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Medical Channel

  • O'Sullivan Films joins project to replace PVC in IV bags
    By Doug Smock |
    Monday, May 21, 2012 - 7:28am

    O'Sullivan Films (Winchester, VA) is joining a year-old collaboration to mass produce a cost-effective medical grade, PVC-free film. Genesis Plastics Welding and Teknor Apex started the project to join olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer films in response to environmental concerns about PVC by some hospital administrators. Elastomers have become the material of choice to replace PVC because they have a soft feel and other properties suitable for medical applications.

  • Proprietary extrusion process targets metal replacement
    By Doug Smock |
    Friday, May 18, 2012 - 6:59am

    Putnam Plastics Corp. (Dayville, CT), is commercializing a proprietary process for manufacturing custom monofilament fibers up to 0.100 inch (2.54 mm) in diameter from nylon, polypropylene and other materials. 

    The goal is to use the large diameter medical monofilament for x-ray and MRI applications as a metal replacement.

  • Do you feel that pricing is excessive for biomaterials used in implantable applications?
    By PTStaff |
    Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 8:34am

    * Yes
    * No

  • Sounding off on PVC bans, biomaterials' pricing and antimicrobials
    By Doug Smock |
    Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 5:52am

    Widespread efforts under way today to replace polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in medical applications are largely a waste of resources and energy, says Len Czuba, the president of his own product development firm, Czuba Enterprises Inc.

    PlasticsToday interviewed Czuba on what he considers the most significant trends taking place today in medical plastics.

  • 'Life-saving' medical applications get priority in elastomer force majeure
    By Doug Smock |
    Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 9:58am

    Arkema feels confident it can continue to meet demands to medical customers "for life-saving applications" of Pebax elastomer although customers in other markets, such as sporting goods and automotive, will need to use "extremely close" alternatives.

  • Arkema declares force majeure on Pebax elastomers
    By Doug Smock |
    Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 7:00am

    Arkema has declared a force majeure for Pebax polymers as a result of the fatal explosion at an Evonik plant in Marl, Germany on March 31.

    This plant was a major production source for CDT (cyclododecatriene) a chemical required in the production of Pebax, which is a thermoplastic elastomer made up of block copolymers consisting of a sequence of polyamide and polyether segments.

  • Medical Musings: Micro features and more from ANTEC
    By Doug Smock |
    Monday, May 14, 2012 - 12:18pm

    Colocation of the National Plastics Exposition with the Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers creates a great synergy, at least in my opinion. If you were interested in a particular subject, such as medical plastics, there were technical presentations at ANTEC and opportunities to see examples of technology and processing on the floor at NPE2012, held last month in Orlando, Florida.

  • California hospital group sets the pace for sustainability programs
    By Doug Smock |
    Friday, May 11, 2012 - 6:27am

    In 2005, California-based Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) became one of the first, if not the first, hospital group in the United States to stop using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for intravenous (IV) bags, solutions, and tubing.

    Today known as Dignity Health, the healthcare organization is a founding sponsor of the Healthier Hospitals Initiative and is leading in other sustainability efforts, including several involving plastics.

  • Fiber laser process targets medical plastics welding
    By Doug Smock |
    Thursday, May 10, 2012 - 12:08pm

    A powerful laser technology originally developed for the telecommunications industry is now targeting plastic welding, and has significant implications for medical markets because it eliminates use of dyes and other additive extractables. It may also expedite the welding of polyolefin elastomers that are bidding to replace polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for intravenous tubing and bags.

  • Silver-based antimicrobials offer transparency, low loadings
    By Doug Smock |
    Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 2:00pm

    Sanitized AG (Bergdorf, Switzerland) is launching a new generation of silver-based antimicrobial protective additives that it says deliver effective protection faster than previously possible.  

    Other advantages of the new products, according to the company, are low cost due to low loading levels and best-yet transparency for applications requiring fast and broad protection against microbes.

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