MEDICAL POLYMERS & PROCESSING

- EMERGING TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

D L Pandya, CEO & Editor

Medical Plastics Data Service

mediSOURCEasia.com

Webinar On Role Of Plastics In The Medical, Healthcare &

Pharma Sectors : Emerging Opportunities

Organised By AIPMA

May 27, 2020

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COVID 19 : Medical Plastic Products

In The Front Line

Plastics constitute an important part of Medical Devices and

the global market is estimated to be close to US $ 18 billion .

• It plays a very crucial role ensuring right technologies

available for healthcare providers and patients.

• Like any other sector, the Plastic industry or the medical

device industry is also looking for emerging trends.

• The origin for some of the trends are from campaign based

ideology - the examples for which in the medical

applications are requirements for bisphenol-A free materials,

Polyvinylchloride free devices etc.

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• History has shown that such public-driven trends generally

follow the cycle of becoming public and disappearing

regularly without major changes.

• Some of the ideas which have been tested after thorough

investigation and have shown potential for implementation

and are driven by higher integration level of technologies

between technocrats, medical professionals and patients.

• Few of such Polymeric Materials and their Processing based

trends are highlighted in this presentation.

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COVID 19 : Medical Plastic Products

In The Front Line

Antimicrobial Plastics

• Antimicrobial plastics help in curtailing infections and

preventing illnesses by resisting the growth of disease-

causing pathogens.

• Typical end use applications are :

Vascular Access Devices: Catheters, Injection

Systems, Needleless Connectors, etc.

Fluid Management Devices : IV Systems & Bags,

Valves, Tubing, etc.

Device/Instrument Housings

Airway Management Devices : Endotracheal &

Tracheotomy Tubes, etc.

Laparoscopic Instruments, Wound Dressings

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Antimicrobial Plastics

Class I, II and III Medical Devices that come in contact with

patients or their caregivers and many other applications

Some of the possible antimicrobial compounds (silver-and

non-silver-based) include :

Butyl Rubber (IIR) , Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer

(EPDM), Polyisoprene (IR), Polyurethane (TPU), Silicones

(LSR and HCR)

Transparency Market Research estimates for U.S.

antimicrobial plastics market exhibit a 9.3% CAGR from

2014 to 2020, expected to reach nearly US$1,227 mn by

2020.

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Antimicrobial Coatings On PPEs

• To safeguard healthcare workers from current corona

virus and other infectious diseases, IIT Guwahati

researchers has developed an affordable antimicrobial

(antiviral / antibacterial) spray-based coating for PPE kits

to kill and prevent the spread of microbes once they

come in contact with the coated PPE surface.

• Metal nanoparticle cocktail, such as copper, silver and

other active ingredients, present in the spray acts as an

antimicrobial agent. This ensures limited penetration and

accumulation of microbial contaminants on PPE.

• The Institute Of Pasma Research , Gandhinager ( Gujarat

) is also in process of developing Nano CuO based anti-

microbial face masks . It will produce coated non-woven

fabric roll which can be used to make 3 – ply masks.

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Shape-Memory Polymers

• Another interesting group of plastics are shape-memory

polymers (SMPs). Like shape-memory alloys, these will

“remember” their original shape when deformed, and flip

back to the initial shape when exposed to an external stimulus.

• These stimuli may be an electric field, light, changes in pH

value, or, as most commonly, changes in temperature.

• Some SMPs even can retain three shapes, their initial

(permanent) shape and two deformed morphologies. This effect

offers several interesting options.

• Integration of SMPs in fabric provides many fascinating and

improved properties such as good aesthetic appeal, comfort,

textile soft display, smart controlled drug release, fantasy

design, wound monitoring, smart wetting properties and

protection against extreme variations in environmental

conditions. 7

Shape-Memory Polymers : Applications

• Bracelets that alter the position of teeth over a period of

several months

• coronary stents that strut the artery and prevent an

elastic recoil

• The alteration in shape also may be used for clamping.

Feasible are form - and/or force-fitting fastenings.

Applications for that are devices such as surgical

staplers, remotely controlled switchable implants, or

clamps to fix artificial heart valve.

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Shape-Memory Polymers : Applications

• Other widespread applications : dental wires, orthopaedic

implants, intravenous cannula, self-adjusting orthodontic wires

and selectively pliable tools for small scale surgical

procedures.

• Utilization of SMPs still is in its very beginnings.

• Factors that influence the biocompatibility and toxicity of

SMPs is crucial for safe and sustainable development.

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Thermoplastic Elastomers

• Medical Devices need combination of hard and soft

materials

• Like : Respiratory Masks, Precision Syringes, Tubing,

Catheters, Bags For Infusion Solutions, Implants Such

As Artificial Heart Valves And Joints ect ; requiring a long

time use.

• Plastics preferred because of their high degree of purity

(low level of extractable compounds), their recyclability

and cost effectiveness.

• Also to replace latex which cause allergic reactions in

patients.

• They are easy to sterilize and are flexible.

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Thermoplastic Elastomers

• Technological advancement has made these elastomers

an ideal choice for medical device manufacturing,

leading to an increase in demand for thermoplastic

medical elastomers.

• With the increase in environmental standards, medical

tubing is now being replaced with TPEs . next-generation

series of medical-grade thermoplastic elastomer

compounds for producing seals and gaskets for medical

devices, as well as parts for consumer health wearables.

• As per “Markets & Markets”, Medical Elastomers Market

is projected to reach USD 7.92 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR

of 7.5% with approx. 15 to 20 percent share of medical

grades.

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Emerging Trends In Manufacturing Technologies

• Along with Medical Polymers , the emerging trends in

manufacturing of polymer based medical devices are also

equally important .

• Includes not only new trends in the commonly used

plastics conversion technologies , but also

manufacturing environment / hygienic manufacturing (

Clean Rooms )

• Also procedures like surface treatment / modification ,

3D Printing bonding , antibacterial processing / coatings ,

anticounterfeiting , new sterilization approaches ,

packaging , printing and many more.

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Medical Tube Extrusions :

Different Configurations

Medical Tubes are categorized mainly by following types

according to Different Configurations:

a. According to the structure: Single-Lumen, Double-Lumen,

Multi-Lumen, Two-Row, Multi-Row etc.

b. According to the performance: High-Pressure Tube, UV

Protection Tube, Flame Retardant Tube Antimicrobial

Tube, Gamma Ray Protection Tube.

c. According to the usage: High-Transparent Tube, Tube

With Color Line (One Or Multi-Lines), Radiopaque Tube

(One Of Multi-Lines Or Whole), Micro-Flow Tube,

Intravascular Tube, Balloon Tube, High-Pressure.

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Thank You