NEU Specialty Engineered Materials LLC, a subsidiary of PolyOne Corporation and a leading provider of polymer solutions for healthcare device manufacturers worldwide, has a strategic relationship with Microspec Corporation to develop antimicrobial formulations for small-diameter catheters and medical tubing based on PolyOne’s Withstand Antimicrobial technologies.
Infection control that improves patient safety is of paramount importance to today's healthcare industry when using medical devices requiring regulatory approvals. NEU's antimicrobial solutions for medical devices such as catheters and tubing enhance the ability to kill bacteria at the point of treatment.
"NEU's unique experience in specialty engineered materials, combined with PolyOne's antimicrobial technologies and Microspec's leading-edge capabilities, provide a solid technical solution for catheter and medical tubing OEMs,” states Matthew Borowiec, commercial director, PolyOne Engineered Materials, North America. “As a result, we can help deliver safer and more effective devices to healthcare providers and patients. This relationship with Microspec demonstrates our customer-focused approach to developing innovative solutions and confirms our commitment to the global healthcare industry."
Small-diameter catheters are increasingly used for pediatric applications and to promote adult patient comfort. Microspec has earned a global reputation for extruding small, complex medical tubing with tight tolerances. Microspec has produced tubing with an outside diameter as small as 0.004” (0.1mm) and multi-lumen tubing as small as 0.12” (0.305mm). Microspec can also layer antimicrobial additives in the outer portion of multi-lumen tubing, which can help keep costs down and places the antimicrobial on the surface and outer band of the device where it is needed. "This collaboration combines Microspec's leadership in medical extrusions with NEU's leadership in materials to offer unique solutions to the healthcare industry," adds Tim Steele, CEO and founder of Microspec Corporation.