September, 28, 2011 - SABIC’s Innovative Plastics strategic business unit today announced that ResMed – a global leader in medical products for treating and managing respiratory disorders – has selected Cycoloy* and Lexan* resins to enhance the performance, aesthetics and sustainability of the new ResMed S9™ series of sleep apnea devices. SABIC’s Cycoloy polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin, featuring non-halogenated flame retardance and high flow, is used to mold the complex, thin-wall S9™ chassis. Lexan resin, a tough, biocompatible material with exceptional surface finish, is used for the S9™ top case and H5i™ humidifier flip lid. Both materials helped ResMed create a sleek design and outstanding aesthetics for consumer appeal. The next-generation ResMed S9™ device series demonstrates how SABIC’s broad and growing portfolio of high-performance materials and value-added services help healthcare customers create new, innovative technologies.

“We chose SABIC’s Cycoloy and Lexan resins for major components of our flagship S9™ series sleep therapy devices for several key reasons,” said Gary Robinson, vice president, Supplier Alliance, ResMed. “These eco-progressive thermoplastic resins provided important advantages, including superior design flexibility and outstanding performance and usability. SABIC also delivered important value-added services, from color matching to process optimization, which helped us achieve our goals.”

“SABIC offers healthcare customers one of the most robust portfolios of high-end materials in the plastics industry to address major trends in the medical device sector, such as miniaturization and improved aesthetics for home use,” said Thomas O’Brien, marketing director, Healthcare, Innovative Plastics. “We take great pride in our close collaboration with leading device companies such as ResMed, with the goal of enabling the highest quality and best performance for their products. Our proven products, combined with over 75 years as a leading pioneer in the thermoplastics sector, are a driving force in helping customers continuously innovate to meet the changing demands of consumers and clinicians worldwide.”

Enhancing Ease of Use and Consumer Appeal

The new ResMed S9™ series of sleep apnea devices – including continuous, auto and variable positive airway pressure models – combine a streamlined, high-tech design with superior functionality and greater comfort via combined climate control and humidification of the air that the patient breathes.

These new devices are designed with the SABIC Lexan and Cycoloy resin materials to be unobtrusive in the home – looking more like a clock radio or stereo than a piece of medical equipment. For ease of use, they are engineered to be lightweight yet durable.

SABIC’s Cycoloy resin provides excellent mechanical performance under high-temperature conditions. Further, this material provides flame retardance without the use of hazardous materials, enabling it to meet the requirements of the European Union’s (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives. The Cycoloy resin chassis was custom-colored dark-grey. Lexan resin was chosen for the H5i™ humidifier flip lids for its exceptional impact properties.

Lexan resin is part of SABIC’s extensive and growing portfolio of over 50 healthcare resin grades, which are supported by a comprehensive healthcare product policy.

Source: SABIC IP