A new plastic syringe design offers drug manufacturers a delivery device that is cheaper to manufacture and package while allowing easy and safe injection.
Cambridge Consultants, a leading technology product design and development firm, has launched the pre-filled syringe concept ‘Syreen’.
Syreen is a safe and user-friendly drug delivery device for self-injection that reduces the resource use associated with traditional glass syringes.
The Syreen syringe is made from COP (cyclic olefin polymer) plastic in a capsule design that removes the need for secondary packaging. The syringes can be clipped together in a pack.
This product design eliminates the need for fillers such as cardboard and styrofoam, reducing the packaging weight by 30% and its volume by 50%.
“What makes Syreen so exciting is that while it is a sustainable alternative to the status quo, it can truly introduce a paradigm shift in the existing supply chain,” said Phil Lever, Commercial Director, Drug Delivery Devices for Cambridge Consultants. “We found that typical glass syringes use many materials from all over the world and that shipping costs are egregious due to inefficiencies in packaging. This marriage of economy and ecology shows that medical device companies will likely see competitive benefits by taking sustainability seriously.”
The prefilled Syreen syringe can be unclipped and placed against the skin. After delivery, the user can dispose of the needle and recycle the plastic capsule.
Two features of the design improve patient and HCP safety. The COP plastic syringe features a curved surface over the needle that reduces needlestick accidents and ensures depth control during injection. The separation of plunger and stopper makes it impossible for the syringe to take in blood or other contaminants.
Cambridge Consultants is seeking to develop the Syreen concept with major pharmaceutical companies.
Syreen syringe