Equashield claims ‘world first’ with new drug robot

Equashield says it’s the world’s first robot with closed system transfer device to further protect pharmacy staff during hazardous drug compounding

Equashield, a provider of “closed system transfer devices” for safe and simple handling of hazardous drugs, is expanding its range of solutions and products offered by entering the field of automation.

Its newest product, a compounding robot named Equashield Pro (pictured), will be introduced at the upcoming ASHP Midyear Meeting.

Marino Kriheli, founder of Equashield, says: “The throughput capacities of current compounding robots and their ability to prevent contamination by hazardous drugs is near its peak efficiency, defined – and limited – by the robotic ‘arms’ mimicking dose preparation with a needle and syringe.” 

Equashield Pro is designed around Equashield’s proprietary CSTD technology, which simplifies the overall Robot design and increases throughput exponentially.

The industry has accepted that CSTDs were created to prevent deficiencies that exist when compounding with needles and syringes, including the escape of hazardous drug via leakage, aerosol and vapor.

“Equashield Pro also means that healthcare workers are now protected by Equashield CSTDs from the compounding stage all the way through the administration of these drugs to patients, in-line with the upcoming USP800 guidelines,” continued Kriheli.

Equashield Pro is designed to make adoption of robotics in the IV Room simple and affordable regardless of hospital size, says the company, adding that it is easy to fit into hospital pharmacies and comparable in size to a standard Biological Safety Cabinet.

The system enables compounding large variety of patient specific chemotherapy doses quickly, using a unique and safe method of compounding that shortens the process flow while performing multiple tasks simultaneously.

Equashield Pro’s dose verification software allows for a “highly reliable system”, reducing the occurrences of medication dosage and identification errors in hospitals.

Equashield says it has become a dominant player in the CSTD market, having surpassed 500 customers in the United States and a presence in over 20 countries globally.

Equashield Pro will be introduced at the ASHP Midyear Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 5-7 at Booth 1251.