New Medical Device for Eye Injections
AmDel Medical Limited is a Liverpool based business that employs seven people and was established in 2004. They work closely with the NHS and provide medical devices to the UK and Ireland healthcare markets, such as ophthalmic devices.
The challenge
Some medical procedures require injections directly into the eye, using a speculum that keeps the eye open and makes use of an indicator to locate and administer a dose directly into the eye correctly.
Hundreds of thousands of these procedures are conducted every year in the UK alone, and the current equipment for this operation consists of a spring operated metal speculum and a separate injection indicator guide.
All parts have to be manufactured, sterilised, packaged, transported and stored and used only once then discarded.
AmDel Medical Limited wanted to improve this process by developing a simple moulding that would do all necessary functions in one easy to manufacture device, an 'optical speculum'.
The solution
The School of Engineering's Advanced Manufacturing team assisted in the development of this device through a student project.
Impact
Currently, there are 30 rapid prototype fabricated sterile prototypes awaiting clinical assessment to provide final feedback before ordering full manufacturing tooling.
Benefits
- New product to help to increase turnover and win new business
- Patent protection
- Patient increased safety
- Cost and materials saving for customers
Funding
The device was developed through collaborative work, part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered as part of the support for design and rapid manufacturing project (SusDRaM), which enables northwest-based small and medium enterprises to trial additive manufacturing technologies.
Based on its performance on projects like this, SusDRaM was awarded an extension from December 31st 2012 until March 31st 2013.
Other collaborations
In June 2012, the company also worked with the Advanced Manufacturing team to generate another student project which engaged four master's-level undergraduates from the School of Engineering.
The team had to optimise an existing device for manufacture, an Arterial Connector, by modifying the current design based on feedback from surgeons.
The Arterial Connector was granted it's European Patent and is now under construction ready for launch in May 2013. Dr Allan Rennie supervised the project.