Invivo Corp.’s new Luminescence Breast System (LBS), an MRI system for diagnostic imaging and biopsy, features an immobilization system that includes several integral parts made of AvaSpire® AV-651 modified PEEK (polyetheretherketone) from Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC. The manufacturer, custom molder Nicolet Plastics Inc., Mountain, Wis., says these unreinforced modified PEEK parts – ratchet springs, fiducial body markers, and lock levers – boast high rigidity, chemical resistance, and superior hydrolytic stability.

The immobilization system is a two-plate unit which holds the anatomy in place during imaging and biopsy, according to Michael Grobe, Nicolet Plastics project manager. The 3/16-inch-thick lock levers lock the plates onto the LBS unit, the ratchet springs lock the frame onto the plate, and the fiducial body markers serve as tissue reference point locators.

AvaSpire AV-651 provides better ductility and impact resistance than comparable PEEK grades, while retaining most of PEEK’s other key performance attributes. It is specifically formulated for applications requiring a good balance of chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR). The material provides good aesthetics and offers improved part economics versus comparable standard PEEK grades.

AvaSpire AV-651 also exhibits low shrinkage, high dimensional stability, and withstands a broad range of standard cleaning agents and disinfectants. It is easily processed on standard injection molding machinery.

Nicolet is working on new designs for the immobilization system and is considering AvaSpire modified PEEK grades for similar parts, according to Grobe.

About Nicolet Plastics Inc.
Nicolet Plastics Inc. was established in 1986 as a mold manufacturer and later added injection molding capabilities. The company operates a 41,000 sq-ft facility in Mountain, Wis., and offers a range of services including product design and development, tooling design and development, offshore tooling coordination, injection molding, part decorating, and insert molding. More information is available at www.nicoletplastics.com.

About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, 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, healthcare, 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.

Press Contact:
Joseph Grande
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