Get ready for a smarter CSTD.
Working with hazardous drugs can be dangerous. The exposure during compounding, administering and other handling has been linked to significant adverse health effects including cancers, infertility and more. Over 5.5 million healthcare workers are exposed annually to hazardous drugs during the preparation and delivery of chemotherapy, which studies have shown to cause serious health problems. Protective equipment intended to shield you from these dangers often can be complicated, difficult to use, and provide incomplete solutions.
That’s why Corvida Medical® is developing halo.
Process and engineering solutions have evolved to protect workers and patients when chemotherapy is prepared and delivered. A cornerstone technology that has emerged is the Closed System Transfer Device (CSTD). The devices provide vapor and leak-proof connections between the components used in the compounding and administrative chemotherapy processes. The components include drug vial adapters, syringe and line adapters, and bag spikes. At each one of these connections there is an opportunity for chemo to enter the working or patient environment, and the CSTD devices safely lock up those connections to contain drug through the reconstitution and transfer steps.
However the safe handling methods available today are not perfect. Research and testing has shown that there are functional improvements that would make CSTDs more efficient to use and more effective. At Corvida, we have designed the Halo from the ground up to address these improvements focusing on the most important element of product design, the end user.
Problems with Common Methods of Handling Hazardous Drugs
- Existing methods provide inadequate containment
- Existing methods have a confusing array of parts, too many pieces, too many steps
- Existing methods make cleaning critical sites nearly impossible due to part geometry
- Existing methods may not adequately protect user from risks of needle sticks
- Existing methods make it difficult to determine if secure connections have been made due to difficulty of product use
- Many of the existing methods do not provide users feedback on handling
- Awkward physical design and high prevalence of repetitive stress injuries due to significant twists and motions required for connections by existing methods
