Bergen, Norway, June 6th, 2024: Today, Lifecare ASA (LIFE), a clinical stage
medical sensor company developing the next generation Continuous Glucose
Monitor (CGM), announces that the company has concluded the sterilization
protocol for production preparations, to be implemented in the automated
sensor production.
The Lifecare organization is working on preparations for automated production
after a successful pilot production at the end of Q1. Part of these
preparations has also been to finalize a procedure for sterilizing the
sensors, including both the advanced chemistry and sensitive electronics. In
our early product development, we have applied Gamma radiation as sterilizing
method, being costly and complex in a logistics perspective.
Lifecare has now concluded on a protocol for a sterilization based on exposing
the implant for UV-light and Ozone. The method is gentle, timesaving and very
cost-effective, compared to alternative sterilization methods.
- This method can easily be implemented in the production line and scaled up
in an automated production. The method of combining UV-light and Ozone is well
proven, cost efficient and only takes a few minutes, says CEO Joacim Holter at
Lifecare.
Lifecare, in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences
(NMBU), has carried out trials and analysis, and can therefore document that
the method meets the high standards necessary for our medical device.
Finalizing the sterilization protocol has also been important in the
preparations towards the planned longevity studies (veterinary), as the sensor
with electronics will be fully implanted under the patient's skin. In both
perspectives the implant must be sterile to not cause infection or irritation.
Lifecare's required specifications for sterilization has been clear all along
for this important part of sensor production. In the sterilization process,
Lifecare is dependent not to expose the sensor's advanced chemistry and
electronics to damage. Therefore, we have spent a lot of resources over a
period of time to conclude a method that satisfies the requirements for
sterilization and is gentle enough for the sensor. We have tested various
methods, and our investigations show that heat, pressure, gamma radiation,
chemicals and gas cannot be used.
About us
Lifecare ASA is a clinical stage medical sensor company developing technology
for sensing and monitoring of various body analytes. Lifecare's main focus is
to bring the next generation of Continuous Glucose Monitoring ("CGM") systems
to market. Lifecare enables osmotic pressure as sensing principle, combined
with the ability to manipulate Nano-granular Tunnelling Resistive sensors
("NTR") on the sensor body for read-out of pressure variations. Lifecare's
sensor technology is referred to as "Sencell" and is suitable for identifying
and monitoring the occurrence of a wide range of analytes and molecules in the
human body and in pets.
Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Joacim Holter, CEO, joacim.holter@lifecare.no, +47 40 05 90 40
Renete Kaarvik, CFO, renete.kaarvik@lifecare.no, +47 94 83 82 42