New Dental Implant System from BioHorizons Features Surgical Instrument Tray Made of Solvay's Radel® PPSU
High-Performance Thermoplastic Provides Strength, Transparency, Chemical Resistance, and Exceptional Sterilization Durability
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – BioHorizons, a leading dental implant company based in Birmingham, Ala., has launched an innovative new surgical instrument kit for its Tapered Plus implant system for the replacement of missing teeth. Made of Radel® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) resin from Solvay Specialty Polymers, the new Tapered Plus surgical tray and colored transparent lid can withstand repeated steam sterilization cycles and autoclave temperatures up to 270°F (132°C) without significant loss of properties.
Radel® PPSU was selected over metal and other thermoplastics for its impact strength, transparency, chemical resistance, flexibility, and exceptional sterilization durability, according to Boyd Peters, Director of Implant Marketing for BioHorizons. He added that Radel® PPSU has been thoroughly vetted and tested by several medical device manufacturers in the orthopedic industry. “For us, the material has a long history and gives us a high degree of confidence,” explained Peters. “Radel® PPSU has played a major role by delivering resiliency and exceptional sterilization durability to meet our demanding requirements.”
The injection molded surgical tray - measuring 8 in. long, 5 in. wide and 2 in. tall (20 x 13 x 5 cm) when assembled - consists of a light gray base and an orange, transparent snap-on lid. The hinged lid is removable and easy to disassemble during cleaning.
The surgical tray is about 40% lighter than trays previously offered by BioHorizons. Lightweight Radel® PPSU offers excellent chemical resistance and can withstand repeated disinfection and autoclaving - over 1,000 cycles - while maintaining its toughness and impact resistance, according to Solvay.
The Tapered Plus implant system is commercially available and is being sold to oral surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists in over 20 countries throughout the world. BioHorizons is also considering the use of Radel® PPSU resin for other sterilizable lids and trays for the rest of its extensive line of surgical and restorative products.
Solvay Specialty Polymers is a global leader in the development of sulfone polymer technology, launching Udel® polysulfone nearly 45 years ago. In addition, Solvay’s experience as a key materials supplier in the healthcare field spans more than 20 years. The company is a leading manufacturer of high-performance plastics, offering a broad range of materials for healthcare instruments and medical devices. More recently, Solvay has successfully introduced its line of Solviva® Biomaterials and offers them for use in a range of implantable devices.
About BioHorizons
BioHorizons is a leader in advanced dental implant technologies and tissue regeneration products for the dental implant industry. The company, based in Birmingham, Ala., offers a broad spectrum of oral reconstruction products for the replacement of missing teeth including dental implants, restorative and laboratory components, soft and hard tissue biologic products, and surgical planning software. BioHorizons’ unique dental implant designs are recognized for intuitive design, excellent primary stability, and high-end, aesthetic outcomes through the use of BioHorizons’ proprietary Laser-Lok® microchannel surface technology. With 25 years of research and 35 published studies and articles, Laser-Lok has been shown to uniquely achieve both bone and soft tissue attachment for long-term crestal bone maintenance. The BioHorizons portfolio is offered in 85 markets around the world. For more information, visit www.biohorizons.com.
About Solvay Specialty Polymers
Solvay Specialty Polymers is a leading global supplier of high-performance thermoplastics for implantable and non-implantable medical devices. The company has expanded its focus on the healthcare industry to meet the growing needs of its global customers. Solvay is building on its 20-year history as a key material supplier in the healthcare field, devoting considerable new resources to help customers be more efficient and cut costs. Metal-to-plastic replacement remains a key focus for manufacturers, but increased cost pressures pose a new challenge as the market continues to grow at a double-digit pace. Solvay also continues to devote considerable research and development activities to polymer technology and commercialization of new and unique material options for medical OEMs and processors.
Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures over 1,500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers - fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds - for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil and Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire and Cable, and other industries. Learn more at www.solvay.com.
As an international chemical group, SOLVAY assists industries in finding and implementing ever more responsible and value-creating solutions. The Group is firmly committed to sustainable development and focused on innovation and operational excellence. Solvay serves diversified markets, generating 90% of its turnover in activities where it is one of the top three worldwide. The group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 29,000 people in 55 countries and generated 12.4 billion euros in net sales in 2012. Solvay SA SOLB.BE) is listed on NYSE Euronext in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR).
Press Contact:
Joseph Grande
Media Relations
413.684.2463
joe.grande@verizon.net
