Originally Published EMDM November/December 2002
INDUSTRY NEWS
Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Selected for Imaging CatheterWhen Boston Scientific Corp. (Oakland, NJ, USA) set about redesigning its ultrasonic imaging catheter for detecting aneurisms in arteries, company engineers turned to Ticona GmbH (Frankfurt, Germany) to source an alternative material. Boston Scientific, which had been using nylon for its catheter, ultimately selected Ticona's Topas 8007 cyclic olefin copolymer (COC). The COC allows for the consolidation of five nylon elements that were glued together in the previous design. The material creates a stiff and strong part without damaging the insert-moulded lumen tube.
"We needed a polymer that flows well at low pressure and temperature during injection moulding, so it will not burn through or deform the lumen tube," says Ajay Gupta, an engineer for Boston Scientific. In addition to having a high modulus and good flow properties, Topas COC can be sterilized by E-beam and is USP Class VI certified. The material also has a relatively low coefficient of friction, allowing a guidewire to pass through the tubing easily.
By replacing five nylon components with a single part, Boston Scientific reduced production costs by 80%, says Gupta. The clarity of COC allows inspection of the part's interior without destructive testing; the new design enhances quality control, because part defects are easily recognizable.
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
