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Solvay Advanced Polymers and Secant
Medical Announce marketing partnership in biomedical fabrics
SOLVAY Advanced Polymers, LLC, a Solvay Specialty Polymers Company and global
supplier of high-performance polymers, along with Secant Medical, LLC, a leading
manufacturer of custom biomedical textile structures for medical devices, have
formed a marketing partnership to promote the development and production of
implantable biomedical fabric structures made of Zeniva PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
fiber. The collaboration will result in the formation of a new
supply chain that will provide medical OEMs with options to develop custom
implantable fabrics made of Zeniva
PEEK for therapeutic devices in orthopedics, cardiovascular, tissue engineering,
neurology, and general surgery. Along with Solvay Advanced Polymers and Secant
Medical, the agreement includes an undisclosed fiber manufacturer.
Secant Medical uses high-performance metallic and polymeric biomaterials in
various combinations to manufacture a rang of woven, knitted, and braided fabric
for implantable devices. Custom applications include high-strength sutures, bone
anchoring devices, rotator cuff and arthroscopic joint repair, spinal
stabilization and disc repair and replacement, textile-based heart valves and
vascular grafts, and lightweight textile mesh structures for a variety of
surgical procedures that require tissue rein for cement and wound support.
Solvay’s Zeniva PEEK boasts a modulus very close to that of bone plus excellent
biocompatibility, toughness, and fatigue resistance Zeniva PEEK and the entire
line of Solviva Biomaterials are manufactured in compliance with the relevant
aspects of ISO 13485 and under the relevant aspects of current Good
Manufacturing Practices. Solvay’s biomaterial manufacturing processes are
carefully validated and enhanced controls provide product traceability. In
addition, all materials are tested in an accredited lab that is ISO 17025
compliant. Solvay’s experience as a key materials supplier in
the healthcare field spans more than 20 years. The company is a leading
manufacturer of high-performance plastics, offering a broad range of materials
for healthcare instruments and medical devices. (Ref:
Popular Plastics & Packaging Vol. LVI - No. 7 July 2011)
New Grade of Polycarbonate from Bayer
MaterialScience LLC Meets Growing Trend for Thinner Walls in Medical Devices
As demand for smaller, less intrusive medical devices continues to grow,
designers and OEMs are increasingly seeking materials with properties that can
make these new devices possible. Bayer MaterialScience LLC launched a new grade
of medical polycarbonate to address this need during the Medical Design &
Manufacturing East conference. “Bayer MaterialScience has been
a trusted material supplier to the medical market for more than 50 years,” said
Bruce Fine, market segment leader, Medical and Consumer Products, Bayer
MaterialScience LLC. “Introducing this new material is indicative of our
commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the medical market.”
Specifically engineered for molding devices with extremely thin walls (as low as
0.014 inches) and long flow lengths (150 millimeters), Makrolon® 2258
polycarbonate is a high-flow grade with an internal mold release additive that
allows it to be more easily released from the mold. These properties translate
into a number of benefits. Among them, it enables designers/OEMs to use less
material, offers greater processing efficiency, and reduces the invasiveness of
procedures for patients. This material is expected to be used for such
applications as trocars, needle safety guards and other medical devices
requiring thin walls and complex components. This material
allows for ethylene oxide and steam sterilization at 121°C and meets many ISO
10993-1 biocompatibility test requirements. It is currently available in the
United States and Europe. (Source : www.pr.com) . |
