When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
Thirty-eight medical devices received FDA approval in 2015, and polymers play a role in the development and use of virtually all of them. Some of the devices incorporated well-known polymers in time-proven ways, while others broke ground with molecular combinations employed in new ways. Regardless of how they were developed, the use of polymers in these devices illustrates just how integral polymers are to improving the quality of life for many people.
Here’s a brief overview of three noteworthy devices that won approval this year, and a bit about the polymers behind the technology:
Spray sealant for brain surgery
In March, the FDA gave the go-ahead for Durham, North Carolina-based HyperBranch Medical Technology Inc. to begin marketing a spray sealant for use in brain surgery. When sprayed over stitches placed in the dura (the thin membrane that protects the brain), the Adherus AutoSpray Dural Sealant prevents cerebrospinal fluid from leaking out of the incision. Two polymer solutions — a polyethylene glycol (PEG) ester solution and a polyethylenimine (PEI) solution — mix together to create the sealant gel. The body absorbs the sealant after about 90 days — enough time to allow the delicate dura to heal.
No more reading glasses?
The KAMRA™ corneal inlay is a super-thin (5 microns) ring of polyvinylidene fluoride, a polymer commonly used in ocular and other medical implants. When implanted in the cornea, the dark ring helps improve the vision of patients with presbyopia — the age-related loss of the ability to focus for near vision, and the problem that forces many Americans to start wearing reading glasses in their 40s.
Preventing air leaks after lung surgery
Air leaks after lung surgery are a serious concern. In February, the FDA approved a sealant made of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and human blood protein that surgeons can use to seal visible air leaks on lung tissue after they’ve closed a surgical incision with sutures or staples. The polymer and blood protein form a clear, flexible gel when mixed.
Polymers have made many of the miracles of medical devices possible, and they’re vital for the creation of the devices and their packaging. When so much is on the line, manufacturers rely on testing companies like Polymer Solutions Inc. to help them gather critical data on the polymers they’re using in their medical devices. Through tests like molecular weight analysis, we can help medical device makers better understand how the polymers they’re using might behave in their device — ultimately contributing to safer, more effective medical devices and healthier outcomes for patients.
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