Parylene: An Excellent Barrier Coating to Prevent Leaching and Extraction

Lonny L. Wolgemuth

Specialty Coating Systems
7645 Woodland Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46278, USA
Tel: +1 317 244 1200  Fax: +1 317 240 2092

Biography

Lonny Wolgemuth is Medical Market Specialist for Specialty Coating Systems.  His responsibilities include expansion of SCS’ medical markets activities and new medical applications for Parylene conformal coatings.

Wolgemuth has been active in the medical device industry for over 35 years, with experience ranging from in-hospital clinical engineering to product management, market management and national technical support management for international medical device manufacturers in patient monitoring, wound care and patient temperature management.  He has been active in technical medical device standards writing committees for patient temperature management devices, and has testified before FDA device classification panels (tcPO2 monitoring devices).

Wolgemuth obtained his Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree at Manchester College and Purdue University in Indiana, and holds a Master in Business Administration degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York.

Company Profile

Specialty Coating Systems is the industry leader in providing Parylene equipment and coating solutions. SCS coats medical devices … from stents, ICDs, pacemakers and neurostimulators to cochlear and ocular implants to o-rings, valves and tracheostomy tubes in Class 5, 6 and 7 cleanrooms. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, SCS has 9 coating centers around the world to meet medical device manufacturers’ global presence.

Abstract

Parylene polymeric coatings have been used in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries for over thirty years.  New applications continue to arise whenever it is necessary to prevent or control moisture or chemical penetration or trace element leaching and extraction from devices and pharma contents or containers.  This paper addresses Parylene's utility in solving extraction issues and applications where the polymer has been used to protect containers and contents from otherwise undesirable contamination and degradation.  Paradoxically, also discussed is Parylene's permeability where it is desirable to allow/control the extraction/elution of an ingredient through a Parylene membrane.