With the Scottish Business Awards, the local business community recognises successful companies that stand for growth and development. This year, the Needle-Trap needle protection system was the winner in the “Product of the Year” category.
With the Scottish Business Awards, the local business community recognises successful companies that stand for growth and development. This year, the Needle-Trap needle protection system was the winner in the “Product of the Year” category.
The label with an integrated needle trap was entered by FLEXcon, a company specialising in film solutions with European headquarters in Scotland. For the unique needle protection label by Schreiner MediPharm, FLEXcon developed a material that meets all the demands made on a pharmaceutical label.
The Needle-Trap syringe label combines an injection-moulded part with a film and serves to reliably protect the needles of prefilled syringes after the injection. A film by FLEXcon is used for this unique ‘two-in-one’ principle. “With our product we’re offering Schreiner MediPharm a customised solution that is tailored exactly to meet the needs of the application,” says Lee Macnamara, Application Development and Marketing Director for FLEXcon Europe. The experts from FLEXcon, together with Schreiner MediPharm, selected the material, surface coating, adhesive and liner material according to the requirements of this special application.
For use on clear containers, the visual clarity of the film is crucial. The contents are visible after application of the label and only medications in appropriate condition are administered. The surface properties of the label have been designed to make the material suitable for conventional printing and subsequent variable marking techniques. The high tack force ensures reliable adhesion to glass syringes and the needle-trap catcher, which is a plastic part.
Efficient processing – ease of use
“Needle-Trap can be adapted to all commonly used syringe dimensions. Due to the simple design, the specialty labels can be easily processed on conventional labelling equipment,” says Ann L. Merchant, President of Schreiner MediPharm. The syringe label meets the requirements of the regulatory authorities for safety and quality, including the new EU Directive 2010/32/EU, and has been awarded 510(k) certification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing in the United States.
Needle-Trap is easy to handle by medical staff. The user simply has to bend the needle trap that is integrated in the label towards the side before performing the injection. The system is activated by using one hand. Handling of the syringe remains unchanged. The process of securing the needle after the injection is one-hundred-percent controllable and, contrary to some automatic passive activation mechanisms, occurs without patient contact. Additionally, functionalities such as graduations or counterfeit protection features may be integrated into the label. Furthermore, Needle-Trap allows reliable documentation of injections that have been performed. For this purpose, the label is equipped with optional detachable label parts which healthcare personnel apply directly to the patient’s medical file or vaccination card.
