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Biocompatible Polymer Needle Coating for Improved Patient Safety

Prevents Unwanted Migration of Tumor Cells or Backflow of Delivered Drugs

This biocompatible polymer coating seals needle tracks to prevent unwanted movement of cells after biopsy or impede backflow of drugs during infusions. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure for tumors in which a needle is used to extract cells from a lump or mass for microscopic evaluation. One safety concern of this procedure is the potential risk of tumor cells inadvertently breaking away from the tumor due to mechanical disruption from the needle, thus enabling spread to areas beyond the isolated tumor such as along the needle track. Although this is a rare occurrence, using a needle with this biocompatible polymer coating will serve as a precautionary measure during FNAB procedures. Sealing of needle tracks also has other important applications for infusion drug delivery. The seal prevents backflow of delivered drugs or cells along the track to areas where they are not intended to be delivered. This is increasingly relevant with the growing use of direct drug and cell infusion methods like convection-enhanced delivery, for example, for locations of deep tissues such as the brain.

 

Application

Biocompatible polymer coating for the sealing of needle tracks to prevent unwanted movement of cells after biopsy or backflow of drugs during infusions

 

Advantages

  • Prevents unwanted movement of cells after biopsy, improving FNAB procedures and addressing current safety concernss
  • Eliminates backflow of drugs during infusions, enabling more accurate and targeted drug delivery
  • Offers significant improvement to FNAB and direct drug infusion procedures, increasing patient safety and offering valuable competitive and market advantage

Technology

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a novel biocompatible needle coating which consists of an outside layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) atop an underlying thin layer of polyethylene oxide (PEO). The water-soluble polymers rapidly hydrate and swell upon contact with tissue fluids, creating an annular barrier that prevents the backflow of fluids, drugs, and cells while the needle is in the tissue. Additionally, once the needle is removed, the PEO/PVA polymer coating remains in the needle cavity to prevent further backflow.Using this polymer coating on needles not only prevents the transfer of cancerous tumor cells from migrating from the biopsy site during FNAB procedures, but also enhances the delivery of beneficial drugs to allow accurate and targeted delivery during tissue infusion procedures.

Patent Information:
App Type: Patent No.: Patent Status:
ORD/UTIL 9,370,626 Abandoned CON 9,629,943 Issued