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| Courtesy:Hera Health
Solutions |
Eucontra is a resorbable contraceptive arm implant
made from a biodegradable material that differs from current contraceptive
implants in that it does not need to be removed when the implant’s effective
period is over. It found a spot in top three
The
conference was held at University of Minnesota and claimed by the organizers as
the world’s largest premiere medical devices conference. Minnesota has a rich
history regarding medical device innovations and a great deal of medical device
technologies, particularly implantable devices, originated in this state.
Eucontra is an
implant made up of electrospun poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) nanofibres and Etonogestrel
that surface degrades over the three-year span that the hormone is released. It can
be used with the current applicators and it is radiopaque and shows up in
Ultrasound. It is 99.99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
The company, Hera Health Solutions is looking
for funding to further support these designs with proof of concept and start
manufacturing the product for the international market.
The current
implantable contraceptive device needs to be surgically removed after 3 years
when the drug runs out. Over 25 million devices have been distributed outside
USA in the year 2015 and this means over 8 million implants will need to be
removed surgically by 2020.
The device is often lost, migrating from the site of implant, necessitating a difficult removal and long time in operative room.
Here is a video about the new
innovative Eucontra device.
Eucontra Concept
What is thye trade name? FDA approval??Table 1: Different Implants
ReplyDeleteSix Rods:
Norplant (Levonogestrel) –not used nowadays.
Two Rods:
Jedelle (lLevonorgestrel)
Sinoplant II (Levonorgestrel)
Single Rod:
Implanon – 3 years (etonogestrel)
Nestorone – 2years (Nestorone)
Uniplant – 1 year (nomegestrol acetate)
Both Norplant and Jadelle one made of contain levonorgestrel as the principal hormone but Norplant was used to be marketed as silastic capsules while present day Jadelle is marketed as ‘Covered Nods’.
Where we should refrain from using Implants ? The contraindications:
ReplyDeleteWomen who should not use implants include those who are breastfeeding and are less than six weeks since giving birth; have a current blood clot in deep veins of legs or lungs; have unexplained vaginal bleeding that requires evaluation;. Have breast cancer (currently or in the past); have severe liver disease, infection, or tumor; and currently use anti seizure drugs or rifampicin.
Proper counselling is very important: we should always inform the concerned implant acceptors the possibility of probable side effects. Then what ae the possible Side Effects? :
ReplyDeletea) Changes in disturbances of vaginal bleeding patterns are almost inevitable in users of modern contraceptive implants, and there are no devices that can guarantee regular bleeding or even amenorrhea. These bleeding disturbances are not known to threaten the health of implant users, although they may lead to further investigations to rule out cervical or even endometrial pathology. Their major significance is the degree to which bleeding disturbances are disliked by women, leading to rejection or discontinuation of these methods.
Continuous progestogen only contraceptive use may change the vaginal bleeding pattern; amenorrhea, irregular bleeding and/or prolonged bleeding may occur, although some women will experience a regular monthly bleed. The extent of the bleeding irregularity and the user’s willingness to accept it are important decision criteria to continue or discontinue the current treatment. The acceptability of a particular bleeding pattern is in influenced by the individual woman’s personal, social and cultural background and hence perception of the bleeding.
Other Side Effects:
a) Headache, b) Swelling (redness, pain, hematoma, expulsion of the Implanon), c) Nausea, d) Breast pain, e) Mood swings, f) acne worsened in 10% of women with pro-existing acne.
Non-hormonal methods are considered the first choice for nursing women because they have no influence on lactation. Progestin-only methods minipills DMPA; including implants, do not affect lactation or infant growth and are a good second choice. Starting their use after 6 weeks postpartum avoids exposure of the infant to orally active steroids such as levonorgestrel and desogestrel in a period of rapid infant brain growth.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the barriers for use of biodegradable implants?? Barriers for use in India:
i) High cost. The availability of implants to users depends on affordability. The majority of women in low-resource settings would be unable to pay the full cost of implants and implant insertion subsidized by government. Generic production of implants could reduce prices dramatically.
ii) Not freely available
iii) Help of HCP is essential both during initiation and discontinuation of contraception.
iv) Not freely available in the open market more so biodegradable implants.
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ReplyDelete