SABIC HELPS ENEURA CREATE NOVEL MIGRAINE RELIEF DEVICE SPORTING SLEEK, CUSTOM-COLORED HEALTHCARE-GRADE HOUSING

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is showcasing here at NPE 2018, booth S19001, the success of its collaborative efforts with customer, eNeura Inc. (“eNeura”), in developing a clinically proven, non-drug option for the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches. The sTMS mini® by eNeura® is a physician-prescribed, portable delivery system for single-pulse, transcranial magnetic stimulation. Working with SABIC and PTA Plastics, its injection molder, eNeura selected SABIC’s LEXAN™ polycarbonate (PC) copolymer for the housing of the device. This healthcare-grade material met the company’s stringent requirements for biocompatibility, resistance to impact and household chemicals, light weight for easy handling, and the ability to be precisely color matched. The sTMS mini was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for migraine prevention in 2017, following previous agency clearance in 2014 for acute treatment.

“Our collaboration with SABIC and PTA Plastics early in the development process helped us accelerate time to market for the sTMS mini migraine device,” said David Rosen, president and chief executive officer (CEO), eNeura. “Expert guidance from both companies simplified the process of selecting the best housing material. Fast service from SABIC – including a one-week turnaround on color-matched samples – allowed us to move quickly to prototyping. We’ve had very positive feedback from patients, indicating that LEXAN copolymer resin’s performance and attractive aesthetics enhance our device’s usability and overall appeal.”  

“We have worked successfully with SABIC for many years,” said Rich Dorans, chief operating officer (COO), PTA Plastics. “Our team relies on the company’s broad portfolio because we can always find a material that precisely meets our customers’ specific needs. In the case of eNeura’s device, LEXAN copolymer resin checked all the regulatory and performance boxes. It surpassed other candidates such as standard PC, which lacked good chemical resistance; ABS, which failed the drop test; and PVT, which had flowability issues. SABIC resins help PTA Plastics deliver on our promise to take ideas from concept to completion faster and more cost-effectively than any other plastic injection molder.”

Driving Innovation in Home Healthcare

The eNeura team engineered the device for ease of use, portability and compact sizing, while giving it an aesthetically compelling design that raises the bar for medical devices. Designed for use at home, at work or while traveling, the eNeura migraine device aligns with the steady expansion of the global home healthcare market, predicted to grow at a CAGR of 7.8 percent through 2025.1 This trend is fueled by high inpatient costs, population aging and technology advancements.

“SABIC innovation is helping to facilitate the home healthcare megatrend, among others,” said Ashir Thakore, global segment leader, Healthcare, SABIC. “Our growing portfolio of healthcare grades gives device designers new choices for optimizing portability, ergonomics and comfort – all of which encourage patient compliance. Device OEMs like eNeura are turning to our engineered thermoplastics to meet the specialized requirements of home use.”

SABIC’s LEXAN copolymer resin enhances usability of the sTMS mini device in home or work settings in several ways. This robust material stands up to everyday use. It resists degradation from several common household cleaners and offers excellent impact performance. Its light weight, compared to metal and other traditional housing materials, makes the device easy to lift into the pulse delivery position behind the patient’s head. To provide a water-tight seal, the SABIC material was overmolded with a thermoplastic elastomer. SABIC provided customer color-matching services to assist eNeura with an attractive appearance for the housing.

Supporting Regulatory Compliance

LEXAN copolymer resin is one of SABIC’s healthcare-grade materials, which are included in the company’s Healthcare Product Policy and offer traceability. The policy provides pre-assessment of resin biocompatibility according to ISO 10993 or USP Class VI standards, and FDA Drug or Device Master File listings. These materials offer customers assurance of biocompatibility and can help streamline regulatory approvals.