MEDICAL TUBING | PROCESSING
Material boost for medical tubing
Material developments are ensuring improved performance for medical tubing in everything from peristaltic pumps to balloon angioplasty. Lou Reade reports
Enhanced materials – especially elastomers – are helping to boost the performance of a wide range of medical tubing. Thanks to improved characteristics such as abrasion resistance and lubriciousness, extruders are able to produce tubing with properties such as higher kink resistance and greater softness. For instance, a new series of medical-grade thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) from Teknor Apex – for peristaltic pump tubing – gives elasticity over a broad temperature range and withstands the stresses of pump action over time. Unlike silicone, the TPEs are weldable and heat-sealable, says Teknor. Its new series of Medalist compounds includes
clear, translucent, and opaque grades for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, medical infusion systems, and dialysis machines. Compared with other TPEs, the Teknor says its Medalist grades exhibit lower levels of spallation – the shedding of particles from the inner surface due to repeated compression and release during pump operation. Their elasticity helps the tubing to keep pace with
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rapid pump action, while their durability enables it to retain its shape and remain intact over time. The compounds exhibit a low level of extracta-
bles, are compatible with a broad range of chemi- cals, and can be sterilised by e-beam, gamma, and ethylene oxide. Speciality grades are available for biopharmaceutical applications with very low-tem- perature requirements. “The new compounds for peristaltic pump
applications are extremely durable and provide reliable performance over a wide range of service temperatures,” said Ross van Royen, senior market manager of regulated products. “They are based on proven technology developed in with device OEMs and processors and exhibit excellent extrusion rates.” The materials are made with FDA-listed ingredi-
ents, are certified to ISO 10993-5 standards for biocompatibility, and are REACH SVHC compliant. They are free of DEHP and other phthalates, BPA, and latex, while standard grades are ADM-free.
Main image: Teknor’s new Medalist TPEs are aimed at peristaltic pump applications
� September 2018 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 13
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