Solvay's Zeniva® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin was selected by Carbon22™, a subsidiary of GLW, for its new Creed™ sleeve screw combination for foot and ankle surgery. This advanced new screw combination recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
To make this new combination of transparent plastic-metal hybrid composites, Solvay’s implant-grade radioactive transparent Zeniva® PEEK resin is coated on a titanium core before final processing. This high-performance material solution allows screws to be seen by X-rays or computed tomography (CT), while enabling surgeons to accurately assess the anatomical details near and behind the implant site without visual distortion or artifacts.
The new Creed™ sleeve screw is produced using Carbon22™’s unique manufacturing technology. Compared with traditional titanium alloy screws, this breakthrough process helps to control costs by reducing material waste, because traditional titanium alloy screws produce a lot of expensive waste during the processing process. In addition, Carbon22™ hybrid technology enables a more aggressive cutting tip, which is not possible with a full PEEK screw design.
Anna Maria Bertasa, Healthcare Global Marketing Manager for Solvay Specialty Polymers, said: "We have worked closely with Carbon22™ to achieve strong adhesion to titanium, which is not an inherent characteristic of PEEK. Solvay's extensive and deep technology Expertise and advanced material technology make us stand out from the competition and enable us to help create an innovative Creed™ system. We welcome new challenges, solve our customers` unique and individual needs, give them a competitive advantage and help them succeed" .
Although all-titanium screws are opaque to X-rays and the imaging of all-PEEK screws is affected by their diameter, Creed™ hybrid composite screws allow X-rays to pass through bone. The contour created by these new screws greatly enhances the visualization of bone structure. Surgeons can use this ability to confirm the location of the screw during surgery, check the location after surgery, and determine the state of the healing process during follow-up. The ability to image the screw position gives surgeons more confidence and can help them achieve better results.
"Carbon22 CEO Vadim Gurevich said: "Solvay is a recognized industry leader in implantable PEEK materials. "Their team provided excellent material expertise and engineering capabilities, which played an important role in the development of our new Creed system. Together, we actively participate in new development projects and are expected to further promote the development of next-generation orthopedic equipment."