Closely scrutinized and tested with highest standards – no other products have to fulfill higher requirements in Germany than medicine products. A coating especially developed for the special use of the product plays an essential role herein. Surfaces of medical instruments as well as of implants have to stand direct contact with tissues. To meet these demanding requirements, europcoating cooperates with experienced experts and with the new generation of scientists in the medical industry.
DLC hard coatings for microsurgical instruments
Coating of implants made of shape memory alloys
Coating of a measuring instrument for spine surgery
DLC hard coatings for microsurgical instruments
Within this project europcoating is responsible for the development of new corrosion resistant and anti-glare DLC hard coatings for micro-surgical instruments. Furthermore the requirement for a biocompatible use in the minimal-invasive-surgery has to be met.
Project
This project is focussing the development of DLC coatings being used in the field of minimal-invasive-surgery, being bio-functional and tight to sterilization.
Project Description
The highest risks in medical treatments are postoperative and nosocomial infections. Due to these problems the DIN EN 285 was revised. Now, medical instruments have to be disinfected in a real strong alkaline solution before being steam sterilized. The required cycles of treatments may lead to a mainly punctual corrosion of the instruments and to an impairment of their lifetime. Consequently, this project aims in an improvement of the product properties of microsurgical instruments. Besides the improvement of sterilizability and bio compatibility modified surfaces shall be created, guaranteeing an anti-glare of the instruments in order to prevent the risk of injuring the surrounding tissue during operations under a microscope. Furthermore it will be evaluated if the layer resistance and bio toxicity will be harmed by cathode beam technology being developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Cathode Beam and Plasma Technology.
Project partners
Coating of implants made of shape memory alloys
In this project europcoating is responsible for the development of suitable coating methods and materials in order to provide passivating surfaces.
Project
This project aims in the development of patient-specific implants out of shape memory alloys with super flexible properties for Oral- and Maxillofacial-Surgery.
Project description
Implants most often are inserted via an open access. During this operation much soft tissue is cut through. Additional risks are injuries of critical structures as nerves or vessels. With super elastic, patient-specific implants out of shape memory alloys these risks may be minimized. The implant in a compact form may be passed through smaller or even alternative accesses to its final position. There it will adopt its final form on its own.
Project partners
Coating of a measuring instrument for spine surgery
In this project europcoating is responsible for the choice of suitable coating processes for the instrument surfaces as well as for the choice and tests of suitable coating materials.
Project
This research project aims at the development of an intelligent expander for spine surgery.
Project Description
During operations on the spine the surrounding muscles are spread with an expander in order to reach the bone structure of the spine. With an unfavourable positioning of the expander the muscles and the surrounding tissue can be squeezed off and supplied with blood only insufficiently. Consequences may be dying off of the tissue, complications during the healing process and a longer time of regeneration. The aim of this project was therefore defined as development of an expander with integrated measuring function for oxygen saturation within the tissue. This is a platform-technology which will be transferable to other surgical disciplines.
Project partners
