DuPont's Renewably-sourced Sorona® EP Polymer Finds Use in DTR's Cervical Biopsy Punch

DTR Medical, among the leading manufacturers of single-use surgical instruments, has specified Sorona® renewably sourced polymer for six components in its new Cervical Rotating Biopsy Punch. This grade is a 15-percent glass filled grade of Sorona® EP providing high strength and stiffness. Further attributes of Sorona® useful in this application include resistance to gamma sterilization and excellent dimensional stability.

The Cervical Rotating Biopsy Punch is used to take a tissue sample, on patients undergoing cervical cancer biopsies, for cell analysis by microscopy. The DuPont material, which is supplied with full regulatory compliance for use in healthcare applications and is produced according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, is used in the handle and trigger mechanism to mold the rear hand left and right, front handle, connector pin, rotational controller and the rotational controller with chamfer. These parts are used to activate a spring, driving the inner rod which, assisted by the Sorona® inserts, generates a clamping force to cut the tissue sample.

The Cervical Biopsy Punch with Rotation from DTR Medical is designed for single-use, which eliminates cross contamination that occurs when re-using hard-to-clean instruments and saves considerable time and cost incurred by sterilizing the equipment for re-use.

According to Andrew Davidson, Managing Director at DTR Medical: "The surface finish of the handle is fundamental for instrument quality, replacing stainless steel and for good grip in the clinical setting. The part must deliver durable mechanical performance in use throughout the five year shelf life and the benefit of renewably sourced material is an added advantage for a single-use manufacturer. We tested many polymers for these components, and the DuPont material was superior."

Glen Wells, General Manager at St Davids Assemblies added: "Sorona® EP from DuPont combines the benefits of renewability with processing and performance advantages. The material can be processed similarly to PBT and PET, offers very low shrinkage and warpage, enhanced surface finish, and scratch resistance in finished parts." Sorona® contains 20% to 37% renewable material made with a renewably sourced propanediol (PDO) made from technical starch.

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Source: DuPont