Proven Performance in Medical Devices

With a broad portfolio of polycarbonate, polycarbonate blends, and thermoplastic polyurethanes from which to choose, designers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can be confident they will find an engineering thermoplastic option from BayerMaterialScience LLC, depending on the requirements of their medical and healthcare applications.

Makrolon  polycarbonate is Bayer MaterialScience’s premier plastic. For almost 50 years, medical device OEMs and the healthcare market have utilized Makrolon polycarbonate and the technical expertise of Bayer MaterialScience. It’s a track record that dates back to the 1960s, when Makrolon polycarbonate was selected for use in the first blood oxygenators and renal dialyzers.

Makrolon polycarbonate resins provide excellent impact strength, glass-like transparency, high temperature resistance and dimensional stability. Makrolon polycarbonate resins designated as “medical-grade” meet certain test requirements of U.S. Food and Drug (FDA)-modified ISO 10993, Part 1 “Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices” with human tissue contact time of 30 days or less. Makrolon polycarbonate resins can be sterilized using a broad range of sterilization techniques including radiation (gamma and electron beam), ethylene oxide (EtO) gas, and steam autoclave. Polycarbonate is one of the few engineering thermoplastics that can be sterilized by all three common techniques.

“Our medical grade polycarbonates and blends offer proven performance and feature a balance of properties, including impact resistance, strength, processability and joining techniques that are ideal for medical applications,” says Kevin Dunay, market leader, Consumer and Medical, Polycarbonates NAFTA, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.

Bayer MaterialScience’s achievements in the medical industry have not gone unnoticed. In recognition of its innovative material contributions to the healthcare industry, Bayer MaterialScience LLC was recently honored with a Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award. Specifically, Bayer received the 2009 North American Polycarbonate in Medical Devices Customer Value Leadership Award for enhancing client value by providing innovative products and outstanding technical support.

“The bottom line is that our family of polycarbonate plastics and blends has a proven track record,” Dunay says. “Simply put, Bayer MaterialScience offers a combination of proven materials, technical expertise and medical industry experience that is valued by the market.”