Many novel medical products and devices can't be brought into the market since currently used thermal, radiation and chemical sterilisation methods are insufficient for complex medical applications.
For example, thermal sterilisation processes are slow, destroy modern optical, optoelectronic and plastic instruments and change material properties. Or chemical sterilisation processes such as ethylene oxide and hydrogen peroxide are toxic, mutagenic and ineffective for various pathogens.
Through basic research the Swiss company discovered different mechanisms to eliminate pathogens and endotoxins on surfaces circumventing traditional sterilisation processes which can't be used for complex medical products and technologies. They investigated how gas plasma interacts with pathogens, endotoxins and biologically active molecules attached to material surfaces. Over the past two decades they have developed a variety of novel plasma systems to sterilise complex medical products and technologies. Depending on the market requirement the company is able to adjust and fine-tune the sterilisation processes to assure product reproducibility and highest product quality.
With the developed cold plasma systems for sterilisation/depyrogenation following medical materials and products can be sterilised:
" Biocidal and biomimectic material attached to the surfaces. With traditional thermal or radiation based sterilisation processes the attached material is eliminated or altered." Endoscopes. As expensive, thermally and optically very sensitive instruments they can't be sterilised by thermal or chemical methods." Implants containing plastics that resorb in the body. Thermal and radiation sterilisation methods affect the resorption properties of the implants and hinder that biomimectic implants are being tested in the market." Many instruments used in medical application work on shear mechanisms. This in turn requires sharp edges on the instrument (e.g. in scalpel, dental drills etc.). Thermal sterilisation is blunting the sharp edge and instruments have to be discarded after repeated use.
Depending on the market requirements there are demonstration units available or specific pilot plants have to be evolved. There are possibilities to co-finance pilot plant development through public R & D grants.
The Swiss company seeks to collaborate with forward looking medical product manufacturers to jointly develop, validate and certify unique sterilisation process that enables medical technology companies to become pioneers and leading suppliers in the market.
Innovative Aspects:
1. Novel, ultra-fast sterilisation/depyrogenisation process (10 x faster than traditional sterilisation processes);
2. Process operates at ambient temperatures (ideal for thermolabile products);
3. Depending of plasma type able to inactivate all types of pathogens including prions and endotoxines;
4. Low running cost (operating materials are gases and electricity);
5. Environmentally friendly (use of natural gases such as nitrogen, argon, hydrogen and oxygen);
6. Highly experienced management team with sound track records.
