North America: Ventilation Face Masks

When congestive heart failure or another type of respiratory distress strikes, immediate ventilation of the sufferer can mean the difference between life and death.

In this situation, it might seem as though patient comfort doesn’t matter very much — but it probably doesn’t hurt, either. That’s why the new generation of O2-RESQ ventilation face masks for the North American market, from Indianapolis, Ind.-based medical systems manufacturer Pulmodyne Inc., is being made with a soft, rounded cushion made from Teknor Apex’s Medalist elastomer.

Unlike other elast tomers and flexible plastics tics used in medical masks, Medalist elastomers areodorless, latex-free and contain no phthalates, according to Lisa Charno, medical market manager for the company’s thermoplastic elastomer division.

The mask’s translucent seal is made of a custom-formulated Medalist compound. The soft, 37 Shore A elastomer is over-molded onto the transparent front portion of the mask, which is made of a rigid terpolymer material. Because the Medalist compound has a lower specific gravity than PVC, it yields more parts per pound of compound and makes possible a lighter, more comfortable mask seal.

Comfort aside, there’s a manufacturing advantage in using Medalist. “Because Medalist compounds set up rapidly in the mold and exhibit good tear strength, they make it possible for the mask to be pulled off the mold core without tearing or stretching,” said Charno.

Teknor Apex Company (Pawtucket, R.I.); www.teknorapex.com;401-725-8000