Silicone Transfer Device for Medical Manufacturing

Abstract

Silicone transfer solutions currently on the market are expensive, lack the adaptability to work with different batches or kinds of silicone, or require manual labor that ultimately produces waste that drives up the price of medical-grade silicone devices. Transferring silicone remains an arduous task, but it is required for many businesses, whether it is a start-up or high-fidelity R&D labs. The solution our team created was a motorized pump mechanism that could withstand the high pressure and forces required, and utilized a syringe for modularity. Our team arrived at our solution by focusing on the key ailments that plague the current process, which include the waste produced, the manual constraints on technicians, and the speed of manufacturing. This design allows for multiple batches of silicone to be transferred into cartridges, storage bags, or molds while increasing the overall efficiency and reducing the waste produced through current methods. We have successfully developed a prototype that is capable of transferring viscous liquids, such as honey and petroleum jelly, which validates our feasibility analysis and marks a key milestone in the development of our device. Our testing using the Instron also validates the prototype’s ability to transfer silicone, as the maximum forces before shearing of the syringe occur at approximately 60 N, which would be enough to pull the silicone. By minimizing waste, increasing efficiency, and improving the ease of use for technicians, our device will allow for improved manufacturing processes and workflow that will translate into higher productivity in making medical-grade silicone devices, making them more accessible, which should advance healthcare for patients.

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