Company insight
High-performance polymers for every need
Medical Device Developments talks to Dr Philip Engel, head of segment medical systems Europe, high performance polymers at Evonik, to find out how the company, one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals, is helping design future technology with high-performance polymer solutions.
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s a leading provider of high- performance polymer solutions, including polyether ether
ketone (PEEK) materials for medical applications for over 20 years, Evonik offers customers the expertise and ability to design medical applications with their VESTAKEEP PEEK product offering. Evonik’s high-performance semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer offers a range of solutions from its VESTAKEEP i-Grades for permanent surgical implants, Dental Grades for temporary and permanent dental applications, and Care Grades for medical devices.
Ideal due to the exceptional biocompatibility, biostability and excellent mechanical properties, VESTAKEEP i-Grades are a trusted material for long-human implants and are becoming increasing popular over traditional materials such as titanium, stainless steel or cobalt-chrome alloys due to their stress shielding effects, X-ray opacity and high comfort. They can use various applications from spine, sports medicine, cardiovascular, cranio- maxillofacial, orthopaedics, extremities and pharmacy. VESTAKEEP Dental Grades are also a metal-free alternative to traditional materials for various dental products, such as crowns, bridges and removable or permanent dentures. Available in a variety of colours, they provide durability, comfort and aesthetic solutions for dental patients. Evonik’s Care Grades are polymers specifically designed with up to 30 days of body contact for medical technology applications such as fluid delivery systems, catheters and surgical instruments. “We offer a diverse range of materials under the Care brand,” explains Dr Philip Engel, head of segment medical
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systems Europe, high performance polymers at Evonik. “These range from transparent to translucent, elastic to strong, and unmodified to stabilised, filled or functional.”
Next-generation innovation When it comes to implant technology developments, Engel points to the VESTAKEEP Fusion PEEK product line as a next-generation material with osteoconductive properties. PEEK is a highly inert and biocompatible material. Used in medical implants, PEEK works well to promote bone attachment during the healing process. “VESTAKEEP Fusion harnesses this proven bioactivity and promotes accelerated bone attachment,” says Engel.
Another key field of innovation for
VESTAKEEP implant materials is the use of 3D printing to manufacture PEEK implants. “This new technology present numerous opportunities, including decreased material consumption and expenses, the ability to customise designs, and production of implants at the point-of-care,” says Engel. “Our company has pioneered the development of a PEEK-based polymer filament exclusively for 3D printed implants, and we continue to expand our product range with new grades. The latest addition is a PEEK filament reinforced with carbon fibre.” VESTAKEEP iC4612 3DF and
VESTAKEEP iC4620 3DF contain 12% and 20% carbon fibres, respectively, which increases the stiffness of the material by a factor of 3-4. The two grades mean customers can choose the material based on the required strength and bending properties of 3D-printed implants such as bone plates and other reconstructive prostheses. With
a diameter of 1.75mm, the two filaments can be processed with conventional PEEK printers using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). “With this processing technology, [FFF], the alignment of the carbon fibres can be precisely controlled,” adds Engel. “The targeted reinforcement of certain areas of the component improves performance and increases flexibility for the user.” While other processing methods with carbon fibre PEEK are usually not suitable for patient-specific solutions, varying the printing strategy and fibre content achieves a wide range of properties to be used in different areas and offer a better alternative to metals. “For us, it is always about understanding the requirements and unmet needs of our customers in order to further develop our material in a targeted manner,” explains Engel. “By ‘smart’, we always mean the combination of different properties in one product, which in turn drives performance.” One example of this is the company’s VESTAKEEP Fusion, a PEEK material that combines the advantages of PEEK with rapid bone integration. Other possibilities include the combination of PEEK materials with other biomaterials from the Evonik portfolio, such as RESOMER resorbable polymers or the company’s recombinant collagen VECOLLAN. As Engel points out, “Many customer-specific solutions can be developed here.” ●
www.evonik.com Medical Device Developments /
www.nsmedicaldevices.com
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