(Newswire.net — October 9, 2013) Anaheim, CA — The United States has the lowest rate of cross-staph infection around the globe as a direct result of plastic medical disposables and materials that can be repeatedly sterilized.
Plastics permeate medicine, from medical grade plastic sheet covers to medical grade plastic rod handles. From the smallest tubing to the open MRI machine, plastics deliver when lives are at stake. When the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) was first introduced, metal objects situated too close to the machine became airborne, due to its magnetic qualities and posed serious danger to those within close radius. Today, all of the equipment that surrounds an MRI is created out of Borated Polyethylene, a plastic which is easily fabricated, light weight and durable over a wide temperature range. Its superior dimensional quality, flatness and quality control allow it to ensure proper levels of elemental Boron as well as material homogeneity. Even the tools that are used to assemble the MRI are made from plastic.
High tech polymers are used to create new and improved artificial limbs to provide people with pain free movement and trouble-free joints. The Niagara Foot™ is a new affordable, high-performance prosthetic foot made for active individuals. It’s Keel, a single, S-shaped part, injection molded from Thermoplastic polyester elastomer, acts like a spring to provide energy storage and return during the gait cycle. Thermoplastic Rigid Polyester isn’t restricted to one area of medicine. It also provides highly reliable service as reusable, transparent, kink- resistant tubing for respiratory therapy.
Some advantages of Thermoplastic polyester elastomer prosthetics are:
- – Allows user to walk more naturally than conventional designs,
- – Decreases the muscular effort required for walking, and
- – Mimics the natural movement of the ankle complex.
The NICU (Neo-natal intensive care unit) contains many machines and other types of equipment used to care for sick infants with a variety of medical issues. These machines seem less intimidating when you understand how they can help your baby. Tiny tubes made from Polypropylene administer fluid and medication. Pumps and fluid lines made from Polyvinylchloride, also known as PVC or Rigid Vinyl, ensure the entire dose is given in the precise appropriate time frame. Babies who do not eat by mouth can receive all their nutritional requirements through IV lines. Because premature infants often can’t keep themselves warm without help, they may be placed inside an incubator. These plastic boxes keep your baby warm in one of two ways: They may be set to stay at a certain temperature, or a sensor that monitors the baby’s temperature may be connected to the incubator to heat or cool the air as needed. Incubators also protect premature babies from infection, noise, and light, and may provide pure humidified air to maintain skin integrity in very premature babies.
Many of today’s most innovative medical procedures are dependent on the use of plastics. Medical Grade Plastic Sheets and Rods make it easy to fabricate small production runs of specialty custom parts. From the machinery housing and device handles to Petri dishes and fluid hoses, plastics serve health-care needs both large and small. As the need for home health care continues to increase, plastics will continue to play a major role in creating simple, portable and effective medical devices.
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