Chicago — There's work to be done in medical plastics, according to an official with a major maker of medical devices.
“Advancements in [plastic] materials are needed to support an increasingly complex environment,” Becton, Dickson & Co.'s Theresa Hermel-Davidock said during the Global Plastics Summit in Chicago Oct. 29 and 30.
“There are diverse and demanding product requirements in device production, sterilization and resin handling,” added Hermel-Davidock, who serves as core technologies research and development director for Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based BD. The firm makes syringes, needles, IV catheters, surgical instruments and similar products at 30 sites worldwide.
Current global trends include expanded health-care access in developed countries, aging populations and increased costs, she said. The industry also has seen “a shift in approach to resin selection and formulation.”
“Tooling and molding factors can be critical,” according to Hermel-Davidock. “You need close collaboration between material supplier and device maker.”