MIC AND THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY

Controlled shot peening is the bombardment of a surface with small high quality spherical shot in a technically defined and highly controlled way. Each piece of shot (steel, glass or ceramic) striking the metal imparts a small indentation into the surface, yielding the material locally in tension resulting in a beneficial residual compressive stress.

Laser peening is having a significant impact on critical industries following the transition from research and development into a reliable and production qualified technology. Laser peening induces a much greater depth of residual compressive stress than controlled shot peening and is ideally suited to situations where contamination and/or media staining cannot be tolerated.

C.A.S.E.™(isotropic) finishing is the process of controlled shot or laser peening followed by a highly engineered polishing technique. This technique provides a high degree of superfinishing for critical contact parts where a low surface roughness value is required. This process produces surfaces of extremely low peak to valley profiles with a minimum of material removal. The low Ra and Rdq/Rda (slope) of the surface has excellent wear characteristics whilst preventing surface contamination and crack initiation.

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What coatings can MIC provide?

• Barrier coatings - protection against moisture, corrosion, temperature, chemicals, substances and contamination
• Lubricity and release coatings - to enhance performance, maintain critical operating torque and tension and release behaviour for surgical devices and tools
• Anti corrosion coatings - for protecting vital parts and surfaces in chemical, biological and environmental conditions
• Parylene conformal coatings - to effectively reduce friction, remove surface tackiness and protect against discoloration and contamination. They conform completely to the geometry of the part providing a consistent protective barrier only a few microns thick for implantable medical devices

These coatings not only provide protection to maintain performance in hostile environments but can also provide easy cleaning and decontamination properties for medical applications.

Ensuring correct preparation of any surface is essential to the life and performance of the applied coating.
Our pre-coating treatments include controlled blasting, degreasing and phosphate preparation.

Coating applications include:

• Surgical tooling and devices
• Medical needle free applicators
• Scissors
• Clamps
• Stents
• Biomedical implants
• Guide wires
• Cardiac assist devices
• Electrosurgical tools
• Mandrels and moulds
• Catheters
• Elastomeric seals
• Needles and epidural probes
• Medical Electronics
• Lifting and mobility equipment

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The Peentex process is applied by controlled shot peening to metal, glass, acrylic and wood surfaces which result in an aesthetically pleasing and hard wearing, non-slip practical decorative finish. The applications include medical devices, tooling and equipment and it is also used in the construction industry to protect external and internal architectural fittings.

Medical applications:

• Surgical tooling and equipment
• Orthopaedic implants
• Dentistry tooling and equipment
• Low contamination equipment
• Lifting and mobility equipment

Architectural applications:

• Internal and external cladding and fittings
• Hand rails, countertops and reception desks
• Signage and nameplates
• Mobility, lifting and transportation equipment
• Storage, cabinets and hospital surfaces

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