For many years, torque-applying instruments have been among the surgical instruments typically used during orthopedic surgeries. These instruments are manufactured as reusable instruments, and are cleaned, reprocessed and recalibrated after each surgical procedure.
But now there’s a new twist on this oft-used instrument. Caltorque Medical Products (CMP), a division of California Torque Products Inc., says its TorqueSafe torque instruments give surgical implant OEMs an alternative to traditional reusable instruments.
“We have transitioned from what is traditionally a stainless steel instrument with a silicon over-molded handle to a mostly plastic, cost-effective alternative offering the same at-use performance,” said Brian Cutler, vice president, marketing and product development, CMP.
Makrolon polycarbonate resin from Bayer MaterialScience LLC forms the handles of CMP’s TorqueSafe instruments, which are designed for trauma, reconstruction, small bone, cranio maxillofacial fixation, spine and extremity
procedures.
Ratcheting up the benefits
TorqueSafe allows a surgeon to apply the correct tightening force to screws, up to a preset value, and not allowing the screw to be over tightened, according to CMP. The ergonomics of the design are a symmetrical T and an offset T, offering the physician the choice of which best fits the application or grip preference. The handles are injection molded from Makrolon 2458 medical grade polycarbonate, an easy-flow polycarbonate with easy-release
characteristics, good hydrolysis resistance and biocompatible according to ISO 10993-1 test requirements.
There are two versions of the TorqueSafe instrument. The first is designed specifically for a single procedure. The second version is designed for multiple procedures: It can be used in several surgeries until the TorqueSafe mechanism disables the instrument, preventing additional use. The multiple-procedure version will withstand multiple cleanings and autoclave cycles, but will not need calibration, explains Slomski. Both versions exhibit the
TorqueSafe alert window, giving users a visual indication of in-calibration use
and end-of-calibration disablement.
According to CMP, TorqueSafe instruments enable the OEM to reduce or eliminate the reprocessing cycle cost associated with reusable surgical instruments while offering an instrument that can fit the recycle/repurposing initiatives of hospitals around the world.
Bayer MaterialScience LLC
www.plastics.bayer.com
