03.28.12
Putnam Plastics Corp. in Dayville, Conn., a provider of extrusions for minimally invasive medical devices, recently released a line of clear polyimide tubing for medical applications that require visual monitoring, UV transparency or imaging transmission.
Officials noted that the the tubing offers properties suitable to specialized catheter application, including tensile strength of 17,000 psi (117 MPa) and flexural modulus of 550,000 psi (3,792 MPa). It also provides improved resistance to wear, heat, radiation and electrical arcing, according to a press release issued by the company. Putnam produces polyimide tubing with wall thickness as low as 0.0005 in (0.0127 mm) and tolerances down to +/- 0.0002 in (0.005 mm) for precision catheter lumens and shafts.
The clear polyimide can be used for vascular devices that require visual transparency or transmission. It also accepts pigments for a range of custom colored tubing to replace existing dark, amber polyimide designs. New color options not previously available in polyimide, such as blue, allow designers to use colors for aesthetics or branding of devices.
“Unlike flexible nylons and polyurethanes commonly used in catheters, polyimide has higher mechanical properties necessary for specialized catheter lumens and shafts,” said Ray Rilling, director of R&D at Putnam. “Our clear polyimide provides new design options as a transparent tube, including UV light transmission for curing adhesives in catheter assemblies.”
Officials noted that the the tubing offers properties suitable to specialized catheter application, including tensile strength of 17,000 psi (117 MPa) and flexural modulus of 550,000 psi (3,792 MPa). It also provides improved resistance to wear, heat, radiation and electrical arcing, according to a press release issued by the company. Putnam produces polyimide tubing with wall thickness as low as 0.0005 in (0.0127 mm) and tolerances down to +/- 0.0002 in (0.005 mm) for precision catheter lumens and shafts.
The clear polyimide can be used for vascular devices that require visual transparency or transmission. It also accepts pigments for a range of custom colored tubing to replace existing dark, amber polyimide designs. New color options not previously available in polyimide, such as blue, allow designers to use colors for aesthetics or branding of devices.
“Unlike flexible nylons and polyurethanes commonly used in catheters, polyimide has higher mechanical properties necessary for specialized catheter lumens and shafts,” said Ray Rilling, director of R&D at Putnam. “Our clear polyimide provides new design options as a transparent tube, including UV light transmission for curing adhesives in catheter assemblies.”