BD Introduces The World's First Safety-Engineered Pen Needle With Passive, Dual-Ended Protection

New BD AutoShield™ Duo provides protection during and after injection

Franklin Lakes, NJ /PRNewswire/ — BD AutoShield™ Duo is a next generation, 5mm safety-engineered pen needle designed to protect healthcare workers from needlestick injuries and blood exposure. It is now available in the US from BD Medical, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company.

Protection After Use: The BD AutoShield™ Duo is the only pen needle with front and back-end needle protection. The safety mechanisms activate automatically after use, virtually eliminating the risk of exposure to contaminated needles for clinicians and others.

Protection During Use: The BD AutoShield™ Duo's tiny, 5mm needle allows a clinician to use a one handed, no pinch-up injection technique. One handed injections are preferable because they minimize the possibility of a skin fold through-stick, a common source of needlestick injuries. Recent research proves 5mm insulin pen needles enter subcutaneous tissue with minimal risk of intramuscular injection and no additional leakage, even in obese patients¹.

"Needlestick injuries pose clear risks to clinicians and healthcare staff," said Dr. Laurence Hirsch, BD Medical – Diabetes Care, VP Global Medical Affairs. "BD AutoShield™ Duo is unique because it virtually eliminates front and back-end needle exposure after use automatically – and ensures effective and reliable delivery of insulin and other subcutaneous medications where they are intended."

Needlestick Facts

• 4 in 5 accidental exposures to blood in healthcare settings are the result of a needlestick^²;
• 1 in 4 sharps injuries occurs when giving injections^³;
• 1 in 3 sharps injuries is experienced by nurses^³;
• 3 in 10 workers injured by a sharp are not the original user of the device^³;
• The increased use of injection pens in hospitals and other healthcare settings, particularly in the treatment of patients with diabetes, elevates the risk of injury with those devices.

BD AutoShield™ Duo fits all insulin pens and is the latest in BD's portfolio of innovative safety products. It is a leap forward in healthcare worker and patient safety. BD pioneered the development of safety-engineered medical devices, and has been at the forefront for nearly two decades.

For more information, visit www.bd.com/duo.

About BD
BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

1. Siminerio L, Kulkarni K, Meece J, et al. Strategies of insulin injection therapy in diabetes self management. Diabetes Educ. 2011; 37(6)(suppl):S3; Gibney MA, Arce CH, Byron KJ, et al. Skin and subcutaneous adipose layer thickness in adults with diabetes at sites used for insulin injections; implications for needle length recommendations. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010;26: 1519-1530; Hirsch LJ, Gibney NA, Albanese J, et al. Comparative glycemic control, safety and patient ratings for a new 4mm x 32G insulin pen needle in adults with diabetes. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010;26:1531-1541.

2. www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3161.pdf

3. www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/epinet/soi/2007-nsi.pdf

SOURCE BD