State-Of-The-Art Diagnostic Instrument Uses Victrex® Peek for Grip Sleeve


Greenville, SC - (November 15, 2005) - When KaVo Dental of Biberach, Germany was developing its new state-of-the-art diagnostic instrument called the "DIAGNOdent pen", it chose VICTREX PEEK, a high performance thermoplastic, for the grip sleeve because of its excellent mechanical properties and ability to withstand multiple sterilization cycles.

According to Andrew Ragan, Product Manager, Victrex USA, "VICTREX PEEK is ideal for reusable medical components such as the DIAGNOdent pen as it maintains high mechanical strength, stress cracking resistance, and hydrolytic stability in the presence of steam, hot water, solvents and chemicals. These characteristics are critical to ensuring the function of the pen's grip sleeve even after hundreds of sterilization and snapping cycles."

Components made with VICTREX PEEK can be sterilized by dry heat, pressurized steam, or ethylene oxide (EtO) methods. "It is the only high performance thermoplastic that can withstand these conditions for continuous periods," adds Ragan. "Parts can undergo 3,000 autoclave cycles at temperatures of up to 134°C (273°F), which is well beyond the typical life expectancy of metal components."

The DIAGNOdent pen works on the basis of the differing fluorescence between healthy and diseased tooth substance. It detects even the smallest lesions without exposing the patient to radiation. A wand containing a light-emitting diode laser and probe is passed over the carious region. It stimulates modified tooth substance, causing it to fluoresce. The wand then directs this fluorescence back to an analysis photocell, which then displays it visually and emits an audible tone.

VICTREX USA Inc., a division of Victrex plc., is the sole manufacturer and supplier of PEEK polymer worldwide. For more information on the properties and performance advantages of VICTREX PEEK, please call (800) VICTREX or visit the Victrex website at www.victrex.com.

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