Resins Engineered to Withstand Impact and Sterilization

Biocompatible polycarbonate grades withstand autoclave sterilization. The material offer strength, mechanical qualities, and clarity . The latest materials also mark new improvements in flow and ductility properties, as well as enhanced resistance to impact and autoclave sterilization.

Biocompatible Polymers PEEK

Biocompatible polymers are suitable for long and short-term blood or tissue contact. PEEK polymer is suited for implantable medical devices and pharmaceutical applications involving blood or tissue contact for more than 30 days. It is a stable polymer. It can be processed via injection moulding, extrusion, or compression moulding, and is available in standard-, medium-, and low-viscosity grades. Applications include spinal cages, suture anchors, spiked washers, surgical screws, femoral implants, dental healing caps, balloons, intracardiac pumps, and heart valves.

The PEEK is a biocompatible thermoplastic used in the development of medical device applications requiring blood or tissue contact of less than 30 days. The polymer is said to be one of the most chemically resistant polymers available. It can be repeatedly sterilized using conventional methods without experiencing a degradation of its mechanical properties. Like the Optima material, the Classix polymer is offered in standard-, medium-, and low-viscosity grades. Applications include catheter tubing, drug-delivery products, blood management systems, laparoscopes, surgical instruments, endoscopes, and analytical equipment.

Biocompatible Coatings

Medical device coatings that can be engineered to release drugs are based on inorganic composites that enhance their biocompatibility. Coatings are developed for combination devices such as drug-eluting stents as well as orthopaedic implants.

The microporous, mesoporous, and macroporous coatings feature good mechanical properties and high drug-loading capacities. They will not cause inflammation, and have tailored release properties that are not restricted to any particular class of drug. Macroporous coatings for drug-eluting stents exhibit good engraftment properties owing to their bioactive carbon–based tissue-like surface structures. Hydrophilic or hydrophobic qualities can be imparted to the materials, and they can be customized with covalently or non-covalently absorbed functional compounds such as antibodies, peptides, or lipoproteins. Stress-resistant coatings with drug-delivery properties for orthopaedic implants are also available.

Biocompatible Implantable Polymer

Medical-grade polyurethane exhibits many of the mechanical properties of silicone rubber and polyurethane elastomers.

The material can be extruded, moulded, solvent cast, and vacuum formed; it is suitable for long-term implantable life-supporting devices in the fields of orthopaedics, plastic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, interventional cardiology, drug-eluting stents, and cardiac rhythm management. The product is available in a variety of formulations, ranging from very flexible to rigid. In addition, the density and mechanical properties of the materials can be refined to meet the requirements of clinicians and medical device designers.

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