June 30, 2010 - Alpharetta, GA – Medical Instrument Uses Udel® Polysulfone from Solvay Advanced Polymers for Chemical Resistance, Autoclavability, and Major Cost Reduction - The medical industry’s first reusable trocar with a thermoplastic handle has been introduced by GMD Inc., Gig Harbor, Wash., a leading supplier of high-quality, cost-effective medical devices for standard of care procedures. The medical instrument, which is used to implant GMD’s Universal SlingTM for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, is made of 20% glass-filled Udel® GF-120 polysulfone (PSU) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC for strong chemical resistance, low shrinkage, and excellent autoclave resistance (a minimum of 50 cycles). The plastic-handled trocar also reduces cost by 75% over the previous all-metal version.
The PSU-handled instrument replaces the all-metal trocar which was prohibitively more expensive and more complicated to manufacture and assemble. “Solvay delivered the enabling material technology that made this a game-changer for us,” said Shawn Lunney, GMD’s vice president, sales and marketing. “We were able to meet strict industry standards and deliver a high-performance, cost-effective equivalent.” For certain procedures including the implanting of GMD’s Female Universal Urinary Incontinence Sling, providers can now opt for GMD’s reusable trocar to lower overall cost per procedure, explained Lunney.
The reusable trocar consists of a stainless steel needle and inner handle that is overmolded with Udel PSU. The overmolded instrument offers the weight and feel of metal, along with the reusability and cost effectiveness of plastic. Initial testing of other polymers including glass-filled polycarbonate showed cracking due to residual stress or poor autoclave resistance and poor surface finish. Glass-filled Udel GF-120 provided lower shrinkage to reduce stress over the metal insert. Other key features include strong chemical resistance and excellent steam autoclavability. Solvay provided several recommendations to reduce residual stress and improve the appearance of the finished part.
The injection molded trocars will be commercially available in June.
About GMD Inc.
GMD Inc., based in Gig Harbor, Wash., is a developer and marketer of medical instruments that are equivalent to currently available products at a substantially lower cost. GMD’S mission is to improve the lives of patients, families, and health-care providers by offering high quality, cost-effective medical devices for standard of care procedures. GMD is initially focused on soft tissue repair products and products used in soft tissue repair procedures. For information is available at www.gmd-us.com.
About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more at www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.
Solvay is an international industrial Group active in Chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and its companies employ about 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to €8.45 billion. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR). Details are available at www.solvay.com.
The PSU-handled instrument replaces the all-metal trocar which was prohibitively more expensive and more complicated to manufacture and assemble. “Solvay delivered the enabling material technology that made this a game-changer for us,” said Shawn Lunney, GMD’s vice president, sales and marketing. “We were able to meet strict industry standards and deliver a high-performance, cost-effective equivalent.” For certain procedures including the implanting of GMD’s Female Universal Urinary Incontinence Sling, providers can now opt for GMD’s reusable trocar to lower overall cost per procedure, explained Lunney.
The reusable trocar consists of a stainless steel needle and inner handle that is overmolded with Udel PSU. The overmolded instrument offers the weight and feel of metal, along with the reusability and cost effectiveness of plastic. Initial testing of other polymers including glass-filled polycarbonate showed cracking due to residual stress or poor autoclave resistance and poor surface finish. Glass-filled Udel GF-120 provided lower shrinkage to reduce stress over the metal insert. Other key features include strong chemical resistance and excellent steam autoclavability. Solvay provided several recommendations to reduce residual stress and improve the appearance of the finished part.
The injection molded trocars will be commercially available in June.
About GMD Inc.
GMD Inc., based in Gig Harbor, Wash., is a developer and marketer of medical instruments that are equivalent to currently available products at a substantially lower cost. GMD’S mission is to improve the lives of patients, families, and health-care providers by offering high quality, cost-effective medical devices for standard of care procedures. GMD is initially focused on soft tissue repair products and products used in soft tissue repair procedures. For information is available at www.gmd-us.com.
About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more at www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.
Solvay is an international industrial Group active in Chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and its companies employ about 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to €8.45 billion. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR). Details are available at www.solvay.com.
