Technology News
Lubricious Coating Developed for Stainless-Steel Medical Devices
Easy and safe manipulation of invasive stainless-steel guidewires and other metal-based medical devices is possible with an improved lubricious coating. Developed by STS Biopolymers Inc. (Henrietta, NY, USA), Slip-Coat is thin and flexible and adheres to both wet and dry metal substrates. It is also permanent and nonthrombogenic and has a smooth, nonslip feel when dry. Immediately upon contact with bodily fluids or water, the coating becomes ultraslippery, reducing friction and increasing a physician's ability to control the guidewire during insertion.
Through the use of the Slip-Coat formula, biocompatibility can be achieved at a low cost without changing the materials from which the devices are made. According to STS, earlier formulations have been used successfully on various polymeric, titanium, and nitinol medical devices, including both vascular and urinary catheters, urinary stents, and guidewires. Therefore, the formula is suitable for use in cardiology, radiology, neuroradiology, and urology procedures.
STS specializes in the development, manufacture, and application of medical device surface treatments. Its products include lubricious, antithrombogenic (various heparin complexes), antimicrobial/antibiotic, and nonconductive biocompatible coatings. The coatings can be formulated for short-, intermediate-, or long-term effects. Coating services include plasma pretreating, coating application, and development of custom coating technologies. Related services include packaging and sterilization (EtO and steam) and such testing services as biocompatibility, ISO, USP, bioburden, sterility, residuals, shelf life, and package integrity.
Guidewire Straightener Promises Kink-Free Performance
Sharp bends in a guidewire's trajectory may cause kinks and render the guidewire unusable. Grieve GmbH & Company KG (Senden-Ottmarsbocholt, Germany) recently introduced a J straightener with a stop function designed to improve guidewire handling even under circuitous circumstances.
As the guidewire slides into the dispensing tube, a flexible tongue within the straightener positions the wire. A tongue-release mechanism that requires the use of only one hand enables users to easily straighten the J tip when required. The product, says Michael Grieve, has been shown to improve guidewire handling during catheterization. "Tests we have conducted demonstrate that the J straightener's stop function permits precise positional fastening during checking procedures." Grieve also stresses that the proprietary device will not harm the guidewire's PTFE coating.
The straightener is fabricated from injectionmoulded LDPE to ensure soft, smooth handling and it can accommodate wires measuring 0.035- and 0.038-in. diam. In addition to the single-handed version, winged and wingless wire-retention straighteners are available.
Grieve GmbH, which has 40 years of injection moulding experience and has been active in medical R&D for almost 20 years, also supplies adapters, Y junctions, double dead-enders, protection caps, dispenser clips, and in-sites. Development and cleanroom injection moulding of medical disposables is a specialty.
