Medical Device Link.

MATERIALS

Example 2: Surgical Instruments.

The second example is a series of orthopedic surgical instruments that have been converted from a plain metal handle to a hybrid with a soft-touch overmold. The key process elements for this application include overmolding a metal rod with an olefinic hard substrate, then overmolding it again, for soft touch and brand identification, with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The important criteria to consider when selecting both the material and processes are chemical resistance and the need for repeated steam sterilization. There must also be a sufficient chemical bond between the olefinic hard substrate and the TPE overmold.