Development of a biobased environmentally sustainable single-use medical device

Purpose and goal:

This project aims at the development of a biobased single-use medical device and includes finding a more sustainable material for a medical device with short-term invasive use. The project includes a screening lifecycle assesment to ensure environmental sustainability, material characterization to fulfil regulatory requirements, as well as production of a functional prototype to assess the clinical potential and suitable industrial production method.

Expected results and effects:

Since this is an initial explorative feasibility study, a final result from this project will be a summary of all the results generated in the project including an assessment of material choice with low environmental impact, an overview of the regulatory landscape and initial data from characterization of the prototype as well as a plan on how to expand and continue this work in a future larger research and development project.

Approach and implementation: The project is divided into 4 work packages.

WP1 - Project management to ensure that the work proceeds according to plan and budget through regular meetings and to complete the final report to Vinnova. WP2 - Life cycle analysis to compare the environmental impacts of using a bio-based product versus a fossil-based one.

WP3 - Material characterization and biocompatibility tests on the selected material, as well as a review of the regulatory aspects for a bio-based material. WP4 - Selection of material and production of prototype, as well as evaluation of tests on the prototype.