New health
care rules are already starting to impact materials used in the medical market.
One of the
leading examples is a new technology to fight the spread of hospital
infections. Evonik Cyro introduced a clear compound with a patent-pending antimicrobial
agent at Medical Design & Manufacturing West this week in Anaheim, CA.
"Our
customers have been approaching us asking us to develop this type of
technology," says Peter D. Colburn, director of business development and
innovation at Evonik Cyro.
In 2009,
Medicare said it would no longer pay hospitals for additional costs to treat
hospital-acquired infections. The new rule triggered strong interest in
technologies that would combat bacteria on medical equipment. Colburn says
Evonik needed to develop a new technology to meet tough standards, such as a
Japanese test called JIS Z 2801.
The new
compound from Evonik Cyro, called Cyrolite Protect, is an acrylic-based multipolymer
compound that uses a proprietary silver-based antimicrobial agent. The
technology was developed in the company's labs in Wallingford, CT.
The compound
is available in a transparent green tint in pellet form. It has mechanical
properties required for its target applications, which include Luer connectors,
spikes, Y-sites, check valves and filter housings.
The compound
was expressly designed for FDA-regulated Class I or Class II medical devices
covered by 501 (k) submission. Evonik Cyro expects the materials to be used in
place of existing acrylic compounds, polycarbonate or PVC.
Medicare Rule Triggers Antimicrobial Compound
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