Medical Technology

Medical Technology

... sorts of medical equipment – from simple scalpels to computer tomographs. PVD coatings offer a number of unique solutions in various medical fields. As in many other applications, such properties of PVD films as high hardness, corrosion resistance, low friction, colour variety find their use in various medical instruments, prostheses/implants etc.

Needless to say that all PVD coatings for medical applications must have excellent bio-compatability. Besides that, PVD coatings on medical instruments typically require one or more of the following:

• Ability to withstand multiple autoclaving/sterilization cycles;
• Reduced light reflectivity;
• Scratch/wear resistance;
• Colour coding (coatings of various colours on various tools).

Systec MEDI family of PVD films is capable of providing all of these properties. These coatings were developed specifically for the medical applications and therefore are different from coatings that are deposited on regular tools or components. MEDI line of the coatings include not only films produced by cathodic arc , but also by technologies of UBM and HIPIMS sputtering. The last two techniques are fairly new in the medical field, but they do offer substantial advantages in comparison with the more traditional cathodic arc technology. Advanced sputtering techniques utilized by Systec produce droplets-free coatings, thus decreasing their roughness and improving corrosion resistance. In many cases use of sputtering vs. cathodic arc allows to eliminate expensive and time-consuming post-polishing. Regardless of the deposition method, the MEDI coatings are typically sophisticated multilayer structures, specifically designed for medical applications. Special process steps are introduced for MEDI coatings, which provide enhancements in adhesion, hardness and coating structure. As in case of other coatings, Systec own coating systems IMPAX are used for the production.