​Collaborations with Cipher Surgical, DySIS Medical, A. Hopf GmbH to be highlighted at COMPAMED 2015

Kingsport, Tenn., USA - Nov. 16, 2015 - Eastman Chemical Company continues to extend the use of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester and Eastar™ copolyester by improving product reliability and patient safety in new medical devices. A laparoscope lens cleaner developed by Cipher Surgical, an advanced cervical cancer detector by DySIS Medical Ltd. and small-bore connectors developed by A. Hopf GmbH all rely on the new-generation copolyesters to meet regulatory requirements and to ensure confidence in end-product performance. Each of these devices, along with an updated TritanMoldIt.com site, will be highlighted at COMPAMED 2015 in Dusseldorf, Germany, Nov. 16-19.

These innovations represent the materials' contribution to advancing medical devices and patient safety, and also Eastman's devotion to product success through close collaboration. Eastman Tritan™ copolyester and Eastar™ copolyester provide the toughness, chemical resistance and clarity needed to make medical devices safe and reliable. The Eastman Tritan™ Technical Information Center on TritanMoldIt.com provides customers with easy access to technical information and experts, making molding Tritan for medical applications as seamless as possible.

Enhancing patient safety in advanced medical technology
Cipher Surgical has eliminated the need to remove a laparoscope from a patient during surgery with its medical device, OpClear®. OpClear is designed to be controlled by a surgeon who decides when matter needs to be removed from the laparoscope's lens because of impaired vision. Cipher Surgical worked closely with molding company Ci Medical Technologies and Eastman to improve the product's performance from the original launch in 2013. Updates include OpClear's attachment, which is now made of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester. Tritan allows it to securely clip to a laparoscope without breaking. It also provides toughness, clarity, flexibility and resistance to the sterilization processes.

To assist in earlier and more accurate detection of cervical cancer, DySIS Medical Ltd. created a unique medical device that uses DySIS™ technology implemented in the form of a colposcope. The colposcope is an instrument designed to view a patient's cervix to identify abnormalities. Eastar™copolyester MN058 was the chosen material for the DySIS vaginal speculum to enhance the patient experience and to improve safety. The material gives the speculum power to withstand strong impact, a factor other speculums don't have. Eastar MN058 was specifically developed for medical devices, so it is resistant to most solvents, smooth, free of bisphenol A (BPA), and has a low shrinkage rate and doesn't contain a mold release or ultraviolet stabilizer.

Addressing the need for consistency and compliance
Injection molder and mold-maker A. Hopf GmbH selected Eastman Tritan™ copolyester as a raw material suitable for a newly designed small-bore connector. The connector addresses growing concerns for medical device misconnections, which prompted a search for consistent, easier-to-use and safer small-bore connectors. The Global Enteral Device Supplier Association (GEDSA) already has seen regulatory changes to this effect with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for connectors for enteral applications, ISO/DIS 2 80369-3. A. Hopf GmbH proactively addressed this with a consistent design for enteral connectors according to the new requirements.

Providing technical service for a better experience
To better provide its customers with easy access to technical information and experts, Eastman is enhancing its Tritan™ copolyester offering with the Tritan™ Technical Information Center. The site takes molders through an interactive journey, enabling successful molding for durables and medical markets. TritanMoldIt.com is divided into two categories: 1) medical applications and devices and 2) consumer durables. Each category provides an array of technical questions and answers about topics such as processing, proper molding temperature and secondary applications. There is also a section that encourages user-submitted questions about Tritan where experts will answer questions within 24 hours. Recently, the site also added German translation. Eastman will showcase the latest innovations at COMPAMED 2015, Nov. 16-19, in Hall 8a, Booth P04.

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