Live from MD&M West: Creganna Launches Electroactive Polymers for Minimally Invasive Applications

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Creganna now supplies electroactive polymers, which can be employed to enhance maneuverability of guidewires or catheters, improve microdevice retention and fixation, or anchor implants.

At a press conference this morning, Creganna (Galway, Ireland) announced that it now supplies electroactive polymers (EAPs) for microdevices and minimally invasive applications. The company, which designs and manufactures drug-delivery devices for a range of cardiac and orthopedic applications, acquired the EAP technology from material research company Micromuscle AB (Linkoping, Sweden) in October 2008.

Designed to function in internal liquid environments, EAPs can perform motions similar to the flexing of a human muscle when subjected to an electrical current that can be started and stopped as needed. Such capabilities open up a range of possibilities for designers, including enhancing devices currently available. They also can be employed for drug-delivery applications. Unlike passive delivery devices which typically release drugs at a predetermined rate, EAPs enable active delivery capabilities.For minimally invasive devices, the EAPs could be employed to enhance maneuverability of guidewires and catheters, improve retention and fixation of such devices as ear ventilation tubes, or anchor implants and electrodes. A major benefit of incorporating the EAPs into microdevices is that they can replace certain mechanical components, thereby reducing the overall profile of the device, according to Alan Crean, Creganna business development. The polymer can be formed to function as a component that opens and closes part of microsurgical tool, for example.EAPs also can be used as coatings for devices such as catheters and pacemaker leads to reduce potential infections or improve device performance characteristics. Conductive polymer coatings can be combined with antimicrobial and contrast agents or customized for specific applications. Some drugs sensitive to electrical currents may not be compatible with the EAPs.Although the EAPs are currently offered in a variety of formats, the company can work with OEMs to tailor the materials to meet their application requirements.