Compostable splint can be reshaped multiple times as patient heals

A newly developed medical splint can be repeatedly reshaped as the patient recovers from a bone injury and can be composted when it is no longer needed. The device is made from a PLA-based biopolymer formulated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP (Potsdam, Germany) and was developed by injection molder Nölle Kunststofftechnik GmbH (Meschede, Germany). Conventionally designed splints cannot be adjusted as the healing process runs its course, creating complications and discomfort as the swelling subsides. Also, they are not biodegradable, creating up to 150 metric tons of waste per year, notes Fraunhofer IAP. The Recast immobilization concept developed by Nölle Kunststofftechnik uses variously sized pre-shaped splints made from biodegradable PLA. The splints are heated to between 55° and 65°C. The temperature of the splints is then reduced to a minimum, explained Fraunhofer IAP. The now formable plastic is molded to fit the corresponding part of the body. This process takes about five minutes. If further adjustments are necessary, the hardened splint can simply be reheated. "We wanted to find a way for [practitioners] to care for their patients more quickly, cleanly and, above all, on a more individual basis,” explained Anselm Gröning, Managing Director of Nölle Kunststofftechnik. “For patients, we wanted to create a splint that would be signif...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Tags: Plastics Today Source Type: news