Tubing
Composite Tubing Finds Laparoscopic and
Electrosurgical Applications
Offers high strength and dielectric properties
Polygon Co. (Walkerton, IN) has developed a tubing designed to meet the evolving needs of laparoscopic and electrosurgical applications. The tubing can be found as housings and sleeves for cannulae, as well as for electro-cauterizing devices.
According to the company, its PolyMed Generation II composite tubing is 1015% stronger and has twice the dielectric properties of previous PolyMed composites. In addition, the tubing offers a better strength-to-weight ratio than comparable metal instruments. Lightweight instruments have been demonstrated to cause less strain on physicians' hands during extended use. Furthermore, unlike metals, which are isotropic and limited to exhibiting the same qualities throughout the piece, composites allow for load-bearing properties to be distributed in the most productive way. PolyMed II comes in different constructions created by aligning fibers to meet the specific loads needed for a particular application.
Another unique feature of the tubing is its smooth finish. According to Polygon, the finish
is so smooth and so uniform in color that one cannot tell the difference between an instrument made of the composite and one made of stainless steel encased in heat-shrink tubing. The material is offered in black, gray, or off-white. It is also available in two configurations, one designed to meet the needs of the disposable market and the other intended for the reusable market.
Polygon also recently introduced specialized composite medical materials for use by medical professionals performing surgery while using open MRI machines. The new cannulae and shapes are believed to be among the first composites released for this emerging technology. The materials are nonmagnetic and produce minimal distortion when used under imaging machines. Applications include scissors, graspers, endoscopes, and biopsy core needles.
For more information, contact Polygon Co. at 219/586-3145.
Packaging
Peelable Laminations Developed for Medical Packaging
Provide barrier resistance, peelability, and packaging strength
A possible alternative for device manufacturers using heat-seal-coated materials to achieve peelability are Rexam Medical Packaging (Vernon Hills, IL) Integra Peel LFM peelable laminations. These peelable laminations are based on Rexam's peelable resin technology. They incorporate paper, film, or foil, and are available in preformed pouches or rollstock.
The peel force values of these laminations can easily be modified to meet the requirements of specific applications using a custom-selected peel strength. Furthermore, by incorporating the peelable nature of the product during the extrusion process, performance consistency is achieved, and by incorporating the peel layer into the coextruded film structure, the potential for product contamination from a heat seal coating is eliminated. Other features include broad sealing range, radiation stability up to 4 Mrd, and good visual heat-seal transfer when opened to ensure tamper- and integrity-evidence. Costs are also reduced, and packaging weight is cut down by 10-15% due to the elimination of the liquid heat-seal coating.
Integra Peel LFM laminations can be used in the packaging of gloves, sutures, specialty dressings, pressure-sensitive electro-pads, IV sets, diagnostic devices, liquids, and more. The laminations are suitable for applications requiring barrier resistance, peelability, and packaging strength. The barrier property, peelability, and print requirements can all be customized to meet specific product requirements. Depending on the customer's packaging requirements, lamination can be done with an adhesive or extrusion process.
For more information, contact Rexam Medical Packaging at 800/918-6393.
Machining Equipment
Multilumen Catheter Drilling Machine
Uses Laser Technology
Drills holes as small as 0.001 in.
A Multilumen catheter drilling machine from The Industrial Laser Source Inc. (Hopedale, MA) uses a laser to drill holes as small as 0.001 in. into various catheter materials. The system features precision lumen location and presentation to the laser drilling energy, as well as an optical system.
Laser energy provides a sterile drilling process without the part distortion typically associated with mechanical processes. The raised edges around the entrance hole, which have caused problems for those attempting to use laser technology for such drilling operations, have been eliminated. Precision pulsing techniques allow precise hole diameters and depth penetrations to be achieved burr-free.
The system is manually loaded and capable of drilling over 200 holes per minute. An operator interface prompts the user if certain tasks have not been completed or if the user attempts to drill a catheter that has already been drilled. The operator interface also features diagnostic capability to aid troubleshooting.
The machine occupies about 4 sq ft of floor space and runs on 110 V ac. A fully automated second-generation system is currently under development.
For more information, contact The Industrial Laser Source Inc. at 508/478-0108.
