title: Market study: biomaterials supply for permanent medical implants.
abstract: The withdrawal of DuPont as a supplier of key raw materials created a major dislocation in the medical device industry. We studied the present and future impact caused by the market removal of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn ("Dacron"), polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) fiber and resin ("Teflon"), and polyacetal resin ("Delrin"). Findings were: 1) Dollar values of the permanent medical implant markets for PET yarn, PTFE fiber and resin, and polyacetal resin are a minute fraction, of their values for their other commercial markets; 2) The implant market value is clearly not commensurate with the liability risk; and 3) The majority of these materials consumed by this market are used in the production of lifesaving, permanent medical implants [e.g., vital blood vessel replacements made from knitted polyester (PET)]. The remainder is used in life-enhancing, permanent implants [e.g., hernia patches made of polyester (PET) fabric].
authors.affiliation: Aronoff Associates, New York, NY 10022, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Aronoff
mesh_terms: D000080:Acetals / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005060:Europe; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011050:Policy Making; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011108:Polymers / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013537:Sutures; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000080:Acetals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011108:Polymers; C016067:polyacetal; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene