Plastic implants improve brain treatments

French group Sophysa, a supplier of adjustable neurosurgical valves for hydrocephalus treatment, is using Eviva polysulfone (PSU) resin from Solvay Specialty Polymers to make implantable brain shunt valves and access ports.

Eviva PSU is a biomaterial designed specifically for use in implantable medical devices. Sophysa offers a range of implantable brain shunts for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Adjustable and mono-pressure valves made of Eviva PSU are designed to control the drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain ventricles. The transparent body made of Eviva PSU provides direct visualisation of the pressure level before implantation.

Sophysa also offers the Soph-A-Port range of implantable access ports for chemotherapy and morphine therapy, which have been designed for safety and patient comfort. These ports are made of Eviva PSU and can be used for arterial, venous, peritoneal, and spinal accesses. Both the brain shunts and access ports are injection moulded by Sophysa in their ISO 13485 certified facility in Besançon, France.