Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 15

An SSG operator programs a CNC automated robotic coating cell for guidewires and coils. (Credit: SSG)
Knowing how great an impact eliminating
PFAS will have on life as we know
it, chemical and coatings manufacturers,
among others, are working hard to make
the case for avoiding broad-brush-stroke
type elimination.
It is a very complicated spider's web
because of the many benefits fluoropolymers
offer, including the most wellknown,
its highly effective nonsticking
and insulating properties, but also its resistance
to fire, extreme temperatures,
and weather.
Fortunately, there are three key organizations
that are working on behalf of their
member companies to educate the public
and the regulatory agencies about the importance
of fluoropolymers. They are the
globally active Performance Fluoropolymer
Partnership, the Fluoropolymers Division
of the U.S.-based Plastics Industry
Organization, and the Fluoropolymers
Product Group of Plastics Europe.
This advocacy is essential because, currently,
there are no known alternatives
on the market that can match what fluoropolymers
can do. Now, more than
Medical Design Briefs, October 2023
ever, it is crucial for the industry to
spread the truth and dispel the myths.
PTFE: Myth vs. Truth
For purposes of this article, following
are common misconceptions about the
use of PFAS and PTFE in medical devices
and the truths that must be told.
Myth: All PFAS are bad. According to
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, exposure to high levels of
PFAS can disrupt liver function, increase
the risk of kidney or testicular cancer, reduce
birth weight in infants, and negatively
affect the health of pregnant women.2
Truth: Fluoropolymers are a unique
group of PFAS substances that are not
shown to be harmful to the body or to
the environment when used as intended.
The proposed PFAS ban is based on its
potential to cause those problems versus
having proof that they do.
Disclaimers from the CDC support
this fact, saying, " At this time, scientists
are still learning about the health effects
of exposures to mixtures of different
PFAS, " and " additional research may
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change our understanding of the relationship
between exposure to PFAS and
human health effects. "
When it comes to medical devices, for
example, fluoropolymers are a critical
but very small part of the PTFE coatings
they help produce. Additionally, while
PFAS are water soluble, the PTFE manufacturing
process makes this a moot
point because PTFE is inert.
SSG's sustainable GlideMed™ coating on flexible guidewire
coils. (Credit: SSG)
15

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Medical Design Briefs - October 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Medical Design Briefs - October 2023

Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - CV1a
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - CV1b
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - Cov1
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - Cov2
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 1
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 2
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 3
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 4
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 5
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 6
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 7
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 8
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 9
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 10
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 11
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 12
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 13
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 14
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 15
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 16
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 17
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 18
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 19
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 20
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 21
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 22
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 23
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 24
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 25
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 26
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 27
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 28
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 29
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 30
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 31
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 32
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Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 34
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Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 37
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Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 42
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Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 44
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 45
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Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 47
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 48
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 49
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 50
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 51
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 52
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 53
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 54
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 55
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - 56
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - Cov3
Medical Design Briefs - October 2023 - Cov4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23MDB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23MDB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23MDB05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23MDB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23MDB03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23MDB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23MDB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/techleaders22
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22MDB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22MDB11
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https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/techleaders21
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https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21MDB02
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