Today, DSM Dyneema launches Dyneema® Purity, a high performance fiber of particular interest to the medical device industry. On the basis of this fiber, various medical device companies are already developing new surgical implants and other medical devices. The unique strength of the fiber (weight for weight Dyneema® Purity is 15 times stronger than steel) together with other benefits like flexibility, abrasion resistance and softness make Dyneema® Purity an exciting new fiber for improving current devices, as well as being the basis for new innovative surgical devices.
DSM is active both in the field of Performance Materials and Life Sciences and is therefore uniquely positioned to develop a wide range of biomaterials such as Dyneema® Purity.
World leading strength for surgical implants
Dyneema® Purity is introduced at the most important orthopaedic event in the US, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in San Francisco today. At this event several medical device companies launch new high strength suture products based on Dyneema® Purity. “Strong sutures are an important trend within the orthopaedic field”, says Kevin Stone, Vice President of Operations Arthrotek Inc “Arthrotek is pleased to be able to offer this next generation suture made from Dyneema® Purity to the orthopaedic community. Our Lactoscrew is the strongest anchor, and it is great to attach the strongest suture to it”. This event is also the occasion for Linvatec Inc. and Teleflex Medical to present their Dyneema® Purity based high strength sutures. The high strength is used to achieve better fixation, both for general orthopaedic fixations and specifically in combination with so called suture anchors that are commonly used in various orthopaedic procedures (e.g. arthroscopic rotator cuff repair).
Excellent features benefit patients and surgeons
Unlike many other strong materials (e.g steel and titanium) Dyneema® Purity combines a very high strength with a superb flex-life (resistance to fatique). In surgical terms this means that the risk of fracture during and after an operation is greatly reduced because Dyneema® Purity products will not easily break or lose their strength when bent, twisted or stretched. Alongside this toughness, Dyneema® Purity is also extremely gentle, with a silk-like touch. It is a friendly material for the human body, non-abrasive, does not have sharp edges, and is therefore less likely to cut into the bones of patients, or the skin of surgeons.
Smaller yet even stronger
“Dyneema® Purity offers the medical device industry an unprecedented opportunity to make medical devices that are significantly smaller and stronger when compared to conventional devices. For instance, a Dyneema® Purity braid (suture or tape) will, at similar strength, be almost twice as thin as the polyester braid normally used. This property in itself enables the design of smaller implants like for example, thinner sutures resulting in smaller knots, which have the potential to reduce patient discomfort”, according to Leo Smit, Business Manager Medical, DSM Dyneema.
Dyneema® Purity a “living” example
Because of its extremely high strength, Dyneema® Purity also integrates excellently with the popular trend towards minimally invasive surgical techniques. These endoscopic procedures require miniaturized devices for which new ultra strong biomaterials are needed like Dyneema® Purity. “Dyneema® Purity is yet another innovative specialty product from DSM which will find its way in even more application areas than we imagined originally” says Jan Zuidam, Vice Chairman of DSM. “Because DSM is a leading player both in the field of Performance Materials and Life Sciences, it is uniquely positioned to develop a wide range of biomaterials. These new high strength sutures based on Dyneema® Purity are a living example of this strategy”, concludes Jan Zuidam.
About DSM Dyneema
Dyneema® fiber is currently used in commercial, life protection and leisure applications worldwide, and can be found in countless products such as bullet-resistant vests and panels, (including those used in the doors of airplane cockpits), cut-resistant gloves, surfboards, bowstrings, sails, sailing ropes, and fishing nets.
DSM Dyneema is the world's leading innovator in the field of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. It’s laboratory is well equipped and forms the basis of a large variety of applications of the Dyneema fiber. DSM Dyneema also intends to share its knowledge and expertise with (industrial) partners in order to co-create tailor-made solutions for existing problems and unsolved medical needs. Dyneema® Purity is produced in Heerlen, the Netherlands.
