Instead of glass, Syreen syringes are made with COP (cyclic olefin polymer) plastic, which has enabled Cambridge Consultants to shed the need for secondary packaging altogether, a first in this medical device arena.
The makeup of the Syreen allows syringes to clip together, nesting in a pack while the COP design doubles as the outer shell of the packaging itself. The Syreen therefore eliminates the need for wasteful fillers such as cardboard and Styrofoam, reducing today’s standard packaging weight by 30 per cent and volume by 50 per cent.
The US alone produces 6,600 tons of medical waste per day, equalling well over two million tons per year - approximately 85 per cent of which goes to landfill throughout the country.
To use Syreen, the user simply unclips the pre-filled syringe and puts it against the desired area on the skin. After delivery, with a simple snap, the user ejects the needle into the sharps bin, allowing the user to potentially recycle the plastic capsule.
Patient and healthcare provider safety is also increased due to two further features of the design. First, the COP plastic syringe features a curved surface over the needle that, while keeping the syringe from rolling and reducing needle-stick accidents, also ensures overall stability and depth control during injection. Secondly, the design insures that, with separated plunger and stopper, it is impossible to take in blood or other contaminants, reducing the risk of cross infection.
Cambridge Consultants is currently seeking to develop the Syreen concept with large pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical packaging companies.
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