Ophthalmology surgical procedures are becoming more common because of the effectiveness of treatments and the development of novel therapies. The aging population in the US and Europe is also contributing to the rise in eye surgeries as many retinal illnesses are age-related, at least in part. This increase in the rate of surgical procedures means there is a growing need for specialist ophthalmic needles and medical devices. Intravitreal injection treatments, where drugs are injected directly into the vitreous humor of the eye, are one of the most common types of surgical procedures in ophthalmology. This type of treatment is more effective than the alternatives (such as topical treatments) as intravitreal injection delivers a precise dosage of drugs to the target treatment area of the eye.
Innovating to Address Challenges and Improve Patient Outcomes
While there are positives in terms of the treatments available and patient outcomes, innovations in this field of medical device design are ongoing. Areas of focus include addressing specific ophthalmology challenges and improving patient outcomes.
Ophthalmology Specific Devices
It has been common in the past for clinicians to use general-purpose hypodermic needles to treat eye conditions and illnesses. Those devices would be carefully specified, but they are not designed specifically for ophthalmic procedures.
There is now a growing trend for ophthalmology-specific needles that address the shortcomings of general-purpose hypodermic needles while also enhancing performance.
An example is non-siliconized syringes as the siliconized versions in many general-purpose hypodermic needles increase the risk of silicone oil droplets getting into the vitreous humor. Other examples are injection guides to assist in procedures and needle shrouds to prevent contamination from eyelashes and eyelids.
Trauma and Patient Discomfort
One of the issues that ophthalmologists have to deal with is patient noncompliance. This is where a patient stops getting treatment (which can be frequent in nature) because of discomfort. Increasing satisfaction with treatments through the development of new intravitreal injection devices can help to improve patient retention rates.
Risks of Complication
Innovations in ophthalmic micro needle medical devices also aim to reduce the risk of complications as a result of procedures. This includes everything from vitreous reflux to infectious endophthalmitis (a serious infection of the inner layers of the eye).
Novel Therapies
The type of therapy being delivered by the device is also a factor, especially in relation to viscosity. For example, it is easier to administer highly viscous drugs through needles with a large internal bore whereas for patient comfort and minimal trauma, the thinner the needle the better.
Ophthalmic Micro Needle Medical Device Design Considerations
Extra Sharp Needle Points
Minimising penetration force is essential in ophthalmic surgical procedures. It is also important to optimise penetration success rates and accuracy. Extra sharp needle points are, therefore, crucial.
Needle Size
While 27-gauge needles are used for some ophthalmic procedures, smaller 30-gauge or 32-gauge needles are usually preferred because they reduce patient discomfort. Ultra-thin needle walls are also beneficial, although needle strength and ductility also come into play.
In terms of length, needles for ophthalmic procedures can range from 4mm to 15mm.
Other Factors for Consideration
- Use of a luer lock to prevent leakage and reduce the risk of needle pop-off, i.e., the needle breaking away from the hub under high pressure.
- Reduce waste in what can be high-cost medications as well as ensure accurate delivery volumes. This can be achieved by reducing dead space in the device so as close to 100 percent of the therapy as possible is injected during the procedure.
- Required injection routes – subconjunctival, periocular, intravitreal, and intracorneal.
Evolving Field of Medical Device Design
While eye surgeries and ocular drug delivery procedures have been available for quite some time, this is an evolving field of medical device design. This means there is considerable scope for innovation in complication prevention, patient satisfaction, and the development of novel therapies and the devices required to administer them. To discuss your idea for a new ophthalmic device or micro needle manufacturing requirements, please contact us at Arrotek today.
