Cartilage injury and osteoarthritis treatment developer Carticept Medical has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its Navigator Delivery System (DS).
Navigator DS is an ultrasound-guided, computer-controlled delivery system for administering pain-relieving medications for joint pain. It prepares and delivers physician-prescribed injections from standard multidose anesthetic and steroid drug vials, eliminating needle exposures to healthcare workers and minimizing the potential for contamination of the medicine, according to the firm.
Ultrasound guidance provides physicians with real-time visualization of needle position, fluid delivery process, and prescription volume, Carticept said. The system also records treatment data after the injection is delivered, and automatically creates a record for transfer to an electronic record management system, the company said.
In addition to its use in sports medicine and orthopedics, the technology has future applications in anesthesiology, radiology, and other specialties that require accurate dose delivery, according to Carticept.
