Case Studies
Case Studies
ISurTec works with companies around the world to craft solutions for difficult surface modification and coating challenges.
From basic idea to a commercial solution with tight specifications, we will collaborate with you to design and implement a solution then support you in your implementation.
Explore the case studies below to get a sense of our capabilities.
Innovative Surface Technologies (ISurTec) developed PhotoPrime SR 330 Primer to bond hydrophilic coating to a broad range of medical and biotech devices. This technology has found additional uses as an adhesion layer across a number of interesting applications, including drug eluting catheters and lab on a chip technology. This article discusses the lab-on-a-chip (LOC) application.
Silicone rubber is increasingly used in medical devices, implantables, and wearables due to its biocompatibility, flexibility, and stability in the body (biodurability), as well as its lack of leachable chemicals, like BPA, or immunogenic materials that may cause allergic reactions. Silicone rubber is relatively easy to manufacture and form into complex shapes, further lending to its draw as a key medical device material. Examples of medical device and implantable applications include drainage catheters, delivery catheters, endotracheal tubes, feeding tubes, IUDs, permanent implants used in plastic surgery, cerebrospinal shunts, and more.
ISurTec Flexibility
A mid-size medical device manufacturer approached ISurTec about coating a new device with our commercial lubricious coating. However, they did not yet have prototypes of their devices, which would be produced from polymer sheeting. The client asked ISurTec to not only coat the sheeting, but produce prototypes by laser cutting their CAD designs and heat sealing to construct various prototypes. While ISurTec does not typically make device prototypes, nor do we have extrusion or other polymer manufacturing equipment in-house, we do have laser cutting and heat-sealing capabilities. ISurTec offered to make and coat the prototypes and successfully delivered coated prototypes with two different designs within weeks. The client was then able to use for physician evaluations in a non-clinical setting. These coated prototypes of a single-use design were re-used multiple times for demonstration purposes and set the stage for the client’s production of the coated device.
Standard ISurTec Feasibility Coating
A mid-size international medical device manufacturer came to ISurTec with their balloon catheters seeking a hydrophilic coating. The client’s balloon catheters were composed of several grades of PEBAX transitioning to nylon with a polyurethane balloon. After doing internal feasibility on one catheter including coating and testing, ISurTec coated five catheters, including the balloon portion and the distal 10 inches, with our commercial ISurGlide 460 coating over PhotoPrime 955 primer. ISurTec tested one of the catheters by staining the coating to demonstrate uniformity and testing the coefficient of friction of the hydrated coating (COF < 0.02). The client was satisfied with their own internal testing of the coated balloon catheters, but lacked a coating service or internal coating capabilities in their home country. To help the client, ISurTec provided technology transfer on both the coating equipment and the coating procedure ISurTec used on their catheters. The client was able to build their own equipment and commercially produce ISurGlide-coated balloon catheters.
Innovative Surface Technologies (ISurTec) developed PhotoPrime SR 330 Primer to bond hydrophilic coating to a broad range of medical and biotech devices. This technology has found additional uses as an adhesion layer across a number of interesting applications, including drug eluting catheters and lab on a chip technology. This article discusses the lab-on-a-chip (LOC) application.
Silicone rubber is increasingly used in medical devices, implantables, and wearables due to its biocompatibility, flexibility, and stability in the body (biodurability), as well as its lack of leachable chemicals, like BPA, or immunogenic materials that may cause allergic reactions. Silicone rubber is relatively easy to manufacture and form into complex shapes, further lending to its draw as a key medical device material. Examples of medical device and implantable applications include drainage catheters, delivery catheters, endotracheal tubes, feeding tubes, IUDs, permanent implants used in plastic surgery, cerebrospinal shunts, and more.
ISurTec Flexibility
A mid-size medical device manufacturer approached ISurTec about coating a new device with our commercial lubricious coating. However, they did not yet have prototypes of their devices, which would be produced from polymer sheeting. The client asked ISurTec to not only coat the sheeting, but produce prototypes by laser cutting their CAD designs and heat sealing to construct various prototypes. While ISurTec does not typically make device prototypes, nor do we have extrusion or other polymer manufacturing equipment in-house, we do have laser cutting and heat-sealing capabilities. ISurTec offered to make and coat the prototypes and successfully delivered coated prototypes with two different designs within weeks. The client was then able to use for physician evaluations in a non-clinical setting. These coated prototypes of a single-use design were re-used multiple times for demonstration purposes and set the stage for the client’s production of the coated device.
Standard ISurTec Feasibility Coating
A mid-size international medical device manufacturer came to ISurTec with their balloon catheters seeking a hydrophilic coating. The client’s balloon catheters were composed of several grades of PEBAX transitioning to nylon with a polyurethane balloon. After doing internal feasibility on one catheter including coating and testing, ISurTec coated five catheters, including the balloon portion and the distal 10 inches, with our commercial ISurGlide 460 coating over PhotoPrime 955 primer. ISurTec tested one of the catheters by staining the coating to demonstrate uniformity and testing the coefficient of friction of the hydrated coating (COF < 0.02). The client was satisfied with their own internal testing of the coated balloon catheters, but lacked a coating service or internal coating capabilities in their home country. To help the client, ISurTec provided technology transfer on both the coating equipment and the coating procedure ISurTec used on their catheters. The client was able to build their own equipment and commercially produce ISurGlide-coated balloon catheters.
ISurTec is a technology innovator with a deep passion for identifying, creating and commercializing new methods and products that enable companies to fulfill their mission.
CONTACT
Innovative Surface Technologies, Inc.
1045 Westgate Drive Suite 100
Saint Paul, MN 55114
651-209-9757