News Release

Thermo Shandon Achieves Cutting Edge Medical Technology with a little help from from Poeton

July 2001

 
Poeton Industries Limited, a world leader in surface coating technology, is coating the blade clamps and blade supports of two highly specialised tissue cutting machines manufactured by Thermo Shandon Ltd to prepare tissue samples for histology and research laboratories.

The blade clamp and blade support are coated with Poeton's Apticote 460G, a composite coating that combines the protection of low friction polymers with the natural hardness and corrosion resistance of nickel to provide excellent hardness, permanent lubricity and superior wear.

Thermo Shandon designs and manufactures a range of machines to help automate laboratory processes. Two of the machines, the Microtome and Cryotome, are used to prepare samples for pathologists who analyse tissue to determine diseases.

Tissue is prepared by removing water and impregnating it with wax, which enables it to be thinly sliced, stained to enhance it for certain diseases and mounted on a slide ready for microscopic examination.

Both Thermo Shandon machines are fitted with extremely precise cutting blades that slice samples down to one micron thick. Tissue specimens move against the blade, which is fixed in position and held rigid with a blade support and blade clamp.

As a Thermo Shandon spokesman explains: "Samples are extremely fragile and, when a number of samples are being cut at the same time, they can join together to form a continuous 'ribbon' as they come off the blade. To prevent the samples folding or creasing it is essential that they slide easily away from the blade clamp and blade support."

The spokesman explains that both components are machined from stainless steel to achieve the extremely high tolerances necessary for the slicing process. The coating specification therefore demanded a material with a combination of excellent corrosion protection and the low friction properties needed to provide a continuous path for the tissue samples.

"Apticote 460G meets the specification and has an attractive finish that enhances the appearance of the machine." He says, adding: "Poeton has been coating the components for over six years now and we haven't found anything that does it better!"

To discuss sample part processing or technical advice for your medical applications call Poeton Industries now on 01452 300500.

For further information contact Rowenna Poeton,
Poeton Industries Limited, Eastern Avenue, Gloucester GL4 3DN
Tel: 01452 300500 Fax: 01452 300050 Email: rowennapoeton@poeton.co.uk

For press information contact Dennis Cantillion,
Cantillion King, 16 The Cornhill, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 1AJ
Tel: 01453 755551 Fax: 01453 751525 E-mail: dennis@cka.co.uk