Breakthrough in animal drug delivery relies on Covestro polycarbonates
Paws-itively life-enhancing solutions
Pittsburgh, February 10, 2020 — Wearable drug delivery devices have changed the way medication is administered to patients by shifting treatment from the hospital to the comfort of their own homes. However, animals have not had the same freedom during treatment as they often face limited mobility and are kept at animal hospitals.
Now, a breakthrough in drug delivery is changing how veterinarians deliver pain medication to dogs and cats. The Mini-Infuser™ Subcutaneous Constant Rate Infusion (SQ-CRI) pump is the first wearable drug delivery device designed for small companion animals, according to RxActuator. By eliminating the possibility of tangled or disconnected IV lines, this device enhances comfort while reducing staff oversight. Additionally, the manufacturer designed this easy-to-use wearable to improve treatment by:
- Reducing the risk of medication errors
- Allowing animals to maintain mobility during drug delivery
- Enabling owners to take their pet home
The Mini-Infuser™ pump case features white Bayblend® T85 XF PC+ABS blend from Covestro. Additionally, clear Makrolon® Rx1805 polycarbonate in a blue tint is used for the device’s trim. According to Roy Ince, global account manager, healthcare commercial operations – Polycarbonates, Americas, Covestro LLC, these polycarbonate materials are easy to mold and offer good chemical and impact resistance—important attributes for this application.
“With its wealth of materials and technical knowledge, Covestro was able to recommend the right polycarbonate grades to help us create an innovative and dog-proof drug delivery device for the veterinary industry,” said Doug Nutter, chief marketing officer, RxActuator.
According to RxActuator, the Mini-Infuser™ is unique in that it achieves constant and reliable infusion without any electronics. Additionally, it is more cost-effective than a regular infusion pump. The device is distributed by REM Systems in Australia and New Zealand, and sold directly in North America and worldwide by RxActuator.
“We think of our four-legged companions as members of our families, so naturally we want them to be as comfortable as possible when medicine must be administered,” said Lauren Zetts, Americas segment manager, Healthcare – Polycarbonates, Covestro LLC. “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with RxActuator on an innovative device that does just that.”
Attendees at MD&M West, February 11-13 in Anaheim, California, can visit the Covestro booth (#2221) to learn how the company’s materials are pushing boundaries in healthcare applications.
About Covestro LLC:
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business, which is among the world’s largest polymer companies with 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, electrical and electronics, and healthcare industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 16,800 people at the end of 2018.
About RxActuator:
RxActuator, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, has developed the first wearable infusion pump for animals, the Mini-Infuser™. The Mini-Infuser is a new and unique technology solution to provide reliable, constant drug flow rates. Mark Banister, RxActuator’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, invented a polymer which exhibits unprecedented expansion generating high force. From this discovery, RxActuator developed the current award-winning Mini-Infuser™ pump. This lightweight, wearable, disposable micro-pump platform has a broad range of drug delivery capabilities for animals. The Mini-Infuser™ pump is designed for Animal Use only, under the prescription of Licensed Veterinarians. Human use is prohibited by US Federal Law.
Find more information at www.covestro.us or www.solutions.covestro.com/en/materials/plastics.
Bayblend® and Makrolon® are registered trademarks of the Covestro Group.
Covestro Contact:
John Skabardonis, Phone: +1 412 413 5444
John.Skabardonis@covestro.com
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This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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