| EFD Inc. Press Release |  |
New Spray Technology Improves Catheter Coating Process
Medical coating processes require a high degree of precision and process control. As today's hydrophilic, antimicrobial and other biocompatible coating chemistries become increasingly sophisticated, the challenge becomes finding the most efficient, cost-effective way to apply them.
Harland Medical Systems (Eden Prairie, MN) specializes in developing automated modules that can be linked together in different configurations to handle a wide variety of coating applications. Harland says this modular approach gives device makers a cost-effective alternative to outsourcing a custom coating system or fabricating one in-house.
Harland recently assembled one of their modular coating systems for a manufacturer of urinary catheters. Because the UV-cure coating specified in the process had a tendency to "bridge" over the two small openings at the tip of the catheter, Harland needed to find an alternative to the dip coating process often used for high-volume catheter production.
Harland found their solution in the 781 Series spray valves from EFD, Inc. Unlike traditional spray valves, EFD's 781 Series valves feature a Low Volume Low Pressure (LVLP) design that uses extremely low nozzle pressure to apply a fine, even coating with very little overspray.
With this Harland system, a pallet of 48 catheters moves into the spray module on an overhead conveyor that stops above a rectangular opening that has four EFD valves fixtured on each of the longer sides. As the module's software actuates the valves and they begin to spray, the catheters are lowered and raised at a controlled rate while the coating is applied. At the same time, the catheters are rotated to assure a uniform coating thickness.
Harland's new system will allow their customer to clean, coat and cure a batch of 48 catheters every 3 minutes. EFD valves have virtually eliminated the possibility of the UV material webbing or bridging over the small openings.
# # #
