What is a medical drug delivery microspouter?
2/16/17 What is a microspouter you may ask? It is a micro component implant just 6mm in diameter. Its body is round and surrounds a silicone sponge containing magnetic carabonyl iron particles in the center. Liquid medication is injected into the sponge and the device is surgically implanted into the relevant part of the body. Once implanted, a specific-strength magnet is held over the skin where the implant is which attracts the iron particles causing the sponge to deform, therefore dispensing the dose of medicine.
This microspouter was developed by University of British Columbia researchers and has been tested on animals using the prostate cancer drug, docetaxel. This device could one day be used to deliver painkiller drugs, chemotherapy, hormones and much more. Clinical trials are slated within the next few years.
Micro Component Drug Device Combination Products
2/9/17 Drug device combination products are therapeutic products made up of an active pharmaceutical ingredient and a medical device that are physically and/or chemically, combined to be produced as a single product (according to the US Food & Drug Administration). The pharmaceutical drug that is in the device may be surface coated or impregnated. These products can be designed for local as well as systemic administration of drug to a patient. These combo products are in the forefront of technology at the moment due to their ease of use and demand in the medical industry.
The advantages of using these combo products include improved patient compliance, targeted drug delivery, reduced adverse side effects and controlled release administration of a drug. They also produce faster healing time, decreased morbidity and relief from pain.
These combo products are being used in infusion pumps, orthopedic combination products, drug eluting stents, photosensitizers, inhalers, wound care combo products, transdermal patches and in other areas that include intraocular implants and drug eluting beads. The high rates of chronic pain, asthma, obesity cancers and diabetes are the main factor pushing the technological advances in this area. The medical industry is demanding smaller drug delivery implants and better minimally invasive surgeries.
Please view our website for more information on this topic and to see how our expertise can help with your project.
Micro Ophthamic Ocular Implants
2/2/17 Here is one of the most popular blogs we have ever written, it deserves to be reposted for those who missed it the first time!
More often than not, the smallest component in a medical or pharmaceutical implant or device is the enabling component. Micro manufacturing (micro injection molding, micro machining, and micro automation) has blazed the trail for many new developments, implants, micro surgery, and robotic surgeries today. This article explores one such market segment of which micro manufacturing has played and continues to plan a significant role in worldwide growth in the next five years…..Ophthalmic devices. This article was written by Donna bibber and published in ONDrugDelivery March 2014 Issue 48.
Age related eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration (to name a few) continue to cause loss of vision either significantly or completely. Driven by a baby boomer aging population, technology innovations and vastly emerging markets in China and India, the ophthalmic devices sector is expected to attain a double-digit growth. Ophthalmic and intraocular implants are largely made up of many micro sized and highly precise components and assemblies. This market sector continues to remain one of the largest and fastest growing micro medical and pharma micro device sectors, globally.
MARKET DATA:
The global ophthalmic device market was valued at $10 Billion in 2008 with the US market comprising $5.5 Billion of this. Driven by growth in the vision care and cataract surgery market categories, the market is forecast to grow by 8.5% annually during 2008-2015 to reach $15 Billion U.S. ($9.8 Billion in the US).
On the downside, due to reduced consumer discretionary spending in the U.S., the market continues to grapple with growth decline in the refractive surgery. On the upside, the treatments for other conditions are the major factors for the vastly emerging growth markets worldwide.
• Major players in the pharmaceutical space include
- Alcon (now part of Novartis)
- Allergan, Inc., o Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
- Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
- Genentech Inc.
- Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- ISTA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Johnson & Johnson (Vistakon Pharmaceuticals, LLC)
- Merck & Co., Inc
- Pfizer, Inc.
- Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
• Major players in the surgical space include
- Abbott Medical Optics
- Alcon (now part of Novartis)
- Bausch & Lomb
CONDITIONS AND TREATMENT: The eye is a complex and sensitive organ. There are many structures and targets, located closely together and sometimes, in terms of target for treatment, these structures are conflicting one another in their proximity. Existing in the eye are significant defense mechanisms, such as the tear film and the cornea, that present challenges for medication to enter. Specifically, the vitreous fluid (see Figure 1.1) is difficult for injected medication to traverse to reach the posterior of eye.
Fig 1.1. Anatomy of Human Eye, Photo credit- MasterEyeAssociates.com
A number of CONDITIONS of varying seriousness and interest
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Dry eye syndrome
- Uveitis
- Retinal detachment
- Advanced Age & Lifestyle Diseases; still an extremely high level of unmet need
- Other (Of lesser importance can be treated / managed with eye glasses, OTC medication, antibiotics, and specific hygiene protocols and, in limited instances, with surgery)
TREATMENT often requires contributions from two or more parts of an inseparable therapeutic triad
- Ophthalmic pharmacology
- Surgery of the visual tract
- Implantable ophthalmic medical devices
Highly innovative specialist companies dominate pharmacological development. Innovative companies on the drug delivery side are equally important. Industrial development occurs through a large number of highly focused, research driven specialist companies, often very small and funded through innovative-support funding programs. Such companies need to be able to easily find a large marketing partner such as big pharma, which is often funding this development externally in lieu of doing it themselves in-house.
Highly innovative specialty companies define and epitomize the requirement for treatments of these conditions with micro sized and ultra-precision components and assemblies. Anyone who has ever worn corrective contacts and/or been on the bad end of a windy day near an outdoor fire pit, you have probably noticed that the smallest speck in your eye can cause you severe pain. The reasons for intraocular implants being micro-sized then are to provide the eye an extreme level of comfort with the least invasive, yet compliant implants in the human body. The thin and delicate structures of the eye require paper thin and flexible components that are nonetheless strong enough to withstand extreme fluid pressures in and behind the eye. The successful creation of a device that is both paper thin and strong is an engineering challenge that requires the skill and expertise that only micro molding and nano surface specialty companies can understand and implement. Let us explore this micro requirement specifically for some of the more common conditions/treatments.
For example, Glaucoma, the “sneak thief of sight” affects many elderly, African Americans, and those with a family history. Considered the 2nd leading cause of blindness (after cataracts), Glaucoma is principally caused by elevated intraocular pressure within the eye. Micro surgical devices and intraocular implants are used if eye drops are not an effective treatment. Micro components and surgical treatments include:
- Trabeculectomy (laser surgery) is most common approach; creates a hole in sclera to allow fluid to drain into the outer cyst
- Conventional surgery can also be used to create a drainage hole in the white part of the eye if laser surgery is unsuccessful
- Implant surgery positions a device to aid the drainage; estimated that several thousand are performed each year in US
- Canaloplasty places a microcatheter into Canal of Schlemm to enlarge the natural drainage channel for healthy eyes
Figure 1.2 shows a glaucoma drain, commonly known as a shunt. This shunt is injection molded, spherically shaped with a wedge-shaped radial side action in the tool that creates the drain geometry. At the end of the side action travel is a 250 micron orifice whereby no flash can be tolerated. Shunts are mostly tubular, however this one is 3d shaped and designed for placement in the sclera (side of the eye). It is designed to act like a venturi system which uses the pressure of the eye to push the discharge from glaucoma to behind the eye where it can drain. In addition to the 250 micron entry orifice, there are 4 suture holes of 250 micron diameter (2x a human hair) molded into the top of the implant. These suture holes also must be free and clear of particulate or flash to prevent sutures from cutting during implantable or after surgery.
Figure 1.2 Micro Injection Molded Glaucoma Drain (Shunt), Photo Courtesy of Micro Engineering Solutions
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of permanent impairment of reading ability and loss of fine detail for those over age 65. The macula (see Figure 1.1) is the central portion of the retina used for seeing fine detail and can be destroyed in one of two ways beginning at age 60. In 2004, 1.5% of adults over age 40 experience advanced AMD and 6.1% had intermediate AMD (1.8 and 7.3 million adults, respectively). The dry form is the most common form of AMD but it can become the wet form which is more destructive. In dry AMD light sensitive cells in macula break down. Dry AMD is treated with oral ingestion with a high dose of anti-oxidants and zinc. Wet AMD is characterized by growth of abnormal blood vessels behind the retina. Laser surgery used in a small % of patients to destroy vessels but the treatment also damages the retina. Another treatment approach involves intravenous injection of a photo activated drug into the arm. When exposed to light in the eye the drug is activated and it destroys the new unwanted blood vessels. Injections into the eye to block the growth of abnormal new blood vessels is also available. Prior to 2007, medicine was not available to treat AMD; in 2007 the market was estimated to represent more than $1.2 billion in sales.
Figure 1.3 shows an AMD guidance device used in laser surgery. The spherical radius sits on the cornea and the lens underside must be free of flash, mold parting lines, and surface imperfections. The 300 micron laser hole shuts off on the spherical radius and blending these geometries three-dimensionally in steel to produce the polymer micro injection molded component is very challenging.
In this case, material selection was also a key factor in providing the rigidity required to hold the guide in place during laser deployment. USP Class VI materials (they have previously been used in medical products) are necessary and also require OEM testing even if they are shown to be Class VI compliant.
Figure 1.3 Macular Degeneration Laser Guide, Photo Courtesy of Micro Engineering Solutions
Dry Eye is one of the most common reasons for an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Dry Eye condition is defined as an irritation of the eye due to an inability to produce or maintain/retain enough tears on the surface of the eye. It can result in damage to the front surface of the eye and impair vision. The causes vary from specific diseases (such as Sjögren’s syndrome or lacrimal and meibomian gland dysfunction) to other causes including age, gender (women are more susceptible), medications, certain medical conditions, environmental conditions such as exposure to smoke, wind, or dry climates, and other factors such as prolonged use of contact lenses or refractive eye surgeries (LASIK).
Treatment, may require micro components (approximately ¼ the size of a grain of rice) include punctal plugs (See Figure 1.4) whereby a plug is surgically placed in both the top and lower eyelid to prevent fluid in the eye from draining, thereby keeping the eye hydrated. Additional treatments use OTC eye drops or prescription lubricants and anti-inflammatories. These medications are extremely costly and if not administered properly (balancing the dropper over the eye and making sure it all gets into the eye) defeats the purpose and wastes consumer and healthcare costs. Much effort is put into micro pumping and micro administering of these fluids with aspirators, implantable pumps, and slow release polymers that release the drug in timed increments.
Figure 1.4 Punctal plugs placed in drainage channels of the upper and lower eyelids. Photo credit- allaboutvision.com
Design Considerations:
Many drug delivery devices are now manufactured in non-traditional ways such as silicon wafer technology, MEMS, and ground-up manufacturing methods. These methods are then matched to more traditional top down methods to provide medical and pharmaceutical companies with differentiated and strategic value. These processing techniques are typically developed using “conventional” single micron level positional accuracy using current work holding devices. These methods are inadequate in preventing cross contamination of actives in capillaries and other microscopic microfluidic assemblies. NANOmeter-positional accuracy was not available to the mainstream even 2-3 years ago. Even today, traditional pallet-holders coupled with automatic X, Y, Z probing can barely guarantee a 1 MICRON positional accuracy. It is also strange to think this isn’t good enough for the eye, but the surface finish is absolutely necessary, orders of magnitude tighter tolerances than seen in conventional or macro manufacturing.
So it is evident that developing ophthalmic and intraocular implants require thinking at the scale of which the human body operates and the human body operates at the scale of nanometers. White and Red blood cells on average range from 8-100 microns in diameter and DNA can be as small as 2-3 NANOmeters. In between these two range a great deal of discovery and science that we cannot begin to understand without simulation outside the body and mimicking strands of DNA and blood cells working together. It is for this reason that ophthalmic, intraocular, drug delivery and pharmaceutical device companies are looking for help from manufacturers to push the boundaries of what is possible to achieve features and tolerances in the NANOmeter range. What we have discovered in the micron range has certainly helped us to learn some top down methods that didn’t work and some bottom up methods that worked (see Figure 1.5) but needed some refinement using a combined top down/bottom up method.
Top down methods:
- Laer machining
- EDM-WEDM
- Ultrasonic machining
- Ion machining
- Grinding
- CNC machining
- Chemical milling
- Photochemical milling
- Electrochemical machining
Bottom up methods:
- Genetic code
- Complexity theory
- Self-assembly
- Biological cell
- Proteins
- DNA and RNA
- LIGA
- 3D printing
Figure 1.5 MES Micro and Nano Manufacturing Methods Used today and in the future
Growing structures (ie. Bottom Up methods) to create geometry was also not mainstream until 2-3 years ago. A good rule of thumb for material and process marrying will force a top down methodology until we can mill, grind, edm (electrical discharge machine), diamond turn, and etch no more. We have already used LIGA (German acronym meaning lithography, electroplating and molding) for many years as a Bottom Up method. However with the emergence of 3D printing, at some point in the near future, we will be looking at that technology to create geometry, surfaces, and – when the materials are available and 3D printable – human organs. This will push micro manufacturers and macro manufacturers beyond our capabilities in Top-Down Methods OR there might be a “marriage made in heaven” employing both methods.
For example, in the area of diabetes, (in Figure 1.6, a Google Lens) Google is developing a smart contact lense for measuring glucose in tears. Google says the lens comprises “chips and sensors so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair”. The chip and sensor are imbedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. A tiny pinhole in the lens allow tear fluid from the surface of the eye to seep into the glucose sensor. The prototype currently being tested can take glucose level readings every second. The project was cofounded by Brian Otis and Babak Parviz who worked together at the University of Washington before moving to Google. One can’t help imagine that, beyond diagnostics, completely encased electronics placed onto the cornea may one day bring vision, gaming, web browsing, and social interaction to a completely new level. Alternative methods are coupling neuroscience with ophthalmic science as seen in Figure 1.7, which shows a retinal implant embedded in the eye that restores vision to the vision impaired or the visionless.
Figure 1.5 Google Smart Contact Lens, photo courtesy of Google
Figure 1.6 Retinal Implant, photo courtesy of Institute for Ophthalmic Research at the University of Tübingen
Non-traditional methods for manufacturing such as nanometer positional accuracy and dust-specked sized injection molded, machined, and assembled components are spawning technological advances in ophthalmic intraocular implants and intraocular drug delivery devices. These new methods combine traditional top down methods and futuristic bottom up methods to provide medical and pharmaceutical device companies with enabling products to treat the likes of glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, dry eye, and even diabetes around the world. Areas unknown can be explored with micro manufacturing- restoring lost vision, enhancing vision, hydrating eyes in harsh conditions, gaining less invasive ways to cross the elusive blood-retinal barrier, micro-electronics and eyes controlling the brain to control prosthetics, and even controlling motion for paraplegics. Imagine- the technology allowing people to see……people they haven’t seen in years, objects in a room, light in a sky, food on a plate, and to recognize a smile. We are fortunate to be well positioned in micro and nano manufacturing to play a part in enabling these treatments and products that contribute to worldwide health.