Zeus
Innovative Polymer Extrusions for Cardiovascular Applications

The global cardiovascular device market is experiencing growth primarily driven by favorable patient demographics that include an aging baby boomer generation and expanded healthcare access in developing countries. As the industry evolves, polymers and converted polymer components continue to play a significant role in medical devices and procedural innovation. Further, the demand for minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures has led to increasing implementation of polymer components in precision devices that improve safety and outcomes while remaining cost-effective. Meeting the demands of the ever-evolving healthcare industry, Zeus develops and manufactures products for a broad spectrum of medical applications that incorporate polymer solutions for every medical market segment. “Zeus collaborates with device manufacturers and research and development groups to assist in material selection, process improvements, design challenges, prototype development, and quality support services,” states Matt Allen, senior global market manager of Zeus. For human vasculature, Zeus’ catheter components are used in an array of endovascular applications including cardiovascular, neurovascular, peripheral, cardiac rhythm management, and structural heart disease states, just to name a few.

In the last several years, Zeus has launched numerous biomaterial products that can be tailored for use within the human body as a permanent implant or bioabsorbable component. Zeus develops advanced biomaterials for use in medical devices, including absorbable synthetic polymer components, Absorv^®—an alternative to metal or traditional polymers used in vascular stents—and electrospun composites, Bioweb^® for novel, next-gen stent graft technology.

Focused on understanding market conditions and unmet clinical needs, Zeus develops product solutions that meet the needs of tomorrow. “It boils down to a simple formula of listening to the needs of our customers then developing the materials, processes or solutions that allow them to advance their design into lifesaving therapies and devices. We do not see our role as “just” a vendor, rather as a partner aiding in the success of our customers.

Zeus collaborates with device manufacturers and research and development groups to assist in material selection, process improvements, design challenges, prototype development, and quality support services

Zeus has a 52 year proven track record of dependably delivering the highest quality products, unmatched capacity, technical capability, premier service and innovative product development that have allowed us to continually meet our customers’ needs yesterday, today and tomorrow,” says Allen.

Demonstrating Zeus’ innovative capabilities, Allen narrates an engagement with a global cardiovascular device company that wanted to develop a revolutionary product to more effectively close a wound following a catheterization procedure. The design was not commercially manufacturable and the client was initially unwilling to consider changes; however, with a thorough understanding of the device’s intended use and performance, Zeus proposed minor modifications and incorporated those into prototypes that were provided to the customer for evaluation. Those changes proved successful, allowing the design engineers to achieve their desired result. That device is now being sold around the world, and the product portfolio now includes additional iterations and sizes. “It takes a unified approach and expert team to review requests, create actionable plans that can be executed quickly and ultimately deliver results,” adds Allen.

As global leaders in polymer extrusion solutions for catheter-based procedures, Zeus recently unveiled its PTFE SLW^® StreamLiner^™ series, the thinnest extruded liner on the market, which represents a new class of precision components that allow design engineers to reduce the overall profile without sacrificing lumen area.

The company has also announced plans to build three new facilities for engineering and fabrication, manufacturing, and raw material warehousing. The proposed 160,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Columbia, South Carolina will be the largest of its six facilities and will commence operations in late 2019. “These expansions will enable Zeus to maintain our customers’ growth projections, shortest lead times in the industry and continue providing dependable innovative products and services to the medical device markets we serve,” concludes Allen.