HONEYWELL BREAKS GROUND WITH LAUNCH OF SPECTRA® MEDICAL GRADE FIBER IN MEDICAL DEVICES

Ultra-high strength, ultra-lightweight fiber enables manufacturers to design more efficient medical devices while ensuring patient safety during minimally invasive surgical procedures

Media Contact: 

Tehani Manochio

+1 (973) 216-0684

tehani.manochio@honeywell.com

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.,  – Honeywell announced that its Spectra Medical Grade (MG) fiber will be incorporated into the design of medical devices used in minimally invasive procedures. Spectra, an ultra-lightweight and ultra-high strength fiber, gives medical device manufacturers greater flexibility to design and build smaller, stronger and lighter devices. 

With the use of Spectra Medical Grade fiber, doctors can perform minimally invasive procedures, including suture applications where the fiber is used to repair bone breaks, in catheters where the fiber acts as a pulling mechanism and in force transmission in surgical robots. Spectra MG fiber’s high resistance to chemicals, fatigue and abrasion and low friction for easier movement, makes it a viable alternative to other fibers that may allow particles to break off over time, potentially entering a patient’s bloodstream, causing infection and pain.

“Technology advancements have made it possible to increase the effectiveness of devices and improve patient comfort by shortening recovery time and hospital stays,” said Ken West, vice president and general manager, Packaging & Composites, at Honeywell. “These devices are carefully designed by skilled engineers, and Spectra can help medical device manufacturers design smaller, lower profile devices with greater strength, weight and resistance properties than alternatives available in the market today.”   

Compared with conventional polyethylene fiber, Spectra MG has an ultra-high molecular weight, degree of orientation, and crystallinity, that leads to higher fiber strength and better wear resistance to surface damage. It is three times stronger than polyester in volume basis and is highly resistant to chemicals, water and ultraviolet light. 

Learn more about Spectra here.