The first innovation from CES 2007 that caught my eye is ElectriPlast from Integral Technologies. There is not too much information about this available. In short, it is an electrically conductive plastic resin. Today most electric conductive tools (eg electrosurgical instruments) are made of metal with an insulating covering. They have a limited lifespan and inevitably the insulator starts to break down risking electrical patient injuries. In addition, we are fairly limited in the physical characteristics, shapes, and durability of the metal core of the tool.
ElectriPlast provides (according to the manufacturer)
• Dramatic performance improvement.
• Design flexibility – molded resin, ability to miniaturize.
• Raw materials and manufacturing capacity readily available.
• Broad functionality and applicability.
Since this is a resin based material it can be cast or estruded and entire new shapes and configuration of tools could be produced.
Electriplast is a highly conductive recipe that can be molded into virtually any shape or dimension associated with the range of plastics, rubbers and polymers CES chose this technology with a 2007 Innovation honoree for enabling technologies. Now it’s just a matter of convincing manufacturers to look at the small medical tool market and not focus on its current #1 use- next generation cell-phone antenna.
Plus how many new products have their own blog?
I have herd rumours the electric conductive plastic has magnetic blocking property when charged
If this is true one can build a motor with electric conductive plastic ( ECP )
Magnet |ECP| magnet ___ | ECP | Magnet
The magnet in the centre will move between the to outside magnets as the charge alternates between the ECP
Amazing idea – sounds like it would work.
Dr. P.,
Great Blog. Thanks for expanding our knowledge base re technology and medicine. After reading your Blog, I was inspired to write a piece for the ElectriPlast Blog about potential medical uses of conductive polymers, specifically ElectriPlast. I hope you and your readers will review my 6 February piece called ElectriPlast: Let’s Hear it for Hippocrates. Finally, EB is a shareholder owned and supported Blog. It receives no support (financial, moral or otherwise) from the company. Cheers.