Tighter tolerances require thorough monitoring of the entire
manufacturing process, which often involves the implementation of
high-tech, real-time process controls and visual inspection systems.
tomers the opportunity to qualify our new alternatives quickly.
We can laser etch, print, cut to length and assemble to fittings
made in the same clean room environment.”
Manufacturers and resin suppliers continue to work together
to develop new lines of materials that increase performance and
extrusion efficiencies.
“We’re excited about our new product PebaSlix, which is lubricious and has low friction through a proprietary patent-pend-ing process that combines certain additives to the polyether
block amide (PEBA)-based resin, and available in a variety of
durometers,” said LaDuca.“This increases the level of product
performance, while lowering costs by allowing production processing and sterilization options that haven't been available pre-
viously with traditional materials used for low-friction catheter
applications, such as PTFE liners. These newly available catheter
materials are now finding their way into several products that
will be on the market in a variety of clinical areas soon.”
Raumedic also has invested in new materials such as Moldflon
PTFE, the first PTFE of its kind that can be run in a continuous
process on a thermoplastic extruder and not on the basis of ram ex-
trusion, the company claims. Moldflon meets U.S. Food and Drug
Administration 21 CFR § 177 1550 and USP Class VI requirements
and has all the properties of PTFE tubing, such as high temperature
resistance and low surface friction/sliding properties; it also is avail-
able as a shrink tubing.
Antimicrobial tubing also is getting a lot of attention, especially
