Project description
A friction-free future for catheters
Catheters are vital medical devices, but they often face a significant challenge: surface friction. This compromises both patient safety and comfort. In this context, the EU-funded ExtruLub project proposes a solution to transform catheter performance without tampering with core properties. Specifically, the project’s innovative extrusion technology reduces surface friction, generates antimicrobial and antithrombogenic surfaces, and ensures utmost patient safety. Device manufacturers will gain a competitive edge in the catheter market, benefiting from genuine product differentiation and a chance to capture a larger market share. By shifting from lean to batch manufacturing, the technology will result in significant cost savings. Overall, this new technology is projected to generate millions of euros in revenue and create new jobs.
Objective
ExtruLubTM is an innovative, disruptive extrusion technology applicable across a range of polymer resins, which can change the surface of a catheter without affecting core device properties. The technology fits in the component sub-supply market with an initial global market of €564 mn applicable across all catheter markets, the latter estimated to reach $42.5 bn globally by 2020. From a functional perspective, it has the ability to reduce surface friction, generate protective antimicrobial & antithrombogenic surfaces, passing these benefits and profile reduction to catheters. This functional enhancement safeguards patient safety & commands genuine product differentiation for the device manufacturer, enabling market share. From an economic perspective it facilitates a change from lean to batch manufacturing realising cost containment. For example, an independent study showed ExtruLubTM, employed in the cardiology sector, would reduce costs for the OEM (e.g. Boston Scientific, Medtronic etc.) by 51 %, realising savings for them of ca. €3 mn p.a in one product. DiaNia Technologies will drive the optimisation & advancement of successful Phase 1 results through to commercialisation of ExtruLubTM into selected devices, engaging with a number of successful, leading MedTech companies. In doing so we will utilise direct links with MNCs at the early development phase of their new products. DNT will be taking an export led approach, exploiting the experience of our business development team & board members in expanding our component subsupply business in the MedTech industry. The positive effects of this project include increase in revenues to over €26 MN & employees numbers reaching 38 in YR 5 through the successful rollout of ExtruLubTM Technology.
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineangiologyvascular diseases
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugs
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiology
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.2.1.2. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Nanotechnologies Main Programme
- H2020-EU.2.1.5. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced manufacturing and processing
- H2020-EU.2.1.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
H91 Y682 Galway
Ireland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.