MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Tritan copolyester MXF121, an opaque material, was selected as the material of construction for the new Echo-Screen III hearing screener from Natus Medical, reported Eastman on its site.
Eastman is helping medical companies meet customer needs and regulatory requirements with the introduction of this revolutionary material. Launched at the 2014 Medical Design & Manufacturing show, the material is intended for use in hand-held and other medical-device housings. Tritan MXF121 is free of bisphenol A (BPA), tough and resistant to aggressive cleaners and disinfectants.
The Echo-Screen III device is used primarily for newborn hearing screening and is a compact, all-in-one device that incorporates transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) capabilities. Natus Medical, a global leader in newborn hearing screening solutions, has manufactured and sold Echo-Screen technology for the past 10 years. To answer customer needs, the company established new material requirements for its infant care products, beginning with the Echo-Screen III hearing screener.
The device components were originally designed and tooled using polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) alloy. Natus Medical selected Eastman Tritan copolyester MXF121 for its hearing screener because, compared with PC/ABS, the material is not manufactured with BPA and has superior chemical resistance. Tritan MXF121 also is made without halogens and ortho-phthalate plasticizers.
The Echo-Screen III hearing screener made with Eastman Tritan copolyester MXF121 also meets flame resistance safety ratings established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Tritan MXF121 received an all-color UL 94 V2 rating at 1.5 mm. The material also is suitable for transducer housing applications that have contact with skin.
As MRC wrote before, earlier this year, Eastman Chemical Company, a global specialty chemical company, enhanced its medical packaging portfolio with Eastalite copolyester, the company’s first opaque offering, which is styrene-free and can be a sustainable alternative to high-impact polystyrene (HIPS).
Eastman (headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables.
MRC