With liquid crystal polymers (LCPs), the medical device designer can improve part economics as well as performance and processing compared with metals and other plastic materials. LCPs eliminate costly machining, fill thinner walls, shorten molding cycles, and provide higher yields of stronger, more precise parts. By virtue of their design and processing advantages, LCPs can indeed justify raw material cost which may be higher than some other resins. How can medical designers capitalize on the design flexibility and cost savings possible with LCPs? To start, a fundamental concept must be understood:  The cost-effectiveness of a resin lies in the finished cost per useable part, not in the price per pound of plastic.