Injections without the needles

Cobranding cooperation between Rösch AG Medizintechnik and Bayer AG

22-Nov-2001

For those patients who go weak at the knees at the mere thought of a syringe needle, it's long been a dream: the needle-free injection. Now, thanks to the development of the INJEXTM system by the Berlin-based Rösch AG Medizintechnik, their wish has come true. Liquid drugs can now be injected using a procedure that is practically pain-free and without the dreaded prick. Instead, the drug is administered by applying a short burst of high pressure, penetrating the skin and reaching the tissue beneath without the use of a needle. The high stability requirements of the injection system mean that it needs to be made from a very strong and durable material. The impact-resistant, transparent polycarbonate Makrolon® Rx 2530 produced by Bayer AG ideally fits the bill. Exclusive use of this material in production means that the finished product comes with a special guarantee of quality. The two companies recently announced their cobranding cooperation venture in this area.

Hans-Dieter Reifenrath, responsible for developing the Makrolon brand at Bayer, also welcomes the new cooperation: "We are delighted to be working with a partner that enjoys an excellent reputation as an innovative company in the sphere of medical technology. We are particularly pleased that Makrolon is being used in an area that affects young and old alike. The needle-free injection system is really helping to overcome people's fear of injections."

Using the injection system is very straightforward: the ampoule loaded with the drug is screwed to the injector, which is then held against the disinfected area of skin. Activating the trigger releases a built-in, pre-stressed spring, which forces the liquid through the micro-orifice in the ampoule tip approx. six to nine millimeters deep into the fatty tissue under the skin. Compared with injections using needles, this method is much safer, leaving blood vessels, nerve fibers and bones unharmed. The ampoules are then easily disposed of, whilst the risk of needlestick injuries is also eliminated. One of the key benefits is therefore the absence of any risk of infection – either at the point of injection or from contaminated needles.

Leaving aside the practical design of the ampoules, the success of the needle-free injection is also due to the excellent material properties of Makrolon. "The Makrolon we use is noted for its very high strength and impact resistance", explains Dr. Dirk Möckel, Bayer's Market Manager for Medical Technology in Europe, adds: "The material easily withstands the very high pressure of up to 300 bar. It also offers outstanding transparency, which means that patients and doctors can easily tell how much of the drug has been administered and whether the injection was complete." Thanks to a special form of stabilization, the ampoules do not become yellow when sterilized using energy-rich Gamma rays.

With the aim of creating an awareness of quality products created using this high-tech plastic – particularly among end-consumers – Bayer AG also engages in cobranding cooperation projects involving Makrolon with innovative companies from other high-tech sectors. This is a brand strategy that Bayer intends continuing to pursue as consistently in future.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/6052/injections-without-the-needles.html