Fluoropolymers are used nearly everywhere, in almost every major manufacturing sector. Those of us who formulate and apply the coatings, and our medical device manufacturing customers, understand the unique benefits they bring to everyday life, but most others do not. They have come under fire for allegedly causing harm to people and the environment. In…
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What goes into developing coatings for medical devices? What drives the process? Understanding the factors that motivate manufacturers to seek out new and better coatings – such as our new GlideMed™ PTFE-free coating – and the processes that bring them to fruition can help medical device manufacturers and design engineers appreciate the big picture. Many…
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With more than six decades of coating expertise, the Surface Solutions Group team is often asked questions about medical grade PTFE coatings their application to a variety of medical devices and components. Here are the answers to some of the more common medical device coating questions we hear. Q: What is PTFE coating? A: PTFE, or…
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For medical OEMs in need of precision application of coatings for reel-to-reel, continuous wire, Surface Solutions Group (SSG) has the experience, know-how and equipment to make it happen. Whether the application involves continuous round wire, tubing, or cables, our team takes care to apply Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coatings to reel-to-reel wires at 0.0001- 0.0003 inches per…
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Surface Solutions Group contributed editorial content to a recent Medical Product Outsourcing (MPO) magazine article about the thrombectomy device market. Our subject matter expert, George Osterhout, SSG President, focused on trends in PTFE coated guidewires. Here is a summary of our contributed content, as well as other guidewire coating trends we’re observing. With cardiovascular disease…
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A mandrel is a stiff wire that is inserted into a catheter or other medical tubing. Mandrels provide hollow tubular structures with support and rigidity. Since mandrels play such an essential part in the production of many medical devices, it’s important that their performance is reliable and consistent. This is why Surface Solutions Group offers PTFE coated…
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Silicone is generally thought of as a component with many end uses in diverse industries such as electronics, manufacturing, sporting goods, manufacturing, and consumer goods. It may surprise some to learn, then, that silicone plays a major role in the field of health care. A unique elastomer that’s efficient to manufacture, chemically inert, biocompatible, strong,…
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Nonstick coatings for dental instruments and orthodontic appliances help to reduce bacteria both in the mouth as well as in medical office environments. Learn more about different kinds of coatings and the additional benefits they provide. Antimicrobial Coating Benefits for Dental Applications Dental devices are prone to unwanted bacteria from normal oral flora, the outside environment…
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Many medical device and component applications are covered with non-stick coatings, such as PTFE, to enhance their properties and performance. One such medical product is the coated stimulation needle. Used for a variety of medical procedures and applications, PTFE coated stimulation needles are capable of reducing pain for patients along with numerous other benefits. What is a Stimulation…
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VisiMark® is a product of Surface Solutions Group, Inc. (SSG) to enhance medical devices with a low friction polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating and permanent visible marks. Markings often include permanent alpha-numeric characters that denote manufacturing codes, dates, and style along with banding. Many combinations of contrasted markings can be applied by SSG during the coating process…
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Medicine is moving towards more technologically advanced systems and surgeons are the prominent users of these instruments. Disposable electrosurgical blades and tip coatings offer unsurpassed performance and design features. During surgery, a surgeon needs a set number of tools that are specific to the operation and that must be accounted for throughout the procedure. During electrosurgery high…
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In the medical field, technology is making an impact in many forms, especially in the area of medical devices. Hydrophilic coatings are just one of those booming innovations. Hydrophilic coatings are suitable for vascular catheters, guidewires and a wide range of polymeric and metallic substances. The mechanism through which the hydrophilic coating alters the chemical interaction…
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