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11/07/2007
Donaldson Filter Components Ltd
7 The Parks
Newton le Willows, WA12 0JQ, England
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Jenny Nash
+44 (0) 1942 711711
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HIGH PERFORMANCE MEMBRANES CAN HELP TO PROVIDE TOTAL PROTECTION IN HEALTH CARE
Donaldson Membranes explains why ePTFE films and laminates are a vital component of medical equipment
When assessing the requirements of health care products, such as material for use on patients, many obvious factors spring to mind – they must be clean, protective against bacteria, resistant to leakage, and comfortable to wear.
How this is achieved is less well-known, particularly with regard to one of the most important components of healthcare applications – the expanded PTFE membrane. Yet the performance of the membrane used can be the deciding factor in whether or not a product is capable of providing complete protection.
Donaldson Membranes, worldwide manufacturer and supplier of ePTFE membranes, films and laminates, has invested heavily in innovative research in order to create a product which can fulfill the toughest specifications of the medical health care market.
Vital properties
The result is Tetratex® membrane – a material which features a unique microporous structure and hydrophobic characteristics, providing a highly breathable material. This allows the ePTFE to repel liquids whilst allowing gases to pass through, providing contamination control on sub-micron particles – and makes the membrane ideal for applications such as: vent caps; drainage bags; IV administration sets; medical device enclosures; ostomy bags; urine bags; packaging vents and spike vents; blood filters; face masks; transdermal drug delivery products; ostomy and wound care.
Specifically engineered to provide complete protection against the most demanding health care conditions, the benefits of Tetratex membrane include: chemical inertness and resistance; a non-shedding, minimal extractable construction; a wide operating temperature range; proven bacterial challenge and toxicity tested to USP 23 Class VI. Providing a highly flexible and drapeable material, Tetratex membrane is thermally and chemically stable, resulting in superior performance and comfort in almost any environment.
For the patient this translates into products which provide total peace of mind and excellent performance, in ostomy applications, for dialysis and in wound care.
Ventilation and odour control
Being left with an ostomy bag after an operation having part or all of the intestines removed is extremely traumatic, and an essential part of helping a patient become accustomed to wearing a bag is the availability of products which are comfortable, do not leak, and allow gases to escape whilst preventing unpleasant odours. Tetratex membrane’s hydrophobic properties stop leakages and provide ventilation and breathability in combination with Donaldson’s proprietary odour control technology to give the patient complete confidence. Tetratex membrane also manages the build up of gases and odours which can otherwise make the bag larger than it should be, compromising the seal between the skin and the bag.
Patients are introduced to bags straight after surgery. Therefore they will usually be guided towards a particular type/brand by a specialist nurse and, due to the emotional circumstances in which they have had to learn how to wear them, most patients will continue to use this brand for the rest of their lives. Therefore it is important that health care providers closely consider the properties of the membranes employed in the bags they purchase for patients. Tetratex ePTFE offers excellent performance for ostomy applications.
Contamination control
Of the two types of dialysis, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, 90-95 per cent of patients choose haemodialysis. Transducer protectors are commonly used in the blood lines of haemodialysis equipment to protect machine electronics from contamination or “wetting” by blood or fluids.
The high efficiency Tetratex membrane used in dialysis applications is inert and capable of eliminating problems caused by contamination, thereby providing excellent chemical resistance and protection against dirt, bacteria and blood borne pathogens. Tetratex ePTFE encourages a fast response of haemodialysis equipment to venous pressure signals.
Barrier to infection
Products for wound care include: advance moist wound dressings; wound cleaners; enzymatic debridement products; natural biological and biosynthetic dressings; and skin substitute products. Tetratex membrane is a highly breathable material which allows skin to grow through whilst offering a barrier to infection, and protection from water. Its soft and drapeable properties make it comfortable to wear and easy to remove.
The wound care market has been estimated to grow at an annual average of 10-12% between 2003 and 2009 – and growth in the advanced dressings market is projected to outstrip that of the traditional market, powering overall revenues to around $2 billion by the end of this period. It is essential that manufacturers use profits to source the best material available and they must be able to demonstrate how their products can be used to help reduce healthcare costs by ensuring competitive pricing - focusing on product differentiation and emphasising technology advancements.
Donaldson Membranes is committed to raising awareness of the benefits for patients and healthcare professionals of employing material such as Tetratex® membrane, which has evolved through years of innovative research and development. We believe that educating care providers on the benefits of new products is critical to overcoming the traditional reticence of health professionals to embrace new technologies.
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For further information contact
Donaldson Membranes
7 The Parks
Newton Le Willows
WA12 0JQ
England
Tel: +44 (0) 1942 710242
Fax: +44 (0) 1942 711571
E-mail: membranes-europe@mail.donaldson.com
Website: www.donaldson.com and click on Membranes
Note to Editors
About Donaldson Membranes
Donaldson Membranes is the manufacturer of Tetratex® expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes. These High performance laminates offer superior dust cake release, low pressure drop, high air flow, and high efficiency, making Tetratex® an excellent choice for filtration and other applications.
For over 20 years Donaldson Membranes has been solving challenging problems in a variety of markets including: industrial filtration; pharmaceutical; microfiltration; fuel cell, medical; fine chemicals; food and plastics, and more.
For customers requiring a high performance membrane to solve a problem, Donaldson Membranes has the answer: Tetratex®.
About Donaldson Company, Inc.
Donaldson Company, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems and replacement parts. Donaldson is a technology-driven company committed to satisfying customer needs for filtration solutions through innovative research and development. Donaldson serves customers in the diesel engine and industrial including in-plant air cleaning, compressed air and gas purification, power generation, disk drive filtration, off-road equipment and trucks. Our 11,000 employees contribute to the company's success at over 30 manufacturing locations around the world. In fiscal year 2005, Donaldson reported sales of more than $1.6 billion and grew earnings for the 16th consecutive year. Donaldson is a member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Donaldson shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol DCI. Additional company information is available at www.donaldson.com
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