The technique is used to form an anti-microbial barrier, a primer to promote adhesion between stainless steel and proprietary coatings, and to create hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces. As a result, the medical device industry is aggressively investigating and applying plasma-applied coatings to products such as stainless steel guide wires, catheters, stents, and vascular surgical tools.
Plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition is a process used to deposit thin films from a gas state (vapours) to a solid state on a substrate. To deposit silicon dioxide using PECVD, organic silicones are often required as the feedstock, the best known are hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) and tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDSO).
Aaron Baldwin, R&D project leader at MicroVention, said: “PECVD can take a product to the next level by addressing surface reaction issues such as biocompatibility or lubricity. It is a unique and eloquent way to deposit an enhance coatings because it allows you to tailor the surface while retaining the bulk material’s properties you need.”