Cost-Efficient Source for Diverse Resins

A Sabic Innovative Plastics product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 14, 2006

GE Plastics Provides Cost-Efficient Source for Diverse Resins Featured in Multi-Function Aisys Anesthesia Delivery System

The state-of-the-art Aisys Carestation anesthesia delivery system from GE Healthcare is a demonstration of sophisticated technology in a versatile device.

It is the first GE anesthesia solution to integrate electronic gas and agent control as well as delivery with advanced ventilation, vital signs monitoring, and an Advanced Breathing System (ABS).

However, its success in the healthcare marketplace also rides on such practical factors as cost-effectiveness and durability.

To achieve these goals, GE Healthcare sought a materials supplier that could efficiently meet diverse application requirements ranging from chemical resistance for work surfaces, light weight for drawer doors, and transparency for the gas scavenger system.

GE Plastics was able to supply multiple materials from its diverse product portfolio to meet these needs while providing value-added services such as material selection and application development support.

"Patient safety and accuracy are paramount with anesthesia delivery, but hospitals also have to consider cost, maintenance, and durability when they invest in a delivery system," said Pedro Torres, strategic sourcing leader, GE Healthcare.

"By working with one resin supplier on multiple components of this system, we aimed to achieve savings in cycle time and cost".

"The key was finding a vendor to meet the wide range of performance needs - and GE Plastics, with its extensive product portfolio, facilitated the identification and selection of materials for different component requirements".

"But GE Plastics wasn't an automatic shoe-in just because they are a GE business".

"They had to prove themselves just like any other supplier." The GE Aisys perioperative care station integrates devices, therapies, and information systems at the point of need.

Superior ventilation and full monitoring of vital signs are combined with GE clinical information systems to help hospitals provide safe and accurate care for patients.

The Aisys Carestation integrates with hospital information systems and GE Centricity anesthesia systems, which collects and documents anesthesia delivery and physiological data.

This consistent record of a patient's status contributes to informed decision-making while improving hospital efficiency.

Because anesthesiologists work in a very tight space, the all-in-one Aisys Carestation was designed to provide a reduced footprint.

To maximize mobility and reduce clutter, the device offers innovative features such as CableCare, an innovative cable management solution, and INview Patient Displays mounted on a moveable arm with 360 degrees of rotation.

Three different high-performance GE resins are used in the Aisys device: GE's foamable Noryl* resin enables the creation of lightweight vertical panels and drawer doors that aid in the maneuverability of the care station in the operating room and throughout the facility.

Although lightweight, the Noryl resin components maintain their structural integrity over the life of the system.

GE's transparent Ultem* resin forms the reservoir of the gas scavenger system.

The material offers good chemical resistance to anesthesia agents and cleaning products, as well as strength and dimensional stability.

GE's durable Valox* resin provides exceptional chemical resistance for horizontal surfaces - the top shelf and work area - that are exposed to a variety of cleaners, and the cassette bay that comes in contact with anesthesia agents.

This resin also has excellent colorability".

""Using the same supplier for multiple resins in a given application can provide a competitive advantage to medical device manufacturers by streamlining the specification process," said Clare Frissora market director for Healthcare at GE Plastics.

"GE Plastics offers a broad portfolio as well as a number of value-added services, and is well-positioned to enable development of complex systems like the Aisys Carestation".

"Plus, making use of the combined expertise of two top GE businesses resulted in this true next-generation application," Frissora said.