Cleanliness

The cleanliness of components plays a key role in many areas, as it has a significant impact on the quality, safety and reliability of the manufactured intermediate and end products. In medical technology, the slightest conta­mi­nation on or in instruments or implants can endanger the health of patients, for example through infections. In the watchmaking industry, where precision is crucial, dust or production residues can disrupt the functioning of the end product and thus impair accuracy and longevity. In the machine industry, contamination leads to increased wear, corrosion or malfunctions, which reduces the service life of machines and can lead to costly breakdowns.

In order to ensure the required purity of a test object, we use highly specialized analytical techniques that allow us to precisely examine the material composition and product surfaces.

It can be measured either directly on a medical device or indirectly by extraction and subsequent analysis of the extract. Direct measurement (e.g. by XPS, FT-IR or EDX) often requires minimal sample preparation, but is localized and may not be sufficiently representative. Extraction, on the other hand, enables the quantification of a total amount of impurities (e.g. using GC-MS, TOC, TN or ICP-MS). In addition, impurities in the form of particles can be classified and quantified after filtration (more information can be found here).

By using these analytical methods, high product quality is ensured and potential impurities are detected at an early stage. This makes a significant contribution to ensuring that the high-quality end product is reliable and safe and that the requirements for cleanliness and functionality are met.

You can find more information on the topic of cleanliness / purity of medical devices here.