MATERIALS | MEDICAL TUBING
Right: TBL has used a polysulphone (PSU) resin from Solvay to make a medical grade sight gauge
He said there are many attributes
required for IV sets – including cost, biocompatibility, process- ability and chemical resistance. Unsurprisingly, price is a key factor. For a start, the price of typical
alternatives – such as TPU and TPS – are around three or more times higher. There is also the need to assemble products economically. “IV sets are considered a mass product,” he said. “High volumes need fast processing.” This means that IV sets have to be made quickly.
Because TPU does not respond well to solvent bonding, it is at a disadvantage. Factors such as relaxation behaviour must also be considered – as an alternative material will behave differently when hooked up to a pump, for instance. Different drugs also show varying absorption effects from material to material. While PVC and TPU show high drug absorption, TPS has low absorption. “There is no alternative material that achieves every requirement of an IV tube – but alternatives
IMAGE: SOLVAY
are needed when facing the disadvantages of PVC,” said Fiandaca. “When developing alterna- tives, you need an effective test strategy.” n Proceedings from AMI’s Medical Tubing & Catheters virtual conference – which was held in March 2021 – are available from Lorna Grey on +44 (0) 117 314 8111 (
lorna.grey@
ami.international).
PSU for strength TBL Performance Plastics, a manufacturer of single-use components for medical and pharma- ceutical systems, has used a polysulphone (PSU) resin from Solvay to make a medical grade sight gauge.
Solvay’s transparent Udel P-1700 PSU resin
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