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Why “PEEK” offers success for
the manufacture of medical parts
Medical devices that are intended
for long-term contact with body tissues must meet particularly
high quality requirements for registration in Europe or in the US.
The manufacturers have to demonstrate on the one hand, that the
raw materials are suitable for the respective area of application,
and on the other hand demonstrate how they ensure consistent
quality.
Today more and more manufacturers of
medical products are using PEEK (polyetheretherketone) for bone
surgery, but also in areas of traumatology and orthopaedics. Why
PEEK? Because this material is biocompatible, inert to body fluids
and can be processed relatively easy with high precision micro
moulding for individual implants or surgical instruments.
PEEK provides a great benefit: It
saves weight, allows more design freedom and a greater functional
integration, it also scores with X-ray transparency and elasticity
which corresponds approximately to bone. At the same time it is a
lower cost alternative to Titan the classic implant material,
especially when using medical instruments or endoscopes, where the
good electrical insulation properties of PEEK come into play.
The complete detachment of
ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues from their associated
bones within the body is relatively commonplace injuries,
particularly among athletes. Such injuries are generally the
result of excessive stresses being placed on these tissues. For
example, tissue detachment may occur as the result of an accident
such as a fall, over-exertion during a work-related activity,
during the course of an athletic event, or activities. For a
complete detachment, however, surgery may be needed to re-attach
the soft tissue to its associated bone or bones. Numerous devices
made out of PEEK material are currently available to re-attach
soft tissue to bone. Examples of such currently-available devices
include screws, staples, suture anchors and tacks.
(Ref :
http://www.medicalplasticsnews.com/news/close-to-the-bone-whymanufacturers-are-using-peek-products/)
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