Gas Power
Eliminate Performance Constraints & Deliver the Next Generation of Therapies
Technology
Overview
Medical-grade compressed gas cylinders represent the next innovation in drug delivery device power sources. This ground-breaking technology and expansive field of application offers a new realm of injection framework capability and flexibility.
Moving Past Performance Barriers
High Volume
When balancing the needs for better therapeutic efficiency and patient centric approaches for self-delivery of drugs, the volume of the therapy is often increased to keep the therapy within the performance constraints of spring-power delivery systems. This often leads to higher delivery volumes and thus extended delivery times, which diminishes the patient’s experience. The energy density of the AltaVISC gas-powered delivery systems far exceeds traditional spring driven systems enabling the delivery of higher volumes within traditional delivery timeframes.
High Viscosity
Similar to the challenges faced with high volumes, some companies desire to maintain smaller doses to ensure therapeutic compliance as well as maintaining a positive user experience. This can force companies to transition to larger gauge needles and/or be forced to use much larger springs which can compromise the primary container or even force a primary container material change thus increasing lead-times, regulatory burdens, development costs and time to market. Compared to traditional spring driven systems, AltaVISC enables the delivery of high viscosity applications (5000cP+) within traditional delivery timeframes. Further, the soft-start nature of AltaVISC eliminates the impact force inherent with spring driven systems reducing the likelihood of syringe breakage. The power of gas makes viscosity challenges a thing of the past, allowing scientists to focus on better therapeutic formulations.
Long-Acting Injectables
Long-acting injectable drugs provide sustained therapeutic effects over an extended period with fewer doses compared to oral or short-acting medications in hopes to have improved adherence, stable drug levels, reduced side effects, enhanced efficacy and convenience to the patient. LAI’s are often ultra-high viscosity and thus present a challenge for traditional spring driven systems. The AltaVISC gas-powered delivery system broadens the viscosity limits enabling the delivery of long-acting injectables within a traditional auto-injector form factor.
Consistent Performance
The Pico-Cylinders contained within the AltaVISC gas-powered delivery system are filled within a tight specification to ensure a consistent and predictable delivery performance. Further, the Pico-Cylinders are manufactured to the highest quality standards including 100% fill tolerance and leak-free verification to ensure reliable and trustworthy therapeutic delivery.
Flexible Performance
A major benefit of the AltaVISC platform is the tunability that can be achieved with the gas-powered drive system. In contrast to spring driven systems which often require the repackaging of various sized springs to meet varying delivery requirements, a simple change to the pressure inside the Pico-Cylinder can custom tailor the delivery profile to account for various volumes, viscosities or needle sizes.
Reliable Performance
Safety and reliability are always at the forefront of any design. Pico-Cylinders, the heart of the AltaVISC drive system, were introduced to market in 2017. To date over eight million Pico-Cylinders have been utilized in medical devices worldwide without a single failure.
Customizable Performance
Altaviz has successfully and reliably integrated gas power into a wide range of devices. However, we remain deeply attuned to the evolving landscape of therapies and the limitations of current technologies. With extensive expertise in selecting the most suitable gas types for various technological applications, Altaviz excels at creating simpler and more efficient solutions. This often leads to the development of new, advanced designs. Rather than offering a standard approach, Altaviz prioritizes understanding your unique needs and collaborating to develop customized solutions that not only meet your current requirements but also support your future growth.
Reduced Syringe Impact
The gas-powered engines in our delivery system are closely integrated with our predictive models. Unlike spring-powered systems, which release energy suddenly to displace high-viscosity or high-volume drugs, gas power provides a controlled and predictable increase in force until the required delivery pressure is reached. As a result, the device will never experience impact forces higher than the delivery forces needed. Our no impact Soft-Start technology delivery mitigates unnecessary violent impacts of spring-powered systems, providing a smooth and controlled delivery from start to end of dose.
Quiet Delivery
Gas power ensures a quiet, controlled and predictable release of energy, precisely tuned to meet performance requirements. By eliminating the jarring tactile and audible feedback often associated with high powered springs, gas power technology promotes better adherence to therapies and instills greater confidence in users, especially those who often feel apprehensive about needles.
Which Gas is Right For You?
Carbon Dioxide Gas
- Abundant and Cost-Effective: CO2 is readily available as a byproduct of many industrial processes, making it relatively inexpensive and easy to source.
- Non-Flammable: CO2 is non-flammable, making it safer for use in many applications.
- Environmentally Neutral in Some Uses: When sourced from recycled industrial emissions, CO2 can be considered environmentally neutral, as it prevents additional carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
- Stable and Inert: CO2 is chemically stable and non-reactive under normal conditions, allowing it to be safely used in a wide variety of applications without unwanted reactions.
- Efficient for Gas-Powered Systems: In drug delivery systems, CO2 provides a predictable and controlled release of energy, which can improve precision in drug administration.
Argon Gas
- Chemically Inert: Argon is a noble gas and is chemically inert, making it ideal for applications where it is crucial to prevent unwanted chemical reactions, such as welding or protecting sensitive materials.
- Non-Toxic and Safe: Argon is non-toxic and non-flammable, which makes it safer to handle and store compared to more reactive gasses.
- Widely Used in Industry: It is commonly used in arc welding, semiconductor manufacturing, and as an inert atmosphere in various industrial processes due to its stability.
- Effective Insulator: Argon is used in double-pane windows and other insulation applications because it reduces heat transfer, improving energy efficiency.
- Predictable and Consistent Performance: In applications like gas-powered drug delivery systems, argon’s inert nature and consistent behavior under pressure ensure reliable performance over time.
Nitrogen Gas
- Abundant and Cost-Effective: Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, making it readily available and relatively inexpensive to produce.
- Inert and Non-Reactive: Nitrogen is chemically inert under normal conditions, which makes it ideal for applications where preventing oxidation or other chemical reactions is critical, such as in food packaging or chemical storage.
- Non-Toxic and Safe: Nitrogen is non-toxic and non-flammable, ensuring safer handling compared to more reactive gases.
- Wide Range of Applications: Nitrogen is versatile, used in industries such as electronics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and as a protective atmosphere in metallurgy.
- Cryogenic Applications: Nitrogen, in its liquid form (liquid nitrogen), is used in cryogenics for purposes such as cryopreservation, superconductors, and even quick freezing of food or biological samples.
Helium Gas
- Inert and Non-Reactive: Helium is a noble gas and is chemically inert and non-reactive under most conditions. This makes it ideal for applications where a non-corrosive, stable environment is needed, such as in welding or semiconductor manufacturing.
- Light and Low-Density: Helium is the second lightest element and is commonly used in applications like balloons, airships, and leak detection systems due to its low density and buoyancy.
- Safe and Non-Toxic: Helium is non-flammable, non-toxic, and inert making it safe for use in various environments, including medical and laboratory settings.
- Superconductivity and Cryogenics: Liquid helium is used in cryogenics, particularly in cooling superconducting magnets, such as those found in MRI machines and particle accelerators. Helium exhibits an extremely low boiling point making it well suited for applications requiring ultra-low temperature applications.
- High Thermal Conductivity: Helium has excellent thermal conductivity, making it useful for heat transfer applications, cooling systems, and in situations where efficient temperature control is critical.
SF6 & C3F8 Gas
- Perfluorinated gases such as SF6 and C3F8 are extremely inert and non-reactive, making them non-toxic and safe for use in implantable medical applications. Typical applications include the use as a contrast agent for ultrasound/MRI imaging or as an intraocular tamponade agent to aid in the healing of retinal breaks or detachments.
- When used as an intraocular tamponade, SF6 substantially diffuses from the eye in approximately 12-14 days, C3F8 substantially diffuses from the eye in approximately 6-8 weeks.
TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT
Altaviz Created the Pico-Cylinder
The Power of Gas
After decades of limited options to power drug delivery devices, the next generation has arrived.
Medical-grade compressed gas cylinders represent the next innovation in drug delivery device power sources. This ground-breaking technology and expansive field of application offers a new realm of injection framework capability and flexibility.
NOTE: links in this section will take you to the website of our Sister Company, Picocyl
for Precision Delivery
as an Energy Source
as a Therapy
Whitepapers
gas power test kit
Get your hands on it…
Gas Power Test Kit
The Gas Power Test Kit has been purpose-built for product designers and engineers to see, feel, hear and experience the unique characteristics of the Pico-System.
- Experience the controlled and consistent power generated by a compressed gas Pico-Cylinder.
- Compare the experience of a Pico-Cylinder vs. legacy driven syringe of 100cP fluid through a 27-gauge thin wall needle.
- Experience and measure the incredibly low and consistent opening force of a Pico-Cylinder and its patented break-away septum cap.
- Experience the silent delivery of high viscosity therapeutics in a Pico-Cylinder powered delivery system.
- Take advantage of consulting services provided by the global leader in developing gas power components and solutions.
