Platinum today: News/Industrial and Medical

Platinum contact 'key' to new wave of implantable medical devices

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A proprietary composite with a platinum contact is playing a crucial role in one company's latest implantable medical device designs.

Hypertronics, a business unit of Hypertac, has developed a new product known as 'ImplanTac', which can be used in pacemakers, neurostimulators and defibrillators.

During the manufacturing process, the company struggled to find a suitable contact material, before discovering that the platinum surface was an effective solution.

According to a report by newelectronics.co.uk, the mechanical and electrical spring properties of the wire are "significant" for the efficient functioning of the contact.

"The trend is towards less invasive devices and less invasive procedures," Mark Manasas of Cambridge Consultants told the news provider.

"Improved imaging, including CT, MRI and ultrasound, are going to be more prevalent and necessary as these procedures become less 'open' surgery and more 'keyhole' surgery."

The contact can be used in the most recent orthopaedic, visual and sensory aids, while also boosting the operation of implantable patient ID and active monitoring systems.

Pacemakers were first envisaged by JA McWilliam, who reported in the British Medical Journal in 1899 that particular heart rhythms could be established by applying electrical impulses.

Source:

Connectors are playing a vital role in implantable electronics (08/03/10)

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Pilkington announces BIPV link-up with ruthenium dye experts

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Pilkington North America has agreed to collaborate with Dyesol in order to focus on the building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) market, it has been confirmed.

Dyesol is renowned for its innovative dye solar cell technology, which involves placing a ruthenium dye, an electrolyte and a layer of titania on transparent conductive oxide (TCO) glass, metal or polymer substrates.

The process, which is described as 'artificial photosynthesis', is capable of producing significant electrical currents and is viewed as a major step towards replacing conventional glass.

Pilkington specialises in TCO and believes the tie-up with Dyesol will help it to push the photovoltaic power industry on to the next level.

"BIPV is an emerging market segment with great opportunity for utilising our TCO technology to bring photovoltaic power into building design," said Stephen Weidner, the company's Senior Vice-President of Building Products for North America.

"The collaboration with Dyesol has the potential to bring a significant change in the value of architectural glass as we know it today. No longer will glass be viewed solely for its insulation and aesthetic properties, but for its power generating potential as well."

Dye solar cell technology was first demonstrated to be successful almost 20 years ago in Switzerland by chemist Michael Gratzel.

Source:

Pilkington North America to Collaborate with Dyesol on BIPV (04/03/10)

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New platinum-clad molybdenum wire offers improved thermal and corrosion resistance properties

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An innovative new form of platinum-clad molybdenum wire for use in semiconductors and electronics applications has been launched, it was confirmed yesterday (4th March).

The wire, which has been developed by Anomet Products, provides a low coefficient of thermal expansion and high oxidation, while also being able to resist corrosion up to 1,000C.

According to Electric Light & Power, the company's design offers significant performance and cost advantages over its solid wire counterparts.

"[The wire is] ideal for fabricating feed-throughs in semiconductor fabrication equipment and for making connectors and switch components used in harsh environments," the website noted.

"Metallurgical-bonding assures that this wire provides superior ductility, formability and weld-ability than electroplated wire."

The wire, which can also be produced in rod or ribbon form, is available in 0.01-inch to 0.06-inch OD sizes, with cladding from 14 to 26 per cent by weight and 4.5 to 55 microns.

Source:

Anomet Products offers line of durable platinum clad molybdenum wire (04/03/10)

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New platinum drug process 'improves ovarian cancer treatment by 20 per cent'

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Two platinum-based chemotherapy drugs could improve ovarian cancer sufferers' chances of survival by up to 20 per cent if they are administered differently, according to new research.

Paclitaxel plus either carboplatin or cisplatin have traditionally been injected into the bloodstream using an intravenous dip.

However, a new technique, dubbed 'intraperitoneal chemotherapy', delivers the drugs directly to the abdomen via a catheter.

Barts and The London School of Medicine - the body currently trialling the procedure in the UK - believes this process makes the drugs up to 1,000 times stronger, the Daily Mail reports.

"Earlier studies indicate that when given directly the platinum-based drug is about ten times more concentrated and the paclitaxel is about 1,000 times higher than when given intravenously," Dr Chris Gallagher, who is heading up the UK study, told the newspaper.

"As both drugs are then absorbed into the bloodstream, the side-effects such as nausea, tiredness and hair loss are similar."

The average lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is about 1.6 per cent, but this figure increases to five per cent for women whose first-degree relatives have suffered from the disease.

Source:

Can new 'super chemotherapy' conquer ovarian cancer? (02/03/10)

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Platinum used in silicone elastomer solution for support stockings and medical equipment

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new platinum-based solution has been created for the elastic band market for lingerie and medical applications.

The anti-slip characteristics of transparent silicone technology have been used to help stockings and socks stay up for the last 20 years.

However, Bluestar Silicones has applied its expertise in the Liquid Silicone Rubber and medical device fields to develop new platinum polyaddition bi-component products which offer elasticity while at the same time being more comfortable for the wearer.

Targeting the paramedical market for support stockings and prostheses, a new line of TCS 7560 and TCS 7561 Silbione products has been launched.

While the Silbione TCS 7560 offers elasticity at reduced compression to protect the skin, the Silbione TCS 7561 is even more flexible and comes with very low compression to ensure maximum comfort.

Last week, Rubber News reported that Bluestar Silicones had developed platinum-catalysed gel elastomers to help promote wound injury recovery.

Source:

Bluestar Silicones Launches a New Range of Silbione(R) TCS 7560 & 7561 Elastomers for Lingerie, Support Stockings and Medical Textile Applications (16/02/10)

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Platinum-catalysed gel elastomers help cure wound injuries

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Bluestar Silicones USA Corporation has developed platinum-catalysed gel elastomers which will help individuals in their recovery from wound injuries.

Rubber News reports that the East Brunswick-based company has created Silbione silicon skin adhesives, which prevent damage to newly-formed skin in a healing wound by only sticking to dry skin and not that which is moist.

Quality and purity are also guaranteed in the adhesives, which are two-part platinum-catalysed gel elastomers, as they are manufactured in a clean environment.

According to the news provider, Karen O'Keefe, Bluestar's North American health care marketing manager, believes that the treatment of wound injuries is currently a strong market to be involved in.

She said: "Wound care is a growing market for silicones because of the material's property profile and biocompatibility."

The adhesives were launched at the Medical Design & Manufacturing West Conference, which took place at the Anaheim Convention Center between February 8th and February 11th this year.

Visitors to the event gained advice on the most cost-effective production methods and identified new products on the market which could help grow their businesses.

Source:

Bluestar Silicones unveils silicone elastomers for wound care (12/02/10)

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