Acid-free Electropolishing of Nitinol Stents

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Russamer Lab developed a simple and safe technology of electropolishing nitinol stents.
The low voltage electropolishing process takes place in an acid-free solution. Stents must be pre-cleaned by sandblasting, mechanically, or by an ultrasound method. The electropolishing technology is ready for licensing to medical implant manufactures.

In addition, stents treated with our passivation process meet the ASTM F2129 standard.

Please contact us about sending samples. We will electropolish them and send them back for evaluation. 

Our acid-free electrolyte does not contain any volatile, poisonous, flammable, or explosive compounds. This technology has many advantages over traditional methanol-sulfate or other acid-based nitinol polishing methods.

Advantages:

• Less hazardous for workers and the environment.
• Fire and blast safe.
• Passivation meets ASTM F2129 standards
• Absent of catastrophic effects of water on polishing pieces.
• Electropolishing process is "mild" due to the low voltage and polishing temperature, therefore significantly lowering the risk of damaging stents. 
• No special equipment required.
• Polishing results are predictable, repeatable, and depend only on the polishing time interval.

In addition to nitinol stents, Russamer Lab is able to electropolish tantalum, stainless steel, and cobalt stents, including wire mesh and laser cut stents.

Nitinol stents after electropolishing

A typical licensing package includes:

-    Small rectifier to electropolish about an average of 10 - 20 stents at a time.

-    Set of specially designed holders for firmly holding  stents.
     (developed to fit a specific stents configuration)

-    Small bath with heater and temperature controller unit.

-    Required amount of electrolyte based on customer's need.

-    Instructions on electrolyte use.

-    Oxide removal procedure.

-    Passivation technology and solution to meet ASTM2129.

-    Training.

-    Technical support.