Overseas success for Anopol after medical innovation

By Anopol Ltd
schedule18th Sep 12

Anopol, the Birmingham based metal finishing specialist, have created an innovative jig for the medical sector, which allows delicate Stents to be electropolished in one single operation, improving productivity time whilst reducing rejection rates.

As a result of the innovation, Anopol looks set to win new business within the US, and sees potential for similar work within the UK and Ireland.

Anopol recognised a problem; manually changing over the stents increased production time and risk of damage to the fragile components. The firm is now set to showcase the unique “Stent Jig” to solve this problem. The piece of sophisticated machinery was developed over a period of one year and has passed a series of stringent practical trials.

Managing Director, John Swain of Anopol said: “This medical device has been successfully employed in a production environment for over two years and has fulfilled its potential.”

A stent is a small metal tubular device, implemented to alleviate vascular conditions by expanding narrowed or blocked arteries. The condition of the stent is vital within the medical sector because it can be inserted into arteries to restore blood flow. To aid this procedure, Anopol’s “Stent Jig” is set to shape the electropolishing process within the medical sector by vastly improving productivity rates.

It is widely believed that some patients prefer the stent process as opposed to medical therapy. Anopol’s “Stent jig” eliminates the need to interrupt the polishing cycle whilst keeping the stents intact.

A vital requirement during the production stage consists of ensuring that the laser cut edges of the stent are free of micro-burrs. Burr removal is normally achieved by electropolishing, a process often referred to as “reverse electroplating.” The stents are immersed in a special formulated chemical and positively charged, using direct current. A fine surface layer is removed, together with burrs, leaving a clean, bright, micro-smooth finish.

In order for the electropolishing process to be effective, an electrical contact to the stent is necessary, which normally takes place with the stents loaded onto the jig or fixture. Conventionally, the stent is manually removed from the jig halfway through the process and turned to give a different point of electrical contact. In addition to the “Stent jig”, Anopol also supplies specialised plant, dedicated to surface finishing stents. Anopol’s pioneering “Stent jig” is now set to shape and improve the Stent electropolishing process within the ever evolving demanding medical sector.