A versatile medical polymer with built-in surface technology designed for chronic implants

23-Oct-09

A versatile medical polymer with built-in surface technology designed for chronic implants has been introduced by DSM PTG, part of DSM Biomedical. Bionate® II PCU is a line extension of the well known Bionate® Polycarbonate Urethane family, one of the industry’s leading medical polymers for long-term implants and is backed by an established FDA Master File. The Bionate® PCU family has been extensively tested and is used in many commercially-available long term implants, including pacemaker leads, ventricular assist devices, catheters, stents, spinal discs, neurostimulation devices, hip and knee joints, and spinal fixation systems. The new polymer offers improved performance and processing characteristics for medical devices. It includes patented SAME® technology, a built-in surface modification utilizing surface activity and self assembly of chemical groups attached to the ends of each polymer molecule during synthesis. This breakthrough technology enables medical devices to be equipped with permanent surface modification while maintaining excellent mechanical properties. It can also eliminate the need for secondary surface treatments once a device is made. The material has been found to be more easily processed for injection molding applications. In addition to providing controlled surface chemistry and better processing, it also offers improved oxidative stability and greater strength than the first generation Bionate® PCU. “We believe Bionate® II PCU with SAME® technology offers a performance breakthrough in high-strength, biostable polymers for medical device designers. It is the next step in the continuous improvement of our biomedical thermoplastics, offering customizable surface chemistry for unique medical device designs,” said Bob Ward, President and CEO of DSM PTG. “In the case of Bionate® II PCU, we have made minor changes to a proven polymer family that improve the polymer’s processability and oxidative resistance, and significantly increase its strength.”