GE to Showcase Innovation, Diversity of Materials and Technologies for Healthcare Manufacturing at MD&M West
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ANAHEIM, CALIF. - JAN. 31, 2006 - Five GE businesses will display leading-edge materials, broad technologies, and their applications in a wide range of healthcare devices here in GE's booth (#2001) at Medical Design and Manufacturing (MD&M) West. GE - Plastics, GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones, GE - Sensing, GE - Water and Process Technologies, and GE - Energy will join forces to highlight innovations that address key healthcare challenges ranging from improved biocompatibility1, aesthetics, and comfort to cost reduction for the healthcare industry. Among the new products are hemocompatible2 Lexan* HPM resin, an upcoming release of biocompatible1 Xylex* resin, and platinum-curable Tufel* silicone rubber grades.
"GE has made a major commitment to the healthcare industry in terms of people, technologies, and value-added services," said Clare Frissora, market director, Healthcare at GE - Plastics. "GE's ability to introduce breakthrough products on a regular basis and provide customized support to OEMs and suppliers is the result of sustained investment."
Eric Luftig, market director, Healthcare at GE - Silicones further explains, "Our dedicated healthcare experts, customization centers, testing facilities, and investments in research and development keep us ahead of the healthcare curve. Our presence at the MD&M Show reinforces that GE is focused on the healthcare industry and offers tremendous breadth and depth of products and technologies for the future of healthcare device design and manufacturing."
GE - Plastics will showcase applications featuring its newest resins, with an emphasis on advanced healthcare properties and metal replacement. The ESTECH ClearView MV(TM) Atrial Depressor is a new version of a design previously made from stainless steel and molded from strong, hemocompatible2 Lexan HPM 1914 polycarbonate (PC) resin. The new GE resin was chosen by ESTECH for exceptional reliability, colorability, and improved hemocompatibility2 over traditional polycarbonates, while enabling part consolidation for easier use by surgeons.
Another new application, the Dexteus Tisshield(TM) forceps companion, leverages the clarity, high performance, gamma stability, and biocompatibility1 of GE's Lexan HPS2 resin. GE will also display the UltraviewTM Patient Monitor from Space Labs, which incorporates Cycoloy* Visualfx* resin for flame retardance, impact resistance, and special color effects, supporting industry trends of enhanced aesthetics, for both functional and general appearance needs.
Other applications feature GE's Xylex resin, noted for improved chemical resistance vs. standard polycarbonate. These include the window on an enteral feeding pump from Tyco Healthcare/Kendall; the Neuro Research Group's InterX(TM) 5000 neuro stimulation device; and a hearing aid from Advanced Bionics. GE expects to make available in the first quarter of 2006 a new grade of Xylex resin, which offers clarity, enhanced chemical resistance, improved gamma color stability, and biocompatibility1.
GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones, which is continuing to develop biocompatible1 materials for segments such as fluid and drug delivery devices, orthopedic and prosthetic devices, respiratory care, and pharmaceutical production equipment, will exhibit several new products. Tufel I silicone rubber series is a family of one-component, ready-to-use, platinum-curable silicone elastomers that offer savings to customers by eliminating the need for mixing. The Tufel III silicone rubber family of 50- and 65-durometer platinum-curable silicone elastomers is characterized by low compression set, low hysteresis, and high resilience for longer service life in highly mechanical applications such as peristaltic pump tubing.
GE's translucent LSR* Topcoat can be applied to silicone and other substrates to reduce surface coefficient of friction and dust pick-up. The company also offers a Medical Electronics Portfolio of adhesives, coatings, encapsulants, and gels that offer long term, reliable protection of sensitive circuits and components in many demanding electronics applications.
In addition to new materials, GE's Silicones business has significantly enhanced its customization capabilities to serve the healthcare industry. Centers in Garrett, Ind., and Chino, Calif., offer device manufacturers and suppliers individualized development, formulation, and production services.
GE - Sensing, a leader in precision sensing elements, devices, instruments, and systems, will display several medical applications that incorporate its sensors. These include the use of precision thermistor elements and sensors for digital thermometers, incubators, and Thermodilution, Foley, and Esophageal cathethers, as well as MEMS (micro machined silicone) based pressure elements and sensors for sleep apnea and cardiac output monitors and intra-cranial and inter-uterine catheters.
GE - Water & Process Technologies, a leading manufacturer of membranes for the biotechnology and medical fields, will showcase a range of life sciences filtration and separation applications that offer reliable and consistent performance to the university, analytical laboratories, and life science sectors. With a complete line of filtration, hybridization, and diagnostic membranes, GE - Water & Process Technologies' life sciences filtration and separation applications cost-effectively meet customer's needs for purity, consistency, and accuracy. The company's micro separation products are manufactured in GE facilities and use the latest production techniques and Six Sigma quality methodology.
GE - Energy will also be showcasing their latest product introductions at the event in GE's booth #2001.
About GE - Plastics
GE - Plastics is a global supplier of plastic resins widely used in automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications, and optical media applications. The company manufactures and compounds polycarbonate, ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins, as well as the LNP* line of high-performance specialty compounds. GE - Plastics, Specialty Film & Sheet manufactures high-performance Lexan* sheet and film products used in thousands of demanding applications worldwide. In addition, GE - Plastics' dedicated Automotive organization is an experienced, world-wide competitor, offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments: body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component; structures and interiors; and lighting. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games.
About GE - Advanced Materials
The Advanced Materials business of General Electric Company is part of the Industrial business group and is headquartered in Wilton, Conn. Comprised of Silicones and Quartz, GE - Advanced Materials is a global leader in providing a range of high-technology materials solutions. The GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones' portfolio includes silicone-based products and technology platforms, silanes, sealants and adhesives. The Quartz portfolio includes high-purity fused quartz and ceramics materials. These materials solutions are used as springboards for innovation in hundreds of consumer and industrial applications ranging from car engines and integrated circuits to biomedical devices and cosmetics. Industries served include aerospace, agriculture, appliances, automotive, construction, electronics, furniture and furnishings, healthcare, home care, industrial, lighting, packaging, personal care, plastics, semiconductor, telecommunications, tire, transportation, and water purification. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games. Experience more at http://www.ge.com/advancedmaterials.
*Lexan, Xylex, Tufel, Cycoloy, Visualfx, LSR, and LNP are trademarks of General Electric Company.
(TM) ClearView MV is a trademark of ESTECH.
(TM) Tisshield is a trademark of Dexteus, Inc.
(TM) Ultraview is a trademark of Space Labs.
(TM) InterX is a trademark of Neuro Research Group.
1 Biocompatibility: A representative lot of material tested either by ISO 10993 or USP VI protocol. Test data available via Type I or Type II letter. Type I Letter: Issued for products that have been specifically tested for biocompatibility. Type II Letter: Issued when specific product has not been tested but similar products have been tested for biocompatibility.
2 Lexan HPM resins demonstrate improved hemocompatibility vs standard polycarbonate across multiple biomarkers and test methods. Please contact GE - Plastics for further information, if needed.
Contacts
The Americas
Christopher Tessier
GE - Plastics, Pittsfield, Mass.
Tel: +1-413-448-6926
E-Mail: christopher.tessier@ge.com
Amelia Burkhart
GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones, Wilton, Conn.
Tel: +1-203-761-1934
E-Mail: amelia.burkhart@ge.com
Europe
Helen Vandebovenkamp
GE - Plastics, Bergen op Zoom,
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 164 29 2097
E-Mail: helen.vandebovenkamp.@ge.com
Robert Scheib
GE Bayer Silicones, Leverkusen, Germany
Tel: +49 2143040532
E-Mail: Robert.Scheib@ge.com
Asia
Cecilia Siu
GE - Plastics, Shanghai, China
Tel: +86 21 6288 1088 327
E-Mail: cecilia.siu@ge.com
Junko Tsuda
GE Toshiba Silicones, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 5772 5345
E-Mail: junko.tsuda@ge.com
