MEDICAL | MATERIALS
Materials suitable for wearable devices and plastics with enhanced chemical resistance are just two of the trends driving the medical plastics materials market forward. Mark Holmes reports
Expanding the healthcare role for plastics
The medical and healthcare industry continues to find an increasing number of applications for injection moulded plastics. They offer a wide range of important properties for materials for medical devices, while providing ease of processing for ever smaller and more complex moulded medical parts and devices. RTP Company cites three significant medical
market trends for plastics currently – surgical robotics, wearable drug devices and drug delivery pens. “Surgical robotic systems are becoming more prevalent because they are minimally invasive and precisely accurate, which helps the patient recover more quickly; there is a need for lightweight, durable plastic parts for these,” says Bob Williams, Global Account Manager, Healthcare. “Also, as the US population ages, there is more demand for wearable drug devices and drug delivery pens, which include plastic components that are some-
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times laser marked and/or laser welded together. Other issues driving developments in materials include regulatory changes, such as ISO 10993-18 updates, REACH, (EU) Number 2017/1000 con- cerning PFOA, and PVC restrictions, which can drive medical companies to do more research up front on the plastics they are using and to look for more cost effective design alternatives.” He identified other trends within the medical industry that are helping to drive material develop- ment, such as lightweight tools and equipment, better performing drug delivery systems, and materials that can withstand cleaning and sterilisation. “In addition, medical facilities are seeking new
ways to reduce hospital-acquired infections, and this has prompted a need for plastics that resist damage caused by aggressive cleaners. When strong cleaning solutions are used for killing germs on medical equipment, handheld devices, moni-
January/February 2020 | INJECTION WORLD 37
Main image: Plastics feature in devices for health monitoring, drug delivery, surgical procedures and more
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