Functional PVD Coatings Improve Medical Device Performance and Life
As the medical device industry continues to grow rapidly, manufacturers must contend with a variety of challenges if they wish to differentiate products in a highly competitive market. With this in mind, greater emphasis is being placed on the functional coatings that are applied to stainless steel, titanium and other substrates of critical medical devices from implants to scalpels, needle drivers, bone saws, and reamers.
When manufacturers first began coating instruments, the primary purpose was to improve the aesthetics of instruments and improve identification during surgery. Titanium nitride, with its easily recognizable gold color, quickly became the coating of choice for this purpose.