Originally Published EMDM
May 2003
Spotlight on Tubing
Tubing |
Medical-grade tubing
Medical tubing is offered in a wide range of dimensions and tolerances and in several different materials. Radiopaque tubing measuring 1.0 to 3.0 mm ID and 2.0 to 4.5 mm OD is routinely produced in tolerances of ±0.1 and ±0.13, depending on the dimensions. Straight, tapered, luer, y, and t connectors are also supplied, as well as catheter mounts. The company can produce made-to-measure tubing according to customer specifications. Portex Ltd., Hythe, Kent, UK.
Flexible thermoplastics
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A manufacturer of flexible thermoplastic and thermoset tubing and hose provides unreinforced tubing; wire-, braid-, and fabric-reinforced hose; vacuum-rated hose; air hose; and coiled, corrugated, or convoluted tubing. Materials include PVC, polyurethane, silicone, fluoropolymer, thermoplastic rubber, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, latex, polyethylene-lined EVA, and Hytrel-lined PVC. The company can custom extrude various material compounds to offer antistatic properties, elasticity, low-temperature flexibility, purity, UV stabilization, conductivity, or specific colours. Fabrication services include coiling, bonding, heat-formed shapes, cutting and slitting, flared ends, overbraiding and jacketing, printing, and special packaging. NewAge Industries; Colex International Ltd., Market Harborough, Leics, UK.
Tubular components
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Precision miniature metal tubing, tubular components, fabricated wires, machined and injection-moulded parts, and assemblies are offered to medical OEMs. The company works with 100 metals and alloys, as well as plastics. Design and engineering support is available. UTI Corp., Greengate, Manchester, UK.
Metal tubing
High-accuracy micromechanical parts, turned and milled, are manufactured for medical device OEMS. Semifinished and finished products characterized by tight tolerances are manufactured from gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, titanium, and other high-purity materials. The firm offers full-service project management; it is US FDA registered and is certified to ISO 9001 and EN 46001. Cendres & Métaux S.A., Biel-Bienne, Switzerland.
Stent-delivery device
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Designed for the optimal safety required by direct stenting, the Casiopea stent-delivery device displays a low entry profile. The device includes a density balloon and automated folding system for safe crimping, radiopaque markers encapsulated in the internal tube to prevent the markers from coming into contact with the stent, and a short soft tip for controlled progression. Casiopea is available in a full range of sizes to cover all operational needs. Arthesys, Gennevilliers, France.
Custom tubing
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Multilumen tubes, laminated tubes, radiopaque striped tubes, and coloured tubes are manufactured from PVC, PE, PP, TPU, TPE, PA, and EVA. Tubes range from 0.2 to 15 mm. Medical-grade tubing is produced in Class 10,000 and Class 100,000 cleanrooms. Fluorplast Oy AB Mediman, Petalax, Finland.
Flexible tubing
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A company manufactures a complete line of flexible tubing for pneumatic and fluid applications in polyurethane, PVC, and Vyplas. The tubing is manufactured in an ISO-compliant facility using digital monitoring equipment to ensure that strict tolerances are maintained. The tubing is available from 1¼6 to 1¼2 in. ID. Coiled tubing, with working lengths from 5 to 20 ft, is fabricated from polyurethane. Ark-Plas Products Inc.,
Flippin, AR, USA.
Extrusions
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Tubing is custom extruded for a variety of applications. Coextrusions, bubble tubing, and thermal bonded tubing are available in bulk, continuous coils, cut lengths, banded, or pouched. Tubing can be printed during extrusion, thereby reducing the added time and cost associated with pad printing. Downstream services, including eye punching, tip forming, assembly, and bonding, are performed in climate-controlled or cleanroom environments. Additional manufacturing services include RF welding, kit packing, and sterilization management. Command Medical Products Inc., Ormond Beach, FL, USA.
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