Originally Published EMDM January 2006
Industry News
Medical Comparator Card Simplifies Material Selection
A supplier of polymers and related technical services has introduced a tool to help designers and moulders of medical components. The medical comparator card from Distrupol (Chertsey, Surrey, UK) is described as a materials selection reference guide for companies that use plastics in medical applications.
“The one goal all our customers have in common,” says Distrupol polymer engineer Derek Bean, “is cost reduction, whether in new product development or material replacement. In developing the medical comparator card, our objective is to provide customers with a tool that can contribute substantial time and cost savings.”
The medical comparator features a cross-comparison chart of key material properties depending on the application. For example, designers can use the chart to quickly identify which materials are sterilizable, and by which methods. The chart also references a material’s clarity in relation to flow, heat resistance, flexibility, and other property combinations.
“Distrupol’s portfolio of [medical-grade] polymers allows us to make a comprehensive comparison of materials that few [other] companies are in a position to undertake,” says Bean. Because the comparator includes all generic polymers, medical manufacturers can reduce the amount of time they typically spend reviewing, analyzing, and comparing data, adds Bean.
Distrupol supplies an array of materials that comply with US FDA and ISO guidelines. The firm has extensive experience working with the medical components industry, adds Bean. “We can help with the product development process—from initial design and material selection and computer modelling to mould-flow simulation—to troubleshooting final production.”
The card can be downloaded from the company’s Web site at www.distrupol.com/en/downloads.asp?id=121. Hard copies are available through local Distrupol representatives. For more information, contact Distrupol Ltd., 119 Guildford St., Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AL, UK; phone: +44 8705 538538; fax: +44 8705 538329; e-mail: info-uk@distrupol.com; Internet: www.distrupol.com.
Copyright ©2006 European Medical Device Manufacturer
