Written by: Denton Vacuum, LLC

Summary: New advancements in manufacturing have made medical devices safer for patients.

Medical device coatings have changed quite a bit since the days when we began mass producing medical devices. Early technology, if any, focused almost exclusively on durability. Today’s technology has the added benefit of patient comfort too. Aqueous coatings that allow devices to fit into the body comfortably are now par for doctors in modern medicine.

These aren’t just comfort changes. Advanced manufacturing techniques like plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition have made the emergency room of the hospital a safer space for everyone.

Anti-Microbial Coating

One of the biggest advances for doctors and patients is a special kind of coating that deters microorganisms from forming on their surface. This coating is useful on everything from tools used in patient care to devices that fit in the body. They help guard patients from particles and bacteria that could form infections.

PECVD Manufacturers can also change the chemical composition of coatings, allowing one chemical to perform two jobs. There are also metallic alloys like copper that are naturally anti-microbial. As a result, we find this technology in clean rooms where microchips are built as well.

Patient Comfort

Comfort is another factor in patient care that’s easy to overlook. If a patient is uncomfortable, he or she may have to shift something else in their life to find a level of comfort their body can agree with. When patients are forced to wear invasive devices, this becomes a difficult prospect. As manufacturing increases in complexity, patients will benefit from safer devices designed to slip seamlessly in and out of the body as needed.