Unijectis a disposable, pre-filled, single-usesyringewhich was developed to promote vaccination in developing countries. It was developed byPATHas part of the solution to the problem of delivering vaccines to areas which have insufficient medical workers to meet the needs of traditional, doctor-mediated vaccination programs.
History
editThe Uniject was invented by PATH in 1987.[1]
In 2003 PATH accepted aTech AwardfromThe Tech Museum of Innovationfor its development of the Uniject.[2]
Use
editTo activate the device, the user would first shake the device to homogenize the liquid suspension. Then, thetamper-evidentseal would be twisted. After that, with "a firm, rapid motion" the needle shield would be pushed into the port until the "gap between the needle shield and port closes completely".[3]To actually use the device, the needle shield needs to be removed, exposing the needle. The user would then push the needle into the skin. Almost simultaneously, the reservoir would be pushed down in a similar motion to opening ablister packor using a syrette, dispensing the medication through the needle into the skin.[original research]The device, once used, should be consideredsharps waste.
The introduction of the Uniject has been called "the greatest single leap forward in the battle against tetanus"[4]because it has allowed tetanus vaccines to be used in places which were previously inaccessible to health programs.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"A HealthTech Historical Profile - The Uniject Device"(PDF).path.org.Program for Appropriate Technology in Health.June 2005. PATH identifier mfvp24049.Retrieved26 June2011.
- ^"The Tech Museum Awards - Technology Benefiting Humanity".techawards.org.The Tech Museum of Innovation.2003.Retrieved26 June2011.
- ^Guillernet, Elise (July 2015)."Acceptability and Feasibility of Delivering Pentavalent Vaccines in a Compact, Prefilled, Autodisable Device in Vietnam and Senegal".ResearchGate.
- ^"Tsetse flies, tetanus and the doctor".smh.com.au.The Sydney Morning Herald.25 June 2003.Retrieved26 June2011.