Medical Design Briefs Explores Silicone Alternatives, Northwire's

Impact on Life Sciences

The cable and wire manufacturer's BioCompatic represents their second feature in
Tech Briefs.
Osceola, WI, USA (August 26, 2015) -Cable engineering company, Northwire,
Inc., (NWI), lends their materials expertise
to the increasingly popular conversation
challenging traditional silicone. Striving to
deliver cutting-edge solutions to customers,
the cable manufacturer participates in
Medical Design Briefs' August issue
featuring silicone alternatives.
Medical Design Briefs: Tech Briefs focuses
on design and technological advancements
in the area of medical manufacturing
innovation. As part of this mission, the publication seeks out industry leaders and R&D
professionals to contribute articles, white papers, videos, and other resources to educate and
inform readers. This is the second consecutive year that the magazine has asked Northwire
to provide an article highlighting the next-generation medical cable and wire solutions.
This year, Kevin DePratter, PMP and Northwire's Director of R&D, lent forty- two years of
industry expertise to the article titled, "Silicone's History - and Future - in Medical
Manufacturing." Exploring silicone's versatility and its subsequent rise in popularity as a useful
material in a number of medical device designs, DePratter demonstrates its inherent
limitations as compared to the extreme performance properties of innovative alternatives. The
silicone polymer's applications range from valves and tubing to cable jacketing and beyond.
Its adaptability to extreme environments, ability to meet biocompatibility standards, and
durability against sterilization made silicone the popular selection for many years.
As silicone has many proven advantages, it is often viewed as the traditional go-to material
for coating cables used in implantable medical devices, surgical tools and more. However,
medical-grade silicone jacketed cable can be costly to produce, and most silicone suppliers
require long lead times. Combined with Northwire's materials science and industry expertise,
recent technology enables field-proven silicone alternatives featuring more robust resistance
to crush, cut and chemicals. Options for medical device cable materials such as Northwire's
BioCompatic are quickly growing. Leading the shift and meeting customers' demands,
Northwire is currently working on BioCompatic's product family extension to serve the next
phase of unique engineering requirements of medical device design.

Learn more by reading the article online at http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/mdbfeatures

or by clicking here. For more information about Northwire's publications or its work with The
LEMO Group on highly resilient, cost-competitive, USP Class VI silicone alternatives, contact
Customer Care at 800.468.1516, cableinfo@northwire.com, or via Live Chat.
About LEMO
LEMO is an acknowledged leader in the design and manufacture of precision custom
connection and cable solutions. LEMO's high quality Push-Pull connectors are found in a
variety of challenging application environments including medical, industrial control, test and
measurement, broadcast, and telecommunications.
LEMO has been designing custom connectors for over six decades. Offering more than
100,000 combinations of products that continue to grow through tailored, specific designs,
LEMO and its affiliated sister companies REDEL, NORTHWIRE and COELVER currently
serve more than 100,000 customers in over 80 countries around the world. In 2014, LEMO
Group acquired Northwire, Inc. as part of its vision to provide a full range of interconnection
solutions and services to niche markets.
About Northwire
Cable manufacturer, Northwire, Inc., celebrating over 43 years of innovation, has corporate
headquarters and manufacturing in Osceola, Wisconsin and engineering and manufacturing
in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The cable engineering company is the premier partner for the
design, manufacture and contract services of custom technical products including custom
technical wire and cable, retractable cable, cable assemblies, connectors, harnesses,
injection molding and over-molding. Extensive test and development, contract engineering
and rapid OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) services offered. Serving a wide range of
markets with diverse applications in broadcast, life sciences, energy, MIL-Spec defense,
industrial, machine vision, architectural lighting, underwater and beyond.
In addition to ISO 13485:2003, ISO 9001:2008, SAE AS9100C:2009 certifications and
qualification to ISO 17025:2005, Northwire is a member of NDIA (National Defense Industrial
Association), NCMA (National Contract Management Association), RIA (Robotics Industries
Association), AIA (Automated Imaging Association), FieldComm (aka Foundation Fieldbus),
ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendors Associations) and WAI (Wire Association International),
among others.
For more information, visit http://www.northwire.com.
Media Contact:
Katina Kravik
Northwire
110 Prospect Way
Osceola, Wisconsin 54020
715-294-2121
cableinfo@northwire.com
http://www.northwire.com