Engineered Plastic Medical Devices are revolutionizing the healthcare industry. The growth of polymers has transformed the marketplace, with plastic medical devices steadily replacing other materials such as glass, ceramics, and metals, wherever applicable.
Peek (Polyether Ether Ketone) plastics are widely used in the medical device industry due to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and resistance to chemicals and high temperatures. Here are some ways Peek plastics are used in medical devices:
- Implants: Peek is commonly used in orthopedic implants, such as spinal fusion cages, joint replacements, and trauma fixation plates. Its mechanical properties closely resemble those of bone, making it an ideal material for load-bearing applications. Peek’s biocompatibility allows it to integrate well with the surrounding tissue.
- Dental Applications: Peek is used in dental applications like dental implants, temporary crowns and bridges, orthodontic brackets, and dental surgical instruments. It provides good strength and stability, and its tooth-colored variants offer aesthetic benefits.
- Surgical Instruments: Peek is utilized in the manufacturing of surgical instruments, including forceps, retractors, and endoscopic components. Its high strength, durability, and resistance to sterilization methods such as autoclaving make it suitable for repeated use.
- Medical Device Housings: Peek is used for the housing and structural components of various medical devices, such as handheld surgical tools, electronic devices, and monitoring equipment. Its mechanical strength, resistance to sterilization, and biocompatibility make it suitable for these applications.
- Ophthalmic Devices: Peek is used in the manufacture of intraocular lenses (IOLs), which are artificial lenses implanted in the eye during cataract surgery. Peek’s optical clarity, biocompatibility, and resistance to degradation within the eye make it a preferred material for IOLs.
Peek plastics offer several advantages for medical devices, including their radiolucency (compatibility with X-rays), high strength-to-weight ratio, chemical resistance, and biocompatibility. These properties make Peek a versatile and reliable material choice in various medical applications.
For more information on PEEK and its use in medical applications, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at [email protected], or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com.
