DSM, a global leader in biomedical materials sciences, today
announced a successful collaboration with medical manufacturer EPflex to
launch a new set of guidewires with ComfortCoat® hydrophilic coating, a
proprietary DSM technology. EPflex will manufacture the guidewires and DSM will
provide the coating technology.
EPflex is a leading innovator in nitinol-based guidewire
systems. Nitinol offers unique advantages such as high flexibility and stability,
which enable the safe treatment of hard-to-reachlesions.
DSMs ComfortCoat® coating further improves the performance
of the guidewire systems by providing a durable lubricious coating, which
reduces the amount of force needed to pass through tight stenoses and reach
difficult lesions. Benefits of the coated guidewires include an extremely soft
tip, excellent gliding properties, a torsion stable core, and high flexural
strength.
“Guidewires are used in many medical disciplines including
urology, cardiology, radiology and gastrology,” said John Marugg, Business
Manager, Coatings, DSM Biomedical. “The success of these devices further
demonstrates the broad capabilities of DSMs proprietary coating technologies
and coating processes in medical applications.”
“Guidewires are often one of the first devices introduced
into a patients body during surgery,” said Bernhard Uihlein, CEO, EPflex
Feinwerktechnik GmbH. “By enhancing our products with innovative coating
technology we aim to make procedures easier for physicians while also improving
patient outcomes. We chose DSM as a partner because of the companys proven
quality, service and reliability.”
DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition
and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and
Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity,environmental progress
and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM
delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in
global markets such as food and dietary supplements,personal care, feed,
pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and
electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSMs
22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is
listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.
About EPflex Feinwerktechnik GmbH
EPflex is a DIN ISO 13485 certified OEM manufacturer of metallic single use
products for minimally invasive surgery. The companys product range includes
guidewires, nitinol stone baskets, stylets, hypotubes and customized products.
Besides producing standard guidewires in many different diameters, rigidities,
lengths and tip shapes, EPflex manufactures a variety of nitinol guidewires.
EPflex is specialized in processing wires, braids and tubes made of stainless
steel, nitinol, polymers and other materials. Manufacturing capabilities
include grinding, laser welding, bonding, laser marking and forming. Products
are assembled in the companys 350 square meter class 8 clean room, which has
received EN-ISO 14644-3certification and in additional
1,000 square meters controlled area. For more information please visit: http://www.epflex.de/englisch.html.
Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT
