Companies Partner to Treat Sleep Apnea

San Diego, Calif.-based ResMed, maker of medical products for treating and managing respiratory disorders, is working with SABIC’s Innovative Plastics division on new product development.

ResMed is using SABIC’s Cycoloy and Lexan resins to “enhance the performance, aesthetics and sustainability” of the new ResMed S9 series of sleep apnea devices, according to SABIC. The Cycoloy polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin is used to mold the complex, thin-wall S9 chassis. Lexan resin, which is a tough, biocompatible material, is used for the top case and the humidifier flip lid. According to ResMed officials, both materials helped to create a sleek design and improved aesthetics for consumer appeal.

“We chose SABIC’s Cycoloy and Lexan resins for major components of our flagship S9 series sleep therapy devices for several key reasons,” said Gary Robinson, vice president, Supplier Alliance, ResMed. “These eco-progressive thermoplastic resins provided important advantages, including superior design flexibility and outstanding performance and usability. SABIC also delivered important value-added services, from color matching to process optimization, which helped us achieve our goals.”

The new ResMed S9 series of sleep apnea devices (which includes continuous, auto and variable positive airway pressure models) combine a streamlined, high-tech design with improved functionality and greater comfort via combined climate control and humidification of the air that the patient breathes, according to the company.

These new devices are designed to be unobtrusive in the home—looking more like a clock radio or stereo than a piece of medical equipment. They are engineered to be lightweight yet durable.

Cycoloy resin provides excellent mechanical performance under high-temperature conditions. The material provides flame retardance without the use of hazardous materials, enabling it to meet the requirements of the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directives, ResMed developers said.

SABIC’s plastics division is based in Pittsfield, Mass.