By John Osborne, UT staff
Santa Barbara, California-Medical device maker Becton Dickinson has chosen instrumentation and software developed by Santa Barbara-based Wyatt Technology to determine the molecular weight of its medical polyurethanes.
Catheter maker Becton Dickinson is using Wyatt's miniDAWN system, coupled to its Optilab refractometer, to determine the absolute weight average molecular weight (Mw) and number average molecular weight (Mn) of its polyurethanes. The Mw and Mn values are used by BD Medical's manufacturing departments to assess whether their process is running within the specified controls or not. Speed and accuracy of results are of utmost importance, said a Wyatt statement.
BD Medical produces a proprietary polyurethane blend intended for use in its catheters. These products vary in gauge and length as well as in dwell time. Wyatt Technology believes that the molecular weight of the polyurethane is the most important parameter when evaluating the efficiency of the manufacturing process.
Wyatt Technology says that the results with its refractometer are highly accurate and within BD Medical's specifications.
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