PolyOne Corporation has launched NEU View Radiopaque Translucent Solutions, a polymer formulation that provides catheter manufacturers and healthcare professionals enhanced material functionality and performance.
PolyOne says that catheters made using the patent-pending NEU View technology provide optical visibility (translucent) when outside the body and superior visibility under X-ray (radiopaque) when inside the body. This solution aims to provide significant advantages compared with existing striped radiopaque catheters, which offer less X-ray visibility and may require multiple manufacturing steps and materials to produce.
This technology is said to enhance the ability of clinicians to make visual confirmation of fluid flow and can allow for detection of potentially harmful air bubbles that might cause embolisms, while patients can experience greater comfort via use of a single catheter. Manufacturers of catheters can benefit through increased production efficiency by eliminating a need for co-extrusion, which is typically required to manufacture striped catheters, as well as reducing material usage and complexity.
"PolyOne continues to innovate and develop technologies that benefit our global customers and enable healthcare professionals to improve performance," said Craig Nikrant, president, Global Specialty Engineered Materials, PolyOne Corporation. "Catheter manufacturers can now offer a commercially viable product that provides excellent visibility, both optically and under X-ray, enabling performance improvements and efficiencies in the healthcare field."
"PolyOne's specialisation strategy is powered by our exceptional ability to innovate, and our launch of NEU View materials is the latest example," said Robert M. Patterson, executive vice president, chief operating officer, PolyOne Corporation. "Our healthcare solutions portfolio continues to grow, as does our mix in this important industry, where last year company revenues from healthcare reached $413 million, as compared to $103 million in 2006."