The COMPAMED Exhibition, which was co-located with the Medica Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany from November 20-22nd, 2013 highlighted major trends driving the Medical, Healthcare and Pharmaceutical markets. Materials, Devices, Packaging and Medical equipments need to address the increasing need for safer uses, for both operators and patients. However increased products safety can be done through multiple ways. Designing a medical device that is lighter and more accurate indeed increases its safe use and efficiency. But as far as materials are concerned many improvements were highlighted during the COMPAMED Exhibition too.
By using new alternatives to some controversial additives, or by simply replacing traditional polymers with new higher performing ones, significant improvements can be made. We identified in this Compamed Review the most advanced materials and additives that were featured during the Exhibition, which specifically enhance the safety of devices, packaging and other Medical applications.
When it comes to plastics and elastomers used in Medical, Pharmaceutical and Clinical environments a strong trend is driving the launch of new materials: adding Antimicrobial function to polymers witnesses true successes these days. Such enhanced materials address the need to fight against what is called HAIs, i.e. Hospital Acquired Infections. In Europe only HAIs are the direct cause of 37,000 deaths per year...