Alpharetta, Ga.-based Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC — a supplier of high-performance polymers and a
Solvay Specialty Polymers company — and Perkasie, Pa.-based Secant Medical® LLC — a developer and
manufacturer of woven, knitted and braided custom biomedical textile structures for medical devices
— have established a marketing partnership to promote the development and manufacture of
implantable biomedical fabric structures made with Solvay’s Zeniva® PEEK (polyetheretherketone)
fiber.
The partnership will create a new supply chain that also involves an unnamed fiber
manufacturer and will enable medical original equipment manufacturers to use Zeniva PEEK in custom
implantable fabrics for orthopedic, cardiovascular, tissue engineering, neurology and general
surgery therapeutic device applications. According to Solvay, the new structures are being
developed in response to customer demand and comply with stringent performance requirements.
Secant Medical’s fabrics are made using high-performance metallic and polymeric
biomaterials. The modulus of Solvay’s Zeniva PEEK is very similar to that of bone, and the fiber
also features good biocompatibility, toughness and fatigue resistance. Fiber production complies
with the relevant aspects of ISO 13485 and Good Manufacturing Practices. Material testing is
conducted in an accredited ISO 17025-compliant laboratory.
June 14, 2011
