What we offer

Our first products designed and sampled are  a Blood Collection Tube Holder (UNISONTM), a range of Auto-Retractable Syringes (DUETTM), which are capable of providing safety during both injection and aspiration (taking fluid from a patient), with samples of 10ml version available and a device that can be added to an existing prefilled syringe to make it retractable (SOLOTM).

All these products use our Controlled Helical Retraction Device (CHoRDTM) which contains a  patented ‘Helical track’ mechanism for controlled acceleration of the needle during retraction. It also contains a ‘Sealed Port’ to minimize splutter, and to allow for aspirated fluid containment. These CHoRDTM-based products have unique features to prevent both NSIs and blood aerosols not seen in other safety devices. 

We also have a design for a Retractable Needle Holder which connects with a tube, which can be used with devices such as a blood collection bottle (TUTTITM).

DUETTM controlled retractable syringe

A retractable safety syringe that can be used for both aspiration and injection

The standard size CHoRDTM can be used to produce a full range of sizes of syringes from 0.5ml to 50ml.

The DUETTM syringe can be used for the same medical procedures as standard, non-safe syringes, including aspiration and intravenous injection, whilst bringing all the benefits of the CHoRDTM.

In order to safely use the DUETTM syringe for aspiration, we have developed and patented the Companion for Dispensing Aspirant (CODATM). This simple adaptor allows the aspirated fluid, such as blood, to be safely transferred in complete safety to a sample vial after the needle has been retracted.

UNISONTM controlled retractable Blood Collection Tube Holder

C-Major Medical have also designed a holder which can be used with standard vacuum blood collection tubes. UNISONTM incorporates the benefits of the CHoRDTM which allows the needle to be safely retracted as soon as the blood collection procedure is complete.

SOLOTM Custom built Adaptor to convert existing prefilled syringe to retracting syringe

Designed to be supplied to companies who have existing pre-filled syringes, the SOLO device converts their syringe to a retracting version without the need to complete a full regulatory approval.

TUTTITM is a design for retracting a standard needle connected to a tube.

Designed but not yet manufactured, the TUTTI is intended to be used to connect a standard needle to a tube which can be then connected to a collection device such as a Blood Collection Bottle. The needle can then be safely retracted at any time.

 

Benefits of CHoRD™ Core technology

Minimises 'splutter' and aerosols of potential infectious blood or harmful injectant during the retraction of the needle.

Allows one-handed triggering, the timing of which the practitioner is in total control of. This allows the device to be made safe at any time, even if the procedure is not complete.

‘Luer lock’ design uses standard needles, giving total flexibility in line with all medical practices e.g. changing needles and preventing the need to stock syringes with dedicated needles.

Splutter

Splutter (also known as ‘sputter’ and ‘spatter’) is caused in auto-retracting safety devices by the acceleration of the needle as shown below but it can also be caused by flicking the syringe/needle to engage a needle guard safety shield. C-Major Medical’s patented CHoRDTM system uses a sealed port and a control system to minimise splutter as the needle is retracted to safety.

The production of splutter by safety devices is causing concern as described by The Journal of Hospital Infection.

This slow-motion video was produced on a test rig for C-Major Medical and demonstrates the splutter produced by an unsealed needle containing dyed water as it is retracted vertically. This test rig was built by Origin Product Design Ltd. during the design and testing of C-Major Medical’s CHoRDTM device.

Typical retractable syringe

Needle Retraction is driven by spring or other stored energy system

Rapid acceleration of the needle does not create sufficient momentum in the fluid of the needle

The patient’s blood is sprayed into the air as a fine aerosol of droplets – splutter

C-Major Medical Duet™ syringe with CHoRD™ technology

Needle retraction is driven by spring

Patented ‘helical track’ mechanism controls the acceleration, speed and deceleration of the retraction

The ‘sealed port’ prevents a pressure difference
The controlled acceleration and sealed port minimizes splutter

Need for new products

Whereas auto-retracting (also known as ‘passive’) syringes are more effective at reducing NSIs than any other safety system, and are forecast to be the fastest growing segment of the safe syringe market, there are several issues that have been reducing their uptake.

To increase the uptake and thus be more effective, auto-retracting devices that overcome significant restrictions in the medical applications where current devices can be used will need to be developed. C-Major Medical devices have been designed to overcome all of these restrictions.

Uniquely, C-Major Medical’s devices can be used for all syringe applications (including where only non-safe and active devices have been used), together with the increased effectiveness at reducing NSIs brought by automatic devices.

Our new products

C-Major Medical’s new products have been designed with the clinician in mind. After extensive discussions with users, a need for a product that was as close as possible to an existing, simple syringe or blood collection tube holder was identified. The product must, however, have the ability to get rid of the needle whenever the clinician needs to, as well as prevent splutter.

The key requirements of the design were:

  • A full range of safe, hypodermic devices (blood collecting, operator filled, and prefilled syringes, etc.) which work in the same way as existing standard devices to facilitate better training and better adoption.
  • The ability to fit and change user-selected standard needle sizes to a ‘luer lock’ on the needle carrier. This allows for best medical practice and reduces inventory costs.
  • Single-handed operation – the retraction must also be triggered without a change in hand position, but through a deliberate operation to prevent accidental triggering

  • To ensure that at the point of retraction there is no production of an aerosol of blood or other infectious agent (splutter)
  • The device can be rendered safe in normal operation at any moment that the clinician chooses, including administration of an incomplete dose if so desired
  • Operating these devices must require very little or no change from current procedures
  • Minimised the component parts to keep raw material and assembly costs to a minimum

Based on these requirements, the CHoRDTM retraction module was developed which controls the acceleration of the retracting needle and seals the needle before it retracts to reduce splutter.

The ChoRDTM platform was used as the basis for the design of a range of products. The first products will be an auto-retracting blood collection tube holder and a range of auto-retracting syringes as described above.

How to use

Remove needle from sterile packaging

Attach needle to device using Luer lock

Remove protective cap from needle

Next steps: injection

The syringe can then be used exactly as a conventional device to inject or to aspirate

As soon as the procedure is complete the clinician just has to press the button to retract the needle which then is safe

The syringe can then be disposed of in exactly the same way as conventional syringe

Next steps: aspiration

The syringe can then be used exactly as a conventional device to to aspirate

As soon as the procedure is complete the Clinician just has to press the button to retract the needle which then is safe

The CODATM is then fitted to the front of the syringe and the aspirant can be decanted into a suitable container.

The syringe can then  be disposed of in exactly the same way as a conventional syringe

Take a look at our aspiration systems in action:

For injection the whole operation can be one-handed and for Aspiration the withdraw from the patient and disposal can be one=handed, both exactly the same as with a conventional non=safe syringe.

If the DUETTM syringe has been used to aspirate, then the aspirated fluid is safely sealed within the syringe barrel. A small additional device (CODATM) is then attached to the syringe so that the sample fluid can be transferred to a sample jar or similar. During this process, the used needle remains safely within the device, and the empty syringe may be disposed of in a normal ‘sharps’ container.

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