The medical device sector is characterised by the stringent regulations and standards coupled with the well-defined priority to improve performance while preserving the patient’s state of health. As such, the demand for advanced medical device coatings, like PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) and PaCVD (Plasma assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition), which can increase resistance to wear and corrosion, reduce friction, along with a focus on the “barrier” effect and chromaticity, is constantly on the rise. Not to mention, it is essential to ensure simple and optimal cleaning and disinfection with alcohol and chlorine-based agents.

Two other elements of greatest importance in the field of healthcare equipment are: bacteriostaticity and osseointegration. Customers are looking for technologies with a low environmental impact; in some cases, to replace other existing technologies. As the list of requirements for medical device coatings continues to grow long, meeting them becomes equally difficult.

This is where companies like STS can make a difference. STS is an expert in surface treatments, more specifically in PVD and PaCVD coatings that are biocompatible, wear-resistant, non-sticking, chemically inert and anti-reflective. Specifically designed for orthopaedic implants, dental abutments, scalpels, needle holders, scissors, bone saws, and medical screws, these coatings improve the performance of the instruments and implants. In particular, for the knee, PVD coatings are able to increase the life of the prosthesis and reduce the coefficient of friction of the femoral component system - polyethylene disc-tibial plate. “We use green technologies with low environmental impact. They are exceptionally thin but extremely resistant films that can be deposited on most metals,” says Luca Calabrò, CEO, STS.

He mentions that all titanium-derived PVD coatings (TiN, TiCN, TiAlCN) are also used in surgical devices as they take advantage of the different chromaticities to facilitate and speed up the recognition of objects in the operating room. The application of TiN PVD and DLC is very common for dental implantology screws (prior Ti spray on the thread) and the related support abutments of the prostheses.

Customised solutions are at the heart of our STS Lab’s activity. STS has the know-how and all the necessary means to test and develop new tailor-made solutions to meet customer needs. Customised solutions are studied and tested according to the basic material, the environment in which the operator will carry out his activity and the way in which he will operate, all with the utmost confidentiality. Calabrò notes, “Our R&D laboratory is specialised in co-development projects with medium and large companies; these partnerships covered by confidentiality agreements allow us to develop tailor-made coatings that perfectly fit the customer’s needs. Our expertise in surface treatments and the ability to develop new tailor-made and sometimes unique solutions for our customers set us apart from our competition.” STS has developed and is currently studying specific coatings that comply with all the regulations of the sector: the ISO 13485 standard, the European Regulation on Medical Devices MDR UE 2017/745 and the ISO 10993 standard.

STS dedicates important resources to the training of its customers’ technicians in the field of coatings (specifically PVD / PaCVD), thanks to STS Academy. The company organises courses and meetings at the customer’s headquarters, at its own headquarters or remotely via webinars. The desire to experiment is a part of STS’s DNA. With its incredible service and solutions, STS has emerged as a reliable partner with an exclusive focus on its core ideals right from the start: passion, innovation, service, fairness and confidentiality.

Notably, the COVID emergency has encouraged STS to invest in R&D for the creation of antibacterial layers that will be proposed to the market as a solution to the various critical issues that the pandemic is generating. The company is also successfully testing and improving TiNbN coating in the orthopaedic field for some prostheses. STS has developed important partnerships in Europe and Russia and plans to accelerate the search for new customer-partners in Italy and abroad. Calabrò asserts, “We want to continue growing with the utmost respect for the environment, together with our customers-partners.”