Medical Products > Jet Injectors > Human Use
Please Note: The systems
shown and described below are not for sale. They
are prototypes only and are not intended for human clinical
use.
LectraJet® HS high speed jet injection system for mass immunization campaigns
Client: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia
(SBIR Phase I Contract #200-98-0417; Oct. 1998 - March 1999)
(SBIR Phase II Contract #200-2000-10049; Oct. 2000-May 2006)
(SBIR Phase II Contract #200-2006-17925; Sept. 2006 – Oct. 2009)
The Problem:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have identified the need for an easy-to-use, reliable, rapidly deployable needle-free (NF) injection system that provides protection against pre-injection vaccine contamination and that eliminates the risk of cross-infection for the billions of vaccinations administered annually throughout the world. This safe and effective way to rapidly vaccinate large numbers of people is needed, not only for mass immunization campaigns in developing countries, but also to prepare for the possibility of bioterror attacks and disease pandemics world-wide. The reason for this need is that injections often come with the risk of cross-infection and other types of infection due to:
- Reuse of disposable needles and syringes
- Reuse of sterilizable needles and syringes without proper sterilization
- Improper disposal of contaminated sharps
- Accidental needlesticks
- Advance filling of multiple syringes (typically done to circumvent slow syringe filling process)
Unsafe injection and disposal practices put the patient, the healthcare worker and the community at risk.
The Solution:
The LectraJet® HS is a high speed NF jet injection system for both routine and mass immunization programs. The fact that the device is NF eliminates needle reuse, needlestick injuries, sharps disposal, and reduces the pain and fear associated with needle injections. The system is low cost, reliable, hand-held, and lightweight to reduce the likelihood of user fatigue. Both manual and battery power options are available, with the battery option providing several thousand injections per battery charge.
Automatic Injector (electrically armed by internal battery and motor)
Manual Injector (manually armed with arming fixture)
Arming Fixture (injector is installed and ready for manual arming)
The LectraJet® NF Syringes:
The LectraJet® HS utilizes NF syringes that are single use and auto-disabling to eliminate the risk of cross-infection during injection that is associated with the older style multi-use nozzle jet injectors. The LectraJet® HS allows for hands-free handling of the NF syringes to reduce the risk of contamination.
Filling LectraJet® NF Syringes:
LectraJet® NF Syringes are filled directly from the vaccine vial, or alternatively, directly from a reconstitution syringe. The filling process is extremely rapid (NF syringes are filled twice as fast as a vaccinator can deliver injections). This high speed filling process removes the incentive to fill in advance. In addition, all fluid path components are disposable and single-use so that no reuse issues exist, such as improper sterilization.
Managing LectraJet® NF Syringes:
LectraJet® NF Syringes are packaged sterile and housed in a "magazine" to maintain cleanliness during the on-site filling process and to provide for efficient, rapid vaccination without requiring the vaccinator to handle the NF syringe directly. Alternatively, NF syringes can be packaged individually for slower speed applications.
Low Workload Jet Injector for Routine Immunizations
Client: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta,
Georgia
(Contract #200-98-0419; October 1998 - March 1999)
 Objective:
Routine
Immunization Clinics around the world deliver vaccines
to children using needles and syringes: a simple, effective,
and inexpensive method for parenteral delivery of drugs
and vaccines. However, because of improper sterilization
and possible reuse of the needle and syringe, the danger
of transmission of blood-borne disease is very high, especially
in resource-poor settings.
In an attempt to eliminate the problems associated with
needles and syringes, multi-use nozzle jet injectors, were
once used for immunizations until they were found to transmit
blood borne pathogens between patients. Their use was stopped
and the world was left with no alternative to needles for
immunization.
The objective of this contract was to develop a new, safer,
needle-free jet injector suitable for use in routine immunization
clinics in both developed and developing countries.
Solution:
DCI designed a manually armed needle-free
jet injection system that uses auto-disabling single shot
disposable cartridges to eliminate the possibility of both
pre-injection contamination and post-injection cross-infection.
The system is quickly and easily manually prepared for the
next injection, which allows for use anywhere in the world
regardless of available power supplies.
Results:
DCI designed and fabricated a prototype model,
which has been used for animal testing. Fabrication of a
next phase manual prototype is currently in process.
Multi-Channel
Jet Injector for Simultaneous Vaccine Delivery
Client: Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta,
Georgia
(Contract #200-97-0641; August 1997 - January 1998)
Objective:
 New
childhood vaccines are being developed rapidly, but children,
parents, and providers are less willing to accept the increased
numbers of separate injections required at a single doctor
visit. Missed immunizations can result in increased disease
occurrence among unprotected children. Combination vaccines
are an alternative, but potential chemical incompatibilities
require years of expensive research and regulatory approval
to ensure that vaccine efficacy and safety are not compromised.
The objective of this project was to determine the scientific,
technical and commercial merit and feasibility of a multi-channel
jet injector to deliver multiple vaccines simultaneously.
Solution:
The multi-channel jet injector
must deliver several injections to the appropriate depth,
and within the space available on the thigh of a small child.
DCI carried out extensive analyses to determine the appropriate
system parameters, and these were followed by laboratory
testing and system design.
Results:
A paper design was required
to satisfy the contract, but DCI provided analyses of several
potential techniques, paper designs for two of the most promising
approaches, and a working prototype for the selected design.
This prototype was successfully demonstrated for the CDC
Measles Eradication Committee.
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