Silicone Rubber Project Partners in the UK

BIOFORS: UV-induced Biofilm prevention

Bacteria-related infections, growing in biofilms on medical equipment during use, is a major problem for hospitalised patients and is associated with high costs for the healthcare system.

Primasil and a number of partners in research, development and production have come together in one interdisciplinary, international collaboration known as BIOFORS. The prime goal is to find an appropriate solution for medical tubing, using controlled release of UV light, but also through surface modifications.

UV light has a well-known cell-killing effect and is today used in many different areas such as water treatment and disinfection of air. The European consortium is developing a UV-conductive structure on the inside of medical tubing using silicone.

The UV light will then be transported along the length of the tube and continuously released from its inside in order to prevent biofilm growth.

Minimising biofilm formation on the inner surface of medical tubing will lead to reduced risk of patient infection and related health problems, and result in huge savings for the healthcare system.

PAXMAN COOLING CAPS

For many cancer patients, the worry and discomfort from their diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment is compounded by the confidence-sapping side effect of hair loss.

In collaboration with a university partner, Primasil helped Paxman to develop its initial, innovative cooling cap in the 1990s. Essentially it consists of a compact refrigeration system connected to a lightweight silicone rubber cap made from HCR.

By lowering the head and scalp temperature immediately before, after and during treatment, it reduces blood flow to the follicles and so prevents or minimises damage.

To make the device even more effective and satisfy growing demand, the collaboration improved the cap’s fit and introduced greater levels of automation to its production process.

Our first challenge was to create a new formulation which would give the cap sufficient flexibility to adapt to varying head shapes and sizes across the world.

Our second task was to review the manufacturing process and automate it wherever possible, allowing more efficient and higher volume supply in response to market needs and opportunities.

EmerEEG: Traumatic Brain Injury diagnosis

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is recognised as a major public health concern, especially for teenagers and young adults, since it can lead to significant disruptions in education, working ability and quality of life in general.

It is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. 

Currently, there is no objective method for diagnosing TBI in an early stage or in emergency, which is a premise to prevent serious health impact.

Primasil have joined forces with a European consortium to develop a portable medical device for the reliable emergency diagnosis of TBI. Primasil’s expertise has been fundamental to the development of a vacuum based helmet device that allows accurate positioning of up to 32 electrodes as part of the diagnosis method.

The innovation will increase quality of life, improve first-aid care, and healthcare in remote and rural areas. Moreover, society will benefit from sustainable savings in costs for healthcare and for work disability.