Plastic Syringes Research Articles

Comparison of different techniques used for inferior alveolar nerve block anaesthesia regarding the pain caused in cooperative children.

The aim of this study is to compare the application of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) anaesthesia in children with traditional plastic syringe (TPS) and computer-controlled injection device Dentapen® using two different modes [continuous mode (DC) and ramp-up mode (DR)] in terms of pain. This study included 96 children aged 7-12 who were determined to be positive (3) or definitely positive (4) according to the Frankl Behaviour Evaluation Scale and in need of treatment who had IANB anaesthesia indication in the right and left regions. Patients were divided into three groups and compared in terms of pain felt during IANB anaesthesia according to heart rate, oxygen saturation, Wong Baker Pain Rating Scale, Face Legs Activity Cry Consolability Pain Scale and patient preference distributions. Heart rate values increased significantly during the injection of IANB anaesthesia with all methods [TPS, DC and DR methods (p < 0.05)]. No significant differences were found in terms of pain between the TPS, DC and DR methods in the intragroup and intergroup assessments. However, among the patient preferences of TPS and DC methods, the number of patients who preferred the DC method was found to be statistically significantly higher those who preferred the TPS method (p = 0.026). Although the TPS group scored higher than the Dentapen® groups in terms of pain, the difference between the investigated IANB anaesthesia techniques was not statistically significant. However, the majority of the patients preferred the Dentapen® device compared to the TPS. It appears that more research is needed on the Dentapen® device in local anaesthesia applications in children.

Evaluation of interferents in sampling materials for analysis of post-explosion residues (explosive emulsion/ANFO) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

Chemical analysis aimed at identifying post-explosion residues is critical for investigating crimes or accidents involving explosives, establishing it as a vital area of forensic chemistry. In general, only trace amounts remain in samples analyzed for this purpose, making the presence of interferents a constant concern. Therefore, understanding the materials used from collection to sample preparation is essential for this type of analysis. This study focuses on organic contaminants in collection and laboratory materials analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), complementing a previous study by Mauricio etal. (2020), which addressed inorganic contaminants in materials used for similar purposes in ion chromatography (IC). No prior studies have specifically investigated the potential organic interferences introduced by various materials commonly used in forensic laboratories for sample pre-processing, storage, and evidence collection in this context. Plastic films, bottle caps, disposable gloves, syringes, swabs, disposable cups, plastic tubes, and plastic pipettes were examined. GC/MS analyses revealed that certain materials, particularly syringe plungers, gloves, and plastic films, can interfere with the detection of post-explosion residues from explosive emulsions and ANFO (ammonium nitrate-fuel oil). These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating materials for potential interferences prior to sample collection and processing to minimize contamination risks. This study provides significant insights into how commonly used laboratory materials can impact forensic analysis, thereby enhancing the reliability of post-explosion residue analysis and supporting more accurate forensic investigations.

Melt-blown polypropylene nonwoven as an efficient and eco-economic sorbent for pipette tip micro-solid phase extraction for the determination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors

BackgroundThe detection of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in biological fluids is essential due to their critical role in cancer therapy and the variability in individual drug metabolism, which necessitates precise dosing. Traditional methods for analyzing TKIs in biological fluids, such as blood plasma, typically involve complex sample preparation techniques that can be resource-intensive, environmentally burdensome, and not sufficiently sensitive for low-concentration analytes. There is a pressing need for more efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly methods that can enhance sensitivity and throughput without compromising accuracy. ResultsThis study explores the use of melt-blown polypropylene nonwoven (MBPP), commonly found in face masks, as a novel sorbent for pipette-tip micro-solid phase extraction (PT-μSPE). MBPP demonstrated excellent hydrophobicity and significant mesoporous adsorption capacity. An extraction device was fashioned by inserting a segment of MBPP (15 mg) into a 200 μL disposable plastic pipette tip, which was then attached to a 2.5 mL disposable plastic syringe. The MBPP's fabric form removes the need for a frit, allowing the extraction process to be completed in just 3 min through simple plunger manipulation. The method achieved extraction recoveries ranging from 60.5 % to nearly 100 %. Subsequent method validation using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) showed satisfactory linearity (coefficient of determination R2 > 0.993), accuracy (relative recoveries: 86.3%–114.8 %), and precision (relative standard deviation: 3.4%–11.3 %), with detection limits between 0.022 and 0.135 ng mL−1. SignificanceThe introduction of MBPP for PT-μSPE represents a significant advancement in the bioanalytical detection of TKIs, offering a highly efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable method. It compares favorably with existing techniques, offering advantages in terms of cost, environmental impact, and ease of use. This approach has the potential to be widely adopted for routine monitoring of TKIs in clinical settings.

Simple and Ultrasensitive Nanozyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for SARS-CoV-2 Detection on a Syringe-Driven Filtration Device.

This work proposed a simple and ultrasensitive nanozyme-based immunoassay on a filtration device for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid protein (NP). Gold core porous platinum shell nanoparticles (Au@Pt NPs) were synthesized with high catalytic activity to oxidize 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, leading to an oblivious color change. The filtration device was designed based on the size difference of magnetic beads, filter membrane pore, and Au@Pt NPs. A simple, rapid, and consistent washing procedure can be performed with the help of a plastic syringe. This detection method could realize the quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 NP within 80 min for point-of-care needs. The limit of detection for the SARS-CoV-2 antigen was 0.01 ng/mL in buffer. The coefficients of variation of the assay were 1.78% for 10 ng/mL SARS-CoV-2 antigen, 2.03% for 1 ng/mL SARS-CoV-2 antigen, and 2.34% for the negative sample, respectively. The specificity of the detection platform was verified by the detection of various respiratory viruses. This simple and effective detection system was expected to promote substantial progress in the development and application of virus immunodetection technology.

In-use stability of Rituximab and IVIG during intravenous infusion: Impact of peristaltic pump, IV bags, flow rate, and plastic syringes

This study investigates the impact of intravenous (IV) infusion protocols on the stability of Intravenous Immunoglobulin G (IVIG) and Rituximab, with a particular focus on subvisible particle generation. Infusion set based on peristaltic movement (Medifusion DI-2000 pump) was compared to a gravity-based infusion system (Accu-Drip) at different flow rates. The impacts of different diluents (0.9 % saline and 5.0 % dextrose) and plastic syringes with or without silicone oil (SO) were also investigated. The results from the aforementioned particular case demonstrated that peristaltic pumps generated high levels of subvisible particles (prominently < 25 µm), exacerbated by increasing flow rates, specifically in formulations lacking surfactants. Other factors, such as diluent type and syringe composition, also increased the number of subvisible particles. Strategies that can help overcome these complications include surfactant addition as well as the use of SO-free syringes and a gravity infusion system, which aid in reducing particle formation and preserving antibody monomer during administration. Altogether, these findings highlight the importance of the careful selection of formulations and infusion protocols to minimize particle generation during IV infusion both for patients’ safety and treatment efficacy.

P-731 Into a green (r)evolution in fertility centers: a forerunner experience

Abstract Study question Is it possible to redefine an everyday clinical routine at the fertility centers in order to reduce the environmental impact? Summary answer A fundamental improvement in the reduction of waste is the elimination of all unnecessary disposable tools, especially during embryo transfer. What is known already Pollution and related climate changes have a major impact on global health. While the mission of healthcare systems is to guarantee health among people, emissions from the health care setting significantly contribute to climate change. Recent publications have called for an emergency action to reduce the healthcare environmental footprint. The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) states that the current climate crisis implies an imminent health risk even to reproductive health. An immediately reduceable source of greenhouse emissions could reside in inappropriate and avoidable tests, procedures, tools and treatments used in clinical practice. Study design, size, duration This is a retrospective observational study in which all outpatient, surgical and laboratory procedures, that are part of the daily clinical routine at our fertility center, were analysed during a one-week period and evaluated to be strictly necessary or not. In particular, as for surgical activity, in the mentioned week, all embryo transfer (ET) and oocyte retrieval (OR) waste production was analysed. Participants/materials, setting, methods During the week of 18-24 September 2023, waste production from 80 ETs and 56 ORs procedures was analysed. The environmental impact of all unnecessary tests, procedures and tools was assessed in terms of energy-, time- and money-saving, waste production and potential harm to the patients. In particular, the amount of packaging unnecessarily produced each week was weighed. Main results and the role of chance In consideration of the high number of procedures performed at our fertility center, the amount of waste related to the surgical activity was estimated as too high. Regarding ETs, the estimated total waste for a single procedure is 0.6692 kg, 0.5749 kg being product waste, 0.0943 kg being packaging waste. Concerning ORs, the estimated total waste for a single procedure is 0.7563 kg, 0.6495 kg being product waste, 0.1068 kg being packaging waste. This waste can be reduced by eliminating extra-packaging for the ET and OR set (from «one pack for each item» to «all in one»). A significant role in environmental pollution is also played by plastic surgical drapes and physician’s coats, used to cover patients and operators to guarantee both protection and comfort. These plastic garments have several drawbacks, including difficult or unfeasible sterilisation as well as their disposable use, huge environmental impact and cost in their manufacture. A proposed solution is to avoid the use of unnecessary disposable tools, such as the plastic sterile physician’s coat, 2 out of 3 plastic sterile cloths to cover the patients and the plastic syringe during the embryo transfer. Limitations, reasons for caution The main limitation of the proposed solution is healthcare workers’ compliance. In fact, their willingness to participate in eventual future educational events and procedural changes is unknown. Another limitation is that it is not clear whether the removal of unnecessary facilities will lead to a real reduction in environmental damage. Wider implications of the findings Eliminating unnecessary materials during surgery seems to have a huge positive impact on waste reduction. Our future plan is to lead a prospective study to compare waste management, production and recycling differentiation of a selected week after the procedural changes and awareness-raising events with the already assessed week. Trial registration number Not applicable

Air injector geometry affects passive bubble acoustic signatures

Understanding the passive acoustic signals of gas bubbles has become increasingly imporant due to their growing relevance in ambient marine acoustics and medical areas, as well as the recent search for dark matter by Bubble Chamber Detectors. Here the acoustic signatures of 2.24, 1.83, 1.75, 1.66 and 1.43 mm radii bubbles are reported experimentaly. They were generated by two different air injectors in a quiescent liquid, a standard plastic syringe tube and 97 degrees-rotated metallic needles. The evolution of the sound pulse over time is presented alongside simultaneous images of the bubbles detaching from the injector and moving freely in the liquid. The beat-wave phenomenon is the standard interference pattern between two sounds of slightly different frequencies, generating a beat-period envelope of “rosary chain” form. In this study, beats are observed when the bubble exhibits changes in its shape through Cassini-oval, trapezoid, ‘guitar pick’, ellipsoid and oblate shapes, which is in agreement with earlier results on bubble fragmentation in a locally sheared flow. Finally, theoretical curve fits of freely-oscillating, lightly-damped bubble sound emissions confirm that the beats are due to changes in the bubble shapes.

Microplastics and nanoplastics released from injection syringe, solid and liquid dimethylpolysiloxane (PDMS)

For a plastic syringe, a stopper at the end of plunger is usually made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, and co-ingredients). To reduce friction and prevent leakage between the stopper and barrel, short chain polymer of liquid PDMS is also used as lubricant. Consequently, an injection process can release solid PDMS debris from the stopper and barrel, and liquid PDMS droplets from the lubricant, both of which are confirmed herein as solid and liquid micro(nano)plastics. From molecular spectrum perspective to directly visualise those micro(nano)plastics, Raman imaging was employed to analyse hundreds-to-thousands of spectra (hyper spectrum or hyperspectral matrix) and significantly enhance signal-to-noise ratio. From morphology perspective to provide high resolution of image, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was engaged to cross-check with Raman images and increase assignment / quantification certainty. The weak Raman imaging signal of nanoplastics was extracted using image deconvolution algorithm to remove the background noise and average the signal variation. To increase the result’s representativeness and avoid quantification bias, multiple syringes were tested and multiple areas were randomly scanned toward statistical results. It was estimated that thousands of microplastics and millions of nanoplastics of solid/liquid PDMS might be injected when using a plastic syringe of 1 mL. Overall, Raman imaging (along with algorithm and SEM) can be helpful for further research on micro(nano)plastics, and it should be cautious to use plastic syringe due to the increasing concern on the emerging contamination of not only solid but also liquid micro(nano)plastics.

In-syringe homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction followed by filtration-based phase separation for on-site extraction of chloroanilines from water samples.

This study introduces a new in-syringe homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction method for the rapid on-site extraction of chloroanilines from water samples. Extraction was performed using a plastic syringe, eliminating the use of any electrical power source. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA) served as the extractant. The process initially involved dissolving DEHPA in an alkaline solution to obtain a homogeneous solution. Subsequently, the sodium salt of DEHPA was precipitated by salting-out, and the resulting heterogeneous mixture was filtered using a syringe filter. The precipitate containing the analytes was then dissolved in methanol for analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Under optimal conditions, extraction recovery for chloroanilines ranged from 26% to 71%. Method linearity was evaluated within a concentration range of 1.0-100µg/L, resulting in coefficients of determination exceeding 0.9987 for all analytes. Method detection limits ranged from 0.28 to 0.41µg/L. Intra and inter-day precision values were below 9.5% and 10.8%, respectively. The developed method was applied to determine chloroanilines in real waters, yielding acceptable recoveries ranging from 80% to 109% for spiked tap, rain, and stream waters. Additionally, the method was successfully employed for on-site extraction of target contaminants, demonstrating no statistically significant differences compared to laboratory results.

Fibrin Clot–Augmented Meniscal Repair

Background: Failure rate of meniscal repair can reach 25%. Multiple techniques have been used to increase meniscal healing, notably biological augmentation techniques. One of them is fibrin clot–augmented meniscal repair, which will be described in this video. Indications: This technique is indicated mainly for the lesions with a high failure rate. This includes large, horizontal, and radial tears and even for meniscal cysts, especially in a stable knee. This technique can also be used in revision meniscal suture when failure is no longer an option. Surgical Technique: Fibrin clot is prepared from sterile peripheral venous blood from the patient. A plastic syringe is used to stir the blood in a sterile glass container. The fibrin clot is then formed and washed rigorously with saline solution. Rolling the fibrin clot which is fixed to the syringe allows to give the fibrillar aspect of the clot. The formed fibrin clot is now solid enough to be manipulated and can be fixed to a vicryl suture thread allowing it to enter the knee and be fixed inside the meniscal lesion. The clot is wrapped inside the meniscal lesion with inside-out or outside-in suture technique. Results: We used this technique for multiple types of lesions, like bucket handle meniscal tear, horizontal meniscal cleavage, parrot beak tear, and even in lesions within white-white zone. The postoperative protocol is the same as standard inside-out meniscal repair. This technique has been used in the literature with promising results. Conclusion: The fibrin clot–augmented meniscal repair is a demanding but promising technique. We need further follow-up to confirm its effectiveness. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Non-destructive Raman Method Development for Quantifying Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient in an Oral Suspension Through Plastic Dosing Syringes.

For liquid drug products, e.g., solutions or suspensions for oral or parenteral dosing, stability needs to be demonstrated in primary packaging during storage and in dosing devices during in-use periods per quality guidelines from the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA). One aspect of stability testing for liquid drug products is in-use stability, which typically includes transferring the liquid samples into another container for further sample preparation with extraction diluent and necessary agitation. Samples are then analyzed with traditional chromatography methods, which are laborious, prone to human errors, and time-consuming, especially when this process needs to be repeated multiple times during storage and in-use periods. Being able to analyze the liquid samples non-destructively would significantly improve testing efficiency. We investigated different Raman techniques, including transmission Raman (TRS) and back scatter Raman with a non-contact optic (NCO) probe, as alternative non-destructive tools to the UHPLC method for API quantitation in in-use liquid samples pulled into plastic dosing syringes. The linearity of the chemometric methods for these two techniques was demonstrated by cross-validation sample sets at three levels over an API concentration range of 60 to 80 mg/mL. The accuracy of the chemometric models was demonstrated by the accurate prediction of the API concentrations in independent samples from four different pilot plant batches manufactured at different sites. Both techniques were successful in measuring a signal through a plastic oral dosing syringe, and predicting the suspension API concentration to within 4% of the UHPLC-measured value. For future work, there are opportunities to improve the methodology by exploring additional probes or to expand the range of applications by using different sample presentations (such as prefilled syringes) or formulation matrices for solutions and suspensions.

A new method based on extraction induced by emulsion breaking for determination of Co and Ni in chocolate bars by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

This paper describes a new experimental configuration of extraction induced by emulsion breaking method to extract and determine Ni and Co in chocolate bars by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. At optimized conditions, the sample (0.08 g) was mixed with 4 mL of extractant solution (4% m/v Triton X-100 and 10% v/v HNO3) in a plastic syringe to form a solid-oil-water emulsion. Then, emulsion breaking was assisted by membrane filtration. The total extraction procedure took approximately 1 min, in opposition to 25 (centrifugation) and 50 min (heating). Extraction yields ranged from 94.8 to 114.3% for Co and from 85.9 to 108.4% for Ni. The limits of detection and quantification were, respectively, 24.73 and 82.45 μg Kg−1 for Co and 49.05 and 163.5 μg Kg−1 for Ni. Recoveries ranged from 92.1 (Ni) to 105.4% (Co).

Stability of Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and Phenylephrine for Intravenous Infusions Stored in Three Commercial Plastic Syringe Brands.

Stability of Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and Phenylephrine for Intravenous Infusions Stored in Three Commercial Plastic Syringe Brands.

Sustainable Construction through Waste Transformation: An Investigation into Bricks Made from Biomedical Waste

Abstract: This study explores the innovative use of biomedical waste, including sterilization wrap, plastic syringe components, medical glass, and mixed biomedical waste, as alternative raw materials in the production of sustainable bricks. Given the environmental and health risks associated with the disposal of biomedical waste, repurposing these materials for brick manufacturing presents a viable solution for waste management and sustainability in construction. Through chemical analysis, particle size distribution evaluation, and testing of physical and mechanical properties, this research assesses the feasibility and impact of incorporating various ratios of biomedical waste into bricks. The results indicate that certain biomedical wastes, particularly medical glass, can enhance the bricks' compressive strength and reduce water absorption, making them comparable or superior to traditional bricks. This study not only highlights the potential for reducing landfill use and environmental pollution but also contributes to the development of eco-friendly building materials. Future work will focus on optimizing material mixtures, evaluating long-term performance, and assessing the environmental impact of these sustainable bricks. This research underlines the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing environmental challenges, offering a promising avenue for waste management and sustainable construction practices.

Chemical Stability of Lorazepam Oral Solution Repackaged in Plastic Oral Syringes at Room and Refrigerated Temperature.

Purpose: Generic lorazepam oral solution is supplied in a 30 mL multi-dose bottle requiring protection from light and refrigeration, with a beyond use date of 90 days once the bottle is opened. The repackaging of 1 mL doses of lorazepam oral solution into oral syringes allows for facilitated dispensing, yet no available data supports repackaging and storing lorazepam oral solution in syringes. The validation and application of a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) method for the quantification of lorazepam allowed for the determination of the stability of lorazepam oral solution when stored in oral syringes. Methods: A stability-indicating HPLC-UV method was developed for the quantification of lorazepam in oral solution. The method was validated using guidance from USP < 1225 >. For the stability investigation, 2 mg/mL lorazepam oral solution was aliquoted into clear plastic oral syringes in 1 mLmilliliter doses from 2 multi-dose stock bottles and randomly allocated for storage in room temperature or refrigerated environment. Baseline lorazepam concentrations were measured on the day the study was initiated and designated as 100% initial concentration samples. Subsequent samples were analyzed in triplicate at time points of 24, 48, and 96 hours and 7, 10, 14, 21, 30, and 60 days. Results: The calibration curves on three non-consecutive days met the linearity criteria of R 2 > 0.99. Inter- day and intra-day precision and accuracy (percent relative standard deviation and percent error) were ≤2% over three days. During the stability investigation, percent initial concentration of lorazepam from room and refrigerated syringes remained above 90% for the duration of the study. Conclusion: The stability-indicating HPLC-UV method was successfully applied to the investigation of lorazepam oral solution stability when stored in syringes at room and refrigerated temperatures. The emergent need for use of lorazepam concentrate for inpatients and the restrictions of how the medication is supplied necessitated a need for the evaluation of repackaging into unit dose syringes for immediate availability from automated dispensing cabinets. Lorazepam oral solution stored in clear plastic syringes maintained greater than 90% initial concentration at both room and refrigerated temperatures for 60 days.

FDA Warns of Quality Issues Associated With Chinese-Made Plastic Syringes

FDA Warns of Quality Issues Associated With Chinese-Made Plastic Syringes

A Comparison of Pumping Infusion-Induced Contamination With Different Syringe Types.

Health care providers use several types of syringes in their daily routine to provide or safely deliver therapeutic agents to patients. Pump infusion with a syringe (PIS) are used for the rapid delivery of large amounts of fluid or blood to patients in critical conditions, such as hypovolemic shock. Patients often experience bacterial infections, such as catheter-related bloodstream infections, specifically when they are in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery or undergoing resuscitation in an emergency department. A previous study has shown that PIS may cause intraluminal contamination. This study compared PIS-induced contamination among different types of available syringes, including disposable plastic syringes produced by several companies, glass syringes, and syringes with plastic covers. The authors found that plastic syringes caused approximately equivalent PIS-induced contamination and that glass syringes caused substantially more contamination than plastic syringes. However, syringes equipped with a plastic cover exhibited no contamination. Furthermore, disinfection with ethanol completely prevented PIS-induced contamination. This study supports the evidence that PIS may cause bacterial contamination and that a thorough aseptic technique is needed, especially when using glass syringes. These findings highlight the need to develop alternative devices for rapid infusion.

Automated Digital Wind Instrument using Arduino UNO Microcontroller

Recently, Blackstar Amplification Ltd. has introduced a Compact Carry-On Digital Wind Instrument (CDWI), mirroring the design of traditional recorder instruments in their size and shape. This CDWI can be played as a traditional wind instrument by blowing into the mouthpiece and simultaneously manipulating finger holes, enabling the production of desired musical notes. The main aim of this research work is the development of a prototype model to automate the CDWI, by utilizing the Arduino UNO microcontroller board and introducing the Automated Digital Wind Instrument (ADWI). The CDWI has a mouthpiece, nine finger holes, and one thumb hole, and the blowing mechanism can be automated by using a 12 Volts DC air blower and a servo valve. The author ingeniously develops a new servo valve using a plastic syringe, a ball, and a 5 Volts DC micro servo motor to regulate the air pressure blown into the mouthpiece. The ADWI fingers are meticulously crafted using plastic pen barrels, thrust tubes, and metallic springs to simulate the actions of a human music player's fingers. Positioned to maintain all finger holes in an open state by default, the selective closing of specific holes is achieved by ten micro servo motors to produce a specific musical note. In a preliminary test, the ADWI prototype is programmed to perform the Nursery Rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." While evaluating the sound output by hearing, it is evident that the proposed ADWI effectively generates all the necessary musical notes. However, the noise generated by the air blower and micro servo motors introduces interference, impacting the clarity of the produced musical notes. Consequently, it is planned to integrate a noise reduction mechanism as part of future work.

Reducing rubber-plastic friction in syringes through microstructured surface design and manufacturing

Plastic syringes often rely on silicone oil lubrication to reduce plunger-barrel friction, leading to potential issues like oil droplet release and drug aggregation. This study explored an alternative approach combining two-photon polymerization, laser machining, and microinjection molding to manufacture micro-dimpled structures for low friction. Plastic microdimples with high area density and low aspect ratio significantly reduced the coefficient of friction against rubber, while the dimple profile proved crucial in facilitating replication and demolding. The results of this study provide valuable insights into reducing friction between rubber and plastic, particularly in applications like syringes.

Leveraging lean 4.0 technologies in healthcare: An exploration of its applications

Lean 4.0, a fusion of lean manufacturing and digital technologies, is a powerful tool for implementing Industry 4.0. Its widespread use across sectors is driven by its ability to eliminate waste, reduce errors, boost revenue, and enhance customer care and efficiency. In the healthcare sector, this fourth lean revolution is particularly beneficial, as it helps to curb wastage and enhance efficiency, leading to more effective outcomes. Lean 4.0, a globally recognized best practice for industrial organisations, has proven its worth in enhancing performance and competitiveness. Its success has led to its adoption not only in manufacturing but also in non-manufacturing sectors such as Healthcare, finance, telecommunications, construction, and logistics. Its ease of use and effectiveness make it a superior alternative to traditional medical waste management techniques. Relevant papers on Lean 4.0 for Healthcare in the current literature are identified and studied to evaluate the impact of Lean 4.0 principles in Healthcare. This review-based research studies Lean 4.0 technologies and their needs in Healthcare. It discusses sustainable support for the healthcare sphere through Lean 4.0. Paper briefs several modalities of Lean 4.0 for the healthcare domain. Finally, the paper identifies and discusses the significant applications of Lean 4.0 in Healthcare. Lean 4.0 is essential to lowering errors that lead to medical mistakes since this business deals with life-or-death situations. Healthcare institutions need to reduce their overall waste reduction. With Lean 4.0, staff members working in quality management, clinical operations, consulting, and patient experience can progress into leadership roles in the healthcare sector. Lean 4.0 technologies can reduce waste production, including employing reusable medical equipment or cutting down on packaging waste. The possible difficulty of integrating digital technologies with healthcare systems and practices is Lean 4.0's limitations for the healthcare industry. Healthcare institutions can use refillable syringes and other disposable items to reduce waste rather than disposable plastic syringes. In future, healthcare institutions may save costs and lessen their environmental effect by minimising trash by using lean 4.0 technologies.