High performance polymers, which have allowed orthopedic implants to become routine treatments for the most severe orthopedic products, as manufactured by one of the leading innovators in this are—Solvay Specialty of Alpharetta, Georgia—are now available for the rapidly growing Chinese hospital market.
The percentage of China’s population which is aged 65 and over will double over the next 20 years. By 2050, 27% of China’s population will be elderly. In the first half of 2011, China’s government increased healthcare spending 61.4% to more than 245 billion RMP (source: Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress). China today has 18, 396 hospitals with 4.2 beds per thousand people. In the next ten years, 80% of the Chinese hospitals will be rebuilt, expanded or relocated. In ten years, annual healthcare expenditures in China could reach $1 trillion.
Solvay’s biomaterials line, previously available in the U.S. and Europe, is targeted to meet growing demand for high quality orthopedic implants in China. Company officials say that their biomaterials will primarily be targeted at orthopedic and cardiovascular applications.
“With our broad product portfolio we are firmly positioned as a strategic supplier to the Chinese healthcare industry and this expansion in biomaterials signals our further commitment, ” said Shawn Shorrock, global market manager for healthcare, in a January 13 news release. “We are leveraging our position as a leading supplier of high performance polymers to support applications from instrumentation to implants.”
Among Solvay’s biomaterials line are Zeniva PEEK; Proniva, a self-reinforced polyphenylene; Eviva, a polysulfone; and Veriva, a polyphenylsulfone. Officials say that the biomaterials can be sterilized via all conventional methods including gamma radiation, ethylene oxide, and steam. The products are available in resin for injection molding or extrusion, as well as stock shapes for machined components.
Solvay plans to serve the Chinese market from its Shanghai facility where it operates research and development, sales, and commercial activities. Company officials note that the entire line of thermoplastic biomaterials is manufactured in compliance with the relevant aspects of ISO 13485 and current Good Manufacturing Practices. All materials are tested in an accredited lab that is ISO 17025 compliant.
