contactusurl /en/medical/search No Results Animation is not fully supported in Internet Explorer versions item found items found item found items found of Search & Help Showing On this page Your Browser is outdated Dealer Distributor Official Dealer Premium Partner address addresses Articles Regulatory Press Release,Regulatory press releases only EG. Food Hoses conformity evolution Webinar Selector Button
Is Required.
decodedHtml

High-performance thermoplastic-molded parts for medical applications offer many advantages that can’t be achieved with other materials.

Advantages of thermoplastics for medical devices

  • Can replace metals in applications offering benefits like lighter weight and biocompatibility
  • When engineered with fillers, they reduce stiction and friction improving device usability for surgeons
  • Ability to withstand repeated sterilization cycles for metal to plastic conversion applications
  • Custom compounding allows for properties such as electrical or thermal conductivity
  • Thin-wall molding and high-precision manufacturing are possible enabling complex, micromolded components
  • Overmolding of silicones and rubber compounds enables metal and plastic integration or soft-touch features to improve device ergonomics
  • The ability to rapidly prototype and iterate part designs accelerates time-to-market

High-Performance Plastic Materials

  • Implantable-grade polyetheretherketone (PEEK) offers exceptional mechanical properties similar to cortical bone, is biostable, radiolucent and FDA-cleared for multiple implant types
  • Barium sulfate (BaSO4) loaded compounds provide radiopaque contrast for imaging
  • Polyphenylsulphone (PPSU) has excellent toughness, steam sterilization stability greater than 1,000 cycles, high chemical resistance and excellent biocompatibility (ISO 10993)
  • Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is thermally and electrically conductive
  • Polysulfone (PSU) is tough and rigid, biostable, transparent and doesn’t absorb bodily fluids
  • Polyetherimide (PEI) exhibits high heat resistance and has strong mechanical performance
  • Polyurethanes (PU) are highly elastic and biostable with a history in lead insulation and vascular reconstruction
  • Nitinol for metal components combined with overmolded high-performance plastics
  • Custom compounds with high-filler content

Applications

PEEK

This material is biostable, radiolucent and has received FDA clearance for use in various implant types.

  • Spinal cages and interbody fusion devices
  • Orthopedic trauma fixation components
  • Cardiovascular implants
  • Dental implants
  • Connected drug delivery implants

PPSU

Favored for its toughness, high chemical resistance and steam sterilization stability.

  • Implantable housings
  • Transparent implant components
  • Limited geometry cardiology implants
  • Components requiring toughness

PSU

Offers a blend of toughness and rigidity, biostability, transparency and resistance to bodily fluid absorption.

  • Implantable components requiring rigidity and transparency
  • MRI compatible implant housings
  • Fluid handling implants

PU

These are highly elastic and biostable with a proven track record in applications like lead insulation and vascular reconstruction.

  • Vascular grafts
  • Pacemaker leads
  • Flexible, long term soft tissue contacting implants

PEI

Recognized for its high heat resistance and robust mechanical performance.

  • Implant instrument components
  • Implantable frames requiring stiffness

FAQs

  • What are thermoplastic molded parts?
    Thermoplastic molded components are a category of polymers known for their exceptional ability to maintain their mechanical, thermal and chemical properties when subjected to harsh operating conditions.
  • Which thermoplastics are commonly used for implantable devices?
    Common choices include implantable-grade PEEK, select polyurethanes, and other biostable high-performance polymers, depending on the design and regulatory requirements.
  • Can thermoplastics replace metal components in medical devices?
    Yes, replacing a metal component with a thermoplastic alternative can reduce the overall weight, improving the ergonomics of handheld finished medical devices and reducing the load of implantable components.
Request material guidance today!