HEBU Medical, a German-based manufacturer of highend surgical equipment, unveiled its Neuroline™ line of surgical curettes late last year, the first of its kind employing a titanium shaft connected to Radel® R polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) handles over-molded with silicone rubber. The result is one of the lightest, most ergonomically comfortable curettes available for use in surgical applications. It also represents an extensive and highly successful collaboration between HEBU, its molding partner Minnesota Rubber & Plastics and material supplier Solvay Advanced Polymers.

The instrument is on average 40 grams lighter than conventional all-metal curettes thanks to the unique trio of materials employed. These materials also make the instrument non-magnetic, ideal for applications which require magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems during a procedure. Moreover the unique angled design, along with a silicone overmolded handle made of Radel® R PPSU ensures maximum comfort along with the ability to withstand the demanding sterilization environments associated with surgical equipment.

“We have invested considerably in designing our own autoclave to reproduce repeated, continuous steam sterilization cycles,” commented Thomas Butsch, President of HEBU Medical. “We were amazed at Radel® R’s ability to withstand cycle after cycle without any appreciable degradation in performance properties. After 500-plus cycles, we were convinced.”

In designing the new line, HEBU Medical tapped Minnesota Rubber to select the materials that could best work to meet the surgical line’s ambitious design parameters in weight reduction and performance. A global leader in manufacturing plastic assemblies and components across many industries, Minnesota Rubber is a longtime partner of Solvay Advanced Polymers. That history helped deliver on HEBU’s revolutionary design.

“The weight specs for this surgical instrument necessitated a grip core made of plastic but with all the performance of a traditional metal,” explained Aron Yngve, market development director for Minnesota Rubber. “Your non-metal options narrow severely under these requirements. Because we have successfully used Radel® R in the past, we knew it could withstand autoclaving temperatures and chemicals used in more intense sterilization processes.”

For more information about Solvay Advanced Polymers’ healthcare plastics, be sure to visit booth #5600 at this week’s American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Conference in San Francisco; or visit www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.

About HEBU Medical
Based in Tuttlingen, Germany, HEBU Medical is a global developer of surgical equipment such as cast-cutters, sterilization containers and accessories, and specialized high-end surgical instruments. For more information, please visit www.hebumedical.de.

About Minnesota Rubber & Plastics
Minnesota Rubber and Plastics is a leader in providing precision made rubber and plastic components and assemblies. With over 1,000 associates throughout its global operations, the company’s focus is on creating value for medical customers by providing outstanding technical and manufacturing services. From design and materials engineering to customer support, Minnesota Rubber & Plastics demonstrates a deep commitment to excellence in quality and performance. For more information, please visit www.mnrubber.com.

About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more at www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.

SOLVAY is an international industrial Group active in Chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and employs about 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.5 billion. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR). Details are available at www.solvay.com.

CONTACT:
Solvay Advanced Polymers
Mark Wheeler
(770) 772-8849
mark.wheeler@solvay.com