Stainless steels medical instruments

Titanium alloys generally show a combination of strength and biocompatibility which makes them suitable for medical devices (prosthesis, surgical instruments). The high strength Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy has several orthodontic applications. Only a limited number of alloys have the necessary combinations of properties needed for successful use in the human body. Titanium and its alloys, stainless steels and cobalt-chromium alloys are the workhorse alloys in the medical device industry. 

The excellent hydrolytic stability of polysulfones makes them an ideal choice for use in a variety of medical and dental devices. The hydrolytic stabihty allows use in durable medical devices and components that have to be sterilized in a steam autoclave, sometimes hundreds of times over the hfe of the component. Such components include sterdization trays and cases, as well as parts of the surgical instruments themselves, such as the instrument handles. Traditionally, metals such as stainless steel have been used for this purpose. But metals are being replaced by thermoplastic materials. The use of plastics offers the ability to customize designs and colors as well as to mass-produce in a more economical fashion. For large parts, such as surgical instrument sterihzation trays, the weight... 

These are typically built on a polyester base membrane (PETP, 35 pm, copper-laminated) with a polyester spacer membrane, safety chamber and front membrane. The snap disc being gold plated stainless steel. Other designs use electrical contacts made from silver, silver on carbon or carbon only. Keypads may also be made from conductive silicone rubber. Conventional computer keyboards made from ABS, polyester or other polymers, may be covered by a polymer overlay to protect it against dirt, dust, water or other substance present in a hostile environment. Polyester and PVC overlays are used in a wide variety of applications with computer and instrumentation equipment in dental and medical healthcare and other areas. Typical casing materials include PC and polychloroprene. 

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