Under the terms of the agreement, BD will acquire the rights to a FDA-approved safety-engineered syringe, as well as all patents held by STM for a variety of other needle-based medical devices. The STM design employs a unique spring-based mechanism that offers significant advantages over other spring-based devices (often referred to as “retractable”) currently on the market.

“We believe that the STM design, when coupled with the work BD has done internally, meets every criteria for a spring-based syringe that enhances safety without compromising patient care or quality, ” said Kevin Seifert, director, Policy and Business Development, BD Advanced Protection Technologies. “It is superior to any spring-based syringe presently on the market and we are working rapidly to finalize the commercial product and to build production.”

Seifert explained that while BD is the supplier of the leading spring-based safety device, (the BD Insyte Autoguard™ shielded catheter), until now the company had not identified a design for a spring-based syringe that could meet the unique performance requirements for syringe use. “Customers tell us there are concerns with first-generation spring-based syringes, particularly related to proper medication dosage and ease-of-use for multiple procedures. In response, BD launched an extensive review of all available products and their limitations. We looked at everything, and there is no question, STM has the functional solution the spring-based syringe market needs.”

James E. Erbs, president of SAF-T-Med, said, “We are pleased to partner with BD, the industry leader in sharps safety, to bring our technology to fruition. This design represents a significant advance in health care and safety, and BD is the ideal company to develop, manufacture and bring the final product to market.”