The company TissueFlow, a spin-off from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, has developed an instrument for orthopedic surgery, which promotes the self-healing of injured bones: BoneFlo®+. This innovative surgical suction handle is made of CYROLITE® molding compounds from Röhm — a high-quality transparent plastic for medical technology. CYROLITE® products are acrylic-based copolymers used in various disposable medical devices, such as filter housing, infusion therapy and catheter accessories, and surgical equipment.

BoneFlo®+ is the first suction handle that can be filled with a bone substitute material, β-Tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). “Bone progenitor cells in blood and tissue particles have the potential to stimulate new bone growth. This requires a substrate to which they can bond. This is where the insert made of porous β-TCP comes in,” explains Dr. Haversath, one of TissueFlow’ founders. The suction flow during the operation saturates the material with the body’s own tissue particles and stem cells. Subsequently, the surgeon can precisely model the enriched bone substitute material to repair damaged bones.

BoneFlo®+ consists of five components made of CYROLITE®: a screw-on handle, which also serves as a filter housing, two tube-shaped perforated filters and two interchangeable suction tips — plus the β-TCP insert, which can be put in as needed. The housing can easily be unscrewed for a filter change during an operation. For the thread of the screw cap in particular, the very highest precision is required during injection molding. “This is achieved thanks to the special flow capability and dimensional stability of CYROLITE® GS-90,” explains Edmund Oschmann, CEO of Oschmann Kunststofftechnik. “The decisive criteria in selecting CYROLITE® GS-90 for this application are its high transparency, suitability for gamma sterilization, high degree of biocompatibility and its chemical resistance to blood, tissue fluids and lipids,” adds Sebastian Herrmann, General Manager at Roth Plastic Technology, the company that designed the prototypes.

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