CLEAN SOLUTIONS

It has been long established that particles found in medical trays, pouches and blisters are a major problem that causes rejects, tear-downs and rework. “Static Electricity” is the biggest contributing factor to this problem, because electro statically charged materials become a dirt magnet for airborne particles that includes lint, fuzz balls, angel hair, human hair and anything in proximity to the process.  Static Clean has developed unique products that not only eliminate static electricity, but source captures the debris.  Our Medical Cleaning Station is an example of how to controls the static and get rid of particles.

The fabrication and assembly of medical devices and component involves molding, ultrasonic welding, deburring, gluing, fastening and final assembly to name a few.   These steps involve human handling, but there has been a greater emphasis on automation and integration.  Whether manual or automated, static and particles remain an issue.  Plastic parts, silicone tubing, packaging materials and people in the clean room creates debris.   The Zapp Plus with the Particle Trap 6000 provides static and particle solutions at the assembly level.

Most medical device manufacturing is done in a controlled environment.  The first assumption by many is that ionization or source capturing products are not required because the room is clean.   The clean room uses laminar flow air, which is a system of circulating filtered air in parallel-flowing planes to reduce the risk of airborne contamination.  The second assumption is that the particles will stay entrained in that air flow.  The electrostatic forces on plastic parts have the ability to pull particles out of the air flow onto the process.  Using ionization will control static and also keep the particles moving in the right direction.