MEDICAL | MATERIALS
Healthcare at Albis, says: “We are seeing a continuously growing demand from the processing industry for compounds that both comply with the regulatory requirements and offer customer specific material solutions. Alcom Med means we can guarantee our customers’ production with strict quality criteria and offer close project support through our experienced healthcare specialists.” Albis has installed an entirely self-contained
production line for the manufacture of Alcom Med compounds at its site in Hamburg, Germany. “Our investment will enable us to be flexible even with small quantities whilst also being able to deliver worldwide,” Freudenstein says. The latest developments in Hexpol TPE’s
Mediprene family of TPEs for medical applications include several grades for solvent bonding applications. “Many customers are today joining tubes with injection moulded components, such as connectors, by solvent bonding,” says Niklas Ottosson, Technical Manager – Medical. “Tradition- al TPS based formulations do not bond well with solvent – cyanoacrylate glue with or without primer is an alternative to achieve high bond strength in these situations. “With the new Mediprene TPE materials, we have achieved high bond strength when applying solvents such as cyclohexanone.” Initially the solvent bondable materials for injection moulding will range from 70 Shore A to 45 Shore D in hardness and then be further expanded based on customer demand, Ottosson says. Representative Mediprene grades have passed cytotoxicity tests according to ISO 10993-5 and
biocompatibility tests according to ISO 10993-4 (haemolysis), ISO 10993- 10 (Intracutaneous Reactivity and Sensitiza- tion), ISO 10993-11 (Acute Systemic Toxicity) and USP Class VI. “The medical device industry continues to be an
interesting market for TPE compounds, Ottosson says. “We see an ongoing trend of customers exploring TPE as alternatives to rubber, silicone and PVC in applications requiring soft touch aesthetics or sealing functionality. Growing markets for our Mediprene TPE compounds include urology and continence care, airway management, IV set components and plunger seals in single-use syringes.” Trinseo emphasises the growing importance of two-component moulding with thermoplastics and TPEs in medical devices. “The reasons for over- moulding include a need to differentiate products, support an ergonomic design, or make a product safer,” it says. The company points to several trends that are driving the demand for the over-moulding process.
Over-moulding demand drivers
Trinseo explains the four factors behind the trend for TPE over-mould- ing in medical devices.
Home healthcare As healthcare services move from traditional settings such as hospitals, clinics, and physician’s offices to non-clinical and personal living spaces, people want medical equip- ment that blends in with their sur- roundings. The use of TPEs provides aesthetically pleasing, soft-touch surfaces to help devices look more attractive and less institutional. They also offer benefits such as reduced
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vibration and noise as well as soft- touch, easy-to-grip knobs and handles that can improve functionality for professionals familiar with medical equipment and those who are not.
Self-administered care Patients want convenient, effective treatment that can be administered “on the go.” This has created a need for drug delivery devices such as auto injectors, asthma inhalers, and portable respiratory equipment. Along with the actual device, is a need for easy administration and error-free performance. Part design and/or
textured surfaces can help guide proper handling. Coloured inserts or moulded-in labels can provide instruction and non-slip grips can help ensure accurate administration.
Aging and special needs As population ages, medical device OEMs need to adjust to this growth by developing devices that take a variety of factors into consideration. Not only is patient age important, but physical dexterity, flexibility, and coordination are all key as manufacturers work to create ergonomic designs for patients of all types and abilities.
March 2019 | INJECTION WORLD 19
Above: Hexpol Mediprene TPEs for solvent
bonding can be used for catheter connectors
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