planning to pay around $650m for the group in a combination of cash, interestbearing security and 17% noncontrolling stake in the company created through divestiture.
The 3M unit being sold provides technologies such as metered dose
inhalers, aerosol nasal drug delivery devices and inhalation contract manufacturing services. This is not the first of its kind for Altaris Capital Partners who has previously made purchases within the pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors. The acquisition is expected to be closed within the first half of 2020. Michael Roman, CEO and chairman of 3M commented: “This transaction will allow us to focus more resources on our core healthcare business as well as retain a share in the value of the drug delivery business as it grows over the coming years.” www.3m.co.uk & www.altariscap.com
Four UK councils have partnered up in an attempt to conduct the first trials within the UK using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to transport medical equipment between hospitals and GP surgeries.
Innovation foundation, Nesta, carried out research which claims this technology could save the UK public sector £1.1 billion and boost the economy by almost £7 billion. Additionally, a study of five UK cities showed that traffic congestion and long journey times were causing unnecessary delays to the NHS and emergency services.
Drones are currently used in other parts of the world to deliver blood; however, Britain’s airspace makes this process more difficult.
The bid to Department of Transport from Solent Transport – an organisation made up of four south coast authorities, must gain ethical approval to use drones for the transport of blood and chemotherapy kits. Could drones transport medical equipment in Britain?
MEDTECH UPDATE
www.capnomask.com
ABHI US Accelerator programme helps manufacturer exhibit in the US C apnomask, a capnography mask made of soft transparent di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate free polyvinyl chloride has been developed by UK manufacturer Mediplus. material and vanilla scent also helps to ensure patient comfort and prevents post-operative nausea and vomiting which is a common complication after surgery and some anaesthetics.
The mask claims to provide a non-invasive method for accurate monitoring of the level of carbon dioxide in exhaled breath to properly assess a patient’s breathing. The mask also delivers oxygen during post-operative recovery.
The device includes a dual connector which is optimally positioned to ensure continuous capnography in patients under anaesthetic – a necessity according to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA). The soft
talking POINT
Amammogram uses low-energy X-rays to allow the human breast to be examined and is often used in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. However, according to the American Cancer Society, radiologists miss around 20% of breast cancers in mammograms and 50% of all of the women who are screened over a ten year period will receive a false positive result. NEW STUDY RESULTS SHOW PROMISE FOR AI IN BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND SCREENING WWW.NATURE.COM
HOW ARE MAMMOGRAMS CURRENTLY READ? In the UK mammograms are read by two radiologists. In the case of a disagreement, a third is consulted.
WHAT DID THE STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL NATURE TEST? The research compared a computer which was created by Google’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts with healthcare professionals for screening mammograms.
WHAT WERE THE STUDY OUTCOMES? The study showed the AI system could identify cancers with a similar degree of accuracy to radiologists. It also showed that the number of false positive results, where tests are wrongly classified as normal, could be reduced by using AI.
ARE THESE FINDINGS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND? No. Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) systems are used within mammography clinics. However, CAD programs are typically trained to identify things human radiologists can see, whereas AI has the potential to train computers to spot cancers based on actual results of thousands of mammograms.
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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
OUR EDITOR LAURA HUGHES LOOKS TO THE YEAR AHEAD, AND SOME OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES PLASTIC MATERIAL MANUFACTURERS MAY FACE WITHIN THE MEDICAL SECTOR.
At a time when society is so focused on sustainability and protecting our environment, excessive and non-recyclable packaging materials simply won’t cut it. Well-known retailers such as Amazon have been criticised for this, resulting in the company taking extra measures to satisfy consumer demands.
Plastic faces extra challenges also as unlike other packaging materials it isn’t always recyclable. Plastics such as PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET) which is used for single use clear plastic bottles and Low-Density PolyEthylene (LDPE) which is used in squeezable bottles will continue to be used without issues in the future as these plastics can be recycled. Non-recyclable plastics, however, may experience a decline in the use of these materials whilst they are replaced with more sustainable plastic alternatives as these become available.
It is clear to me that the medical plastics market is still an exciting and growing industry to be in.
I think it will be really important to change some people’s perceptions on plastics. The material is sometimes thought of in a negative light. However, the material offers a huge range of advantages to our healthcare and lives that would not be possible without plastics. I don’t believe people realise how many and which plastics can actually be recycled and as we all become more knowledgeable on this, we will be able to recycle more and make more sensible choices, both healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals alike.
I also believe increasingly smaller devices will continue to be popular through 2020. A small size is advantageous for implants into areas such as the brain. Additionally, as medical devices continue to be developed with wireless technology in mind, the devices are naturally developed to be smaller and more portable than previous medtech. With these wireless devices additional challenges present from a cybersecurity standpoint, and it is important for medical device manufacturers to consider the security of the devices during development, and not when they are on the market.
As 200,000 global trade visitors headed to last year’s well-known plastics trade fair, the K Show, and Grand View Research stated that the medical polymers market was predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4% through 2020, it is clear to me that the medical plastics market is still an exciting and growing industry to be in.
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