Summary:
Researchers in UCLA’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery have developed novel multi-drug delivery system that is compatible with standard syringe-based administration routes.
Background:
Drug compounding is the process of combining two or more medications to meet the needs of individual patients. Surgeons may mix different anesthetics and anti-inflammatory drugs tailored to specific procedures and patients. However, certain state guidelines have recently been revised such that only physicians, not medical assistants or nurses, can compound drugs. In practice, this means physicians must pre-emptively draw their own mixed medications prior to procedures, which is time-consuming and impractical, or medical assistants and nurses must draw the medications into separate containers for physicians to mix prior to injection. In overstrained healthcare facilities, these additional steps can increase the risk for medical errors, which account for thousands of deaths annually and billions of dollars in needless healthcare spending. There is an urgent need for a modular drug compounding system to provide patients with timely, safe medication.
Innovation:
Researchers led by Dr. Fabrizio Billi in the UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery have developed a multi-cartridge syringe system that enables loading of multiple drugs into a single syringe, removing the need for compounding until delivery. Each cartridge is pre-loaded with a specific medication and dose by a pharmacist or manufacturer to ensure accuracy and sterility. QR-code labeling of the cartridges helps to ensure accuracy. In practice a medical assistant or nurse may assemble these multi-drug cartridges onto the syringe, preventing drug compounding until the physician depresses the plunger to release the drugs into the patient. This innovation can reduce physician workload, improve patient outcomes, and minimize needless healthcare costs from inaccurate compounding.
Potential Applications:
• Surgical drug delivery
• Emergency medicine
• Chemotherapy delivery
• Heparin flushing
• Pharmacy preparation
Advantages:
• Drug-agnostic
• QR code tracking
• CA state nursing board-compliant
Development-To-Date:
Researchers have designed the multi-cartridge system.
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2024-015