PSU and PPSU from Solvay was colour matched to Medical Illumination's palette
Udel polysulphone (PSU) and Radel polyphenylsulphone (PPSU) medical-grade polymers from Solvay Specialty Polymers have been used by US-based Medical Illumination International to design a more compact version of its flagship MI-1000 surgical lighting unit.
Solvay’s polymers form three injection moulded components in Medical Illumination’s MI-750 LED lighting system: a handle, a handle post and the lamp’s yoke attachment. In addition to supporting stable placement of the lamp during surgery, Udel and Radel polymers enable the moulded components to deliver durable performance after frequent chemical disinfection and steam sterilisation.
Medical Illumination designed its MI-750 lamp to provide bright, cool and energy-efficient LED illumination to minimise shadows and improve tissue rendition for exams or minor procedures. Medical Illumination selected California-based Mold Precision Engineering to injection mould the three components fabricated with Solvay’s polymers.
Medical Illumination uses Solvay’s Udel PSU to form the lamp’s handle and the yoke attachment that holds a bearing in place to enable the cantilevered light to pivot. Udel PSU withstands repeated autoclave cycles up to 121°C without a significant loss of properties. It also complies with the American National Standards Institute autoclave standard AAMI-SSSA-1988 for steam sterilisation in healthcare facilities.
For the 102 mm handle post of the MI-750 lamp, Medical Illumination chose Solvay’s Radel PPSU because it could improve the impact strength and stiffness of the part while also offering better resistance to chemical sterilisers than polycarbonate, which had not performed adequately in earlier lamp designs.
Udel PSU and Radel PPSU both supported Medical Illumination’s need to colour match the injection moulded parts to the powder-coated Polar White palette of its new lighting system.
