DSM Unveils Dyneema Purity® Radiopaque UHMWPE Fiber for Devices Used in Orthopedic Trauma

DSM, among the global leaders in biomedical materials science and regenerative medicine, announced the launch of its Dyneema Purity® Radiopaque fiber, one of the radiopaque ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) medical fibers in the world. The fiber is the newest addition to DSM's medical Dyneema Purity® fiber portfolio.

Dyneema Purity® Radiopaque fiber is designed to support the development of medical devices for use in orthopedic trauma. The fiber contains a radiopacifier, which makes it the only UHMWPE fiber currently available that is visible in x-ray images. This feature helps surgeons with medical device and implant visualization both during and after surgical interventions.

The fiber will initially be used as a replacement for metal surgical cables that are used in procedures to treat bone fractures. The fiber is 15 times stronger than steel but maintains high pliability and increased flexibility, which may help lower the risk of bone damage. Steel does not conform well to the natural contours of the human body. A small contact point between the bone and metal wire leads to high levels of pressure in a concentrated area during surgery. On the other hand, UHMWPE fibers conform directly to complex bone anatomy, which increases surface contact and spreads force more evenly, reducing the risk of the cable cutting into the bone. The fiber is biocompatible and chemically inert, which can help reduce tissue inflammation, irritation and complications associated with metal allergies. All of these factors can increase patient comfort and promote shorter healing times.

UHMWPE fiber has additional advantages for cable construction. If a steel cable is wrapped around portions of a bone that require repairs, both ends of the cables must be guided through a tensioning device. Once fixation is complete, no incremental adjustments are possible and a re-adjustment can only be accomplished by cutting the cable and starting all over again. In contrast, a cable construction made from UHMWPE fiber promotes more flexibility and allows for re-tensioning after primary fixation without the need to start from scratch.

"With its impressive durability, flexibility and X-ray visibility, our Dyneema Purity® Radiopaque fiber gives device manufacturers the opportunity to use UHMWPE fiber in new applications," said Carola Hansen, Director of Biomedical Polyethylenes, DSM Biomedical. "Creating quality and innovative materials that help patients and surgeons is of the utmost importance to DSM."

"As an orthopedic surgeon, I have firsthand knowledge of the current challenges presented by traditional, steel cable solutions," said Professor Dr. Lodewijk van Rhijn, head of the department of orthopedic surgery at the University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. "DSM's new Dyneema Purity® Radiopaque fiber has high flexibility which has the potential to reduce the chance of patients suffering from neurological damage. Further, the radiopacity would allow me to check instrumentation stability using x-ray imaging." Dyneema Purity® Radiopaque fiber is available worldwide.

Source: DSM