R&D of RoHS compliant lead (Pb) free piezoelectric materials in active medical needle devices

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• 批准号: 133248
• 金额: $ 8.34万
• 依托单位: ACTIVE NEEDLE TECHNOLOGY LTD
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Feasibility Studies
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2018 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=133248
• 关键词: R&D; RoHS; compliant; lead; Pb

"Active Needle Technology Limited ""ANT"" are the developers of a specialised high frequency vibrating needle that aims to reduce needle placement errors associated with ultrasound guided interventional procedures. This will save time, lower the cost burden on the NHS and other healthcare providers and reduce the need for the patient to return because their medical procedures (biopsy or epidural) failed. The ANT team has progressed to stage of having a pre-production prototype of this vibrating needle. ANT's development pathway is blocked by a near term environmental and regulatory roadblock. In order to work, the needle must vibrate rapidly, and these vibrations are provided by a special ceramic material (piezomaterials) that contains high quantities of lead. This large lead content creates hazards during processing, limits applications (e.g., _in vivo_), and is environmentally toxic during disposal. As response, regulatory agencies world-wide, including the EU (RoSH Directive), have begun restricting its use, which has triggered a strong desire to identify new lead-free alternatives with comparable properties to those currently used. While the medical device industry is currently exempt from such restrictions (until 2019), ANT aims to be ahead of the game by developing lead-free piezomaterials in its needle guidance technology. A particular market of focus for ANT is Germany, hence having a lead-free product is consider to be a major market advantage.The challenge for ANT, and project motivation, is to identify and characterise the most suitable lead-free piezomaterials for ANT's needle. In particular, a major aspect of ANT's in-house development is the use of computer modelling to ensure the needle actuator delivers the required performance. Current computer models can't deal with lead-free piezoceramic. The innovation takes a number of forms:1 - ANT's active needle approach is innovative in terms of clinical practice;2 - to date nobody has used lead free piezomaterials in a medical device and;3 - The refinement of current computer models so that lead-free piezomaterials can be designed and manufactured."

Active Needle Technology Limited“ANT”是专门高频振动针的开发商，旨在减少与超声引导介入手术相关的针放置错误。这将节省时间，减轻 NHS 和其他医疗保健提供者的成本负担并减少患者因医疗程序（活检或硬膜外）失败而返回的需要。 ANT 团队已经进入了该振动针的预生产原型阶段，该原型的开发途径受到近期环境和影响的阻碍。监管为了工作，针必须快速振动，而这些振动是由含有大量铅的特殊陶瓷材料（压电材料）提供的，这种大量的铅含量会在加工过程中产生危险，限制应用（例如，体内）。作为回应，包括欧盟（RoSH 指令）在内的世界各地的监管机构已开始限制其使用，这引发了寻找具有与这些材料类似性能的新型无铅替代品的强烈愿望。目前使用。虽然医疗器械行业目前不受此类限制（直到 2019 年），但 ANT 的目标是通过在其针引导技术中开发无铅压电材料，从而在竞争中处于领先地位。 ANT 重点关注的市场是德国，因此拥有无铅产品被认为是主要的市场优势。ANT 面临的挑战和项目动机是确定和表征最适合 ANT 针的无铅压电材料。特别是，ANT 内部开发的一个主要方面是使用计算机建模来确保针执行器提供所需的性能。当前的计算机模型无法处理无铅压电陶瓷。这项创新有多种形式：1 - ANT 的主动针方法在临床实践方面具有创新性；2 - 迄今为止，还没有人在医疗设备中使用无铅压电材料；3 - 改进当前计算机模型，使铅-可以设计和制造自由压电材料。”