05.09.12
North Barrington, Ill.-based Medical Murray, a medical device development and contract manufacturing company now offers new techniques for molding bioabsorbable polymers to create sub-micro-size parts.
Used in its contract molding operations, the Sesame injection molding machine is designed to provide fast, controlled injection and short material residence time. It uses a pneumatically driven vertical plunger for plasticating, and injects with a tiny horizontal plunger (1- to 2.5 mm diameter) driven by a linear servomotor. The total injection time can be as short as 0.02 seconds, the company claims. The Sesame’s features include very low melted volume, controlled high speed, and high-pressure injection. This allows for the molding of sub micro-sized parts with complex geometric features from materials such as bioabsorbable polymers that would otherwise degrade in standard equipment.
Conventional screw plasticizing machines commonly require sprue and runner systems that consume 75 percent or more of the volume needed to produce one part. Bioabsorbable resins of medical grade can sell for upwards of $13 per gram, making it necessary to tightly control scrap material to minimize cost. Medical Murray, on the other hand, has developed processes that allow the creation of miniature hinges in molded devices for bioabsorbable fasteners that are activated during placement. According to the company, parts have been produced on the Sesame measuring just 0.10 mm and weighing only 2.5 mg, or one-twentieth of a single pellet.
Founded in 1996, Medical Murray is focuses on the vascular, surgical, and urological sectors. The company’s core activity is centered around custom catheter systems and components, complex disposables and implantables.
Used in its contract molding operations, the Sesame injection molding machine is designed to provide fast, controlled injection and short material residence time. It uses a pneumatically driven vertical plunger for plasticating, and injects with a tiny horizontal plunger (1- to 2.5 mm diameter) driven by a linear servomotor. The total injection time can be as short as 0.02 seconds, the company claims. The Sesame’s features include very low melted volume, controlled high speed, and high-pressure injection. This allows for the molding of sub micro-sized parts with complex geometric features from materials such as bioabsorbable polymers that would otherwise degrade in standard equipment.
Conventional screw plasticizing machines commonly require sprue and runner systems that consume 75 percent or more of the volume needed to produce one part. Bioabsorbable resins of medical grade can sell for upwards of $13 per gram, making it necessary to tightly control scrap material to minimize cost. Medical Murray, on the other hand, has developed processes that allow the creation of miniature hinges in molded devices for bioabsorbable fasteners that are activated during placement. According to the company, parts have been produced on the Sesame measuring just 0.10 mm and weighing only 2.5 mg, or one-twentieth of a single pellet.
Founded in 1996, Medical Murray is focuses on the vascular, surgical, and urological sectors. The company’s core activity is centered around custom catheter systems and components, complex disposables and implantables.