Medical device manufacturing tubing

atherectomyfor catheter manufacturingPTFE

Overview
Nordson MEDICAL offers a broad, versatile line of thin-wall polyimide tubing for medical device applications. Polyimide tubing provides very thin wall options, tight tolerance inner and outer diameters, outstanding electrical insulation, column strength, high temperature resistance, and multiple layering/composite configurations.

Key Selection Features

• Very thin wall thickness
• Tight-tolerance inner and outer diameters
• Outstanding electrical insulation properties
• Stiffness and column strength as required
• Ability to withstand very high temperatures
• Multiple layering and custom composite configurations (dozens of combinations)

Applications

• Retention sheath for self-expanding stents
• Inflation lumen for balloons
• Suction lumen for atherectomy devices
• Liner material for lumens containing catheter-steering wires
• Low-diameter guidewire designs or guidewire outer sheaths
• High-temperature or gamma radiation-resistant tubing applications
• Applications requiring high tensile strength, torque transmission, or column stiffness
• Precision wire coating

Configurations
Full range of made-to-order, tight-tolerance polyimide tubing products with numerous configurations to fit application needs.

• More than 200 configurations of tight-tolerance polyimide tubing
• Inner diameter (ID) range: 0.004\"–0.085\" (in 0.001\" increments)
• Wall thicknesses: thick, thin, and ultrathin (0.0005\"–0.0100\")
• Colors: amber (transparent) and can be produced in black, green, yellow, red, and others

Composite Tubing
Polyimide tubing can be blended, braided, or layered with multiple polymers to achieve targeted performance characteristics.

• Low-friction layer inside or outside
• Fusible thermoplastic outer layer
• Improved kink radius
• Excellent torque when braided

Composite Materials and Layering

• More than 80 layer combinations
• Materials include PTFE, Nylon, Pebax®, Polyurethane, Polyphenylsulfone, and Polyimide

Precision Wire Coatings
Polyimide is suitable for wire coatings where electrical insulation, precision tolerances, chemical and high-temperature resistance, thin walls, and high strength are required.

• High dielectric strength
• Precision tolerances
• Resistance to chemicals and high temperatures
• Thin wall thickness
• High strength

Braid-Reinforced Tubing
Braid-reinforced configurations comprise four or more layers with a wire braid in the middle for enhanced torque, tensile strength, and kink resistance.

• ID range (braid-reinforced examples): 0.013\"–0.074\"
• Wall thickness range (braid-reinforced examples): 0.002\"–0.008\"
• Made-to-order ID range: 0.004\"–0.420\"
• Made-to-order wall thickness range: 0.0005\"–0.010\"

Technical Information — Polyimide Tubing Specifications (summary table)
ID Range: 0.004\"–0.085\" (0.102 mm–2.159 mm)
Wall Thickness Range: 0.0005\"–0.0100\" (0.0127 mm–0.2540 mm)
OD Tolerance: ±0.0002\"–±0.0005\" (±0.0051 mm–±0.0127 mm)
Length: Standard: 36\"–55\"; Maximum: 32' ; Custom Cutting: 0.020\"–73.0\" (for tubing with at least 0.001\" wall thickness and OD of 0.0125\"–0.0770\")
Color: Amber (transparent); can be produced in a variety of colors including black, green, yellow, red, and others
Printing: Can be printed using conventional techniques

Material Properties (example values)
Polymer Type: Thermoset
Tensile Strength: 20,000 psi (minimum)
Elongation (at Break): 30% min
Modulus of Elasticity: 310 kpsi
Dielectric Strength: 4000 V/.001\"
Moisture Absorption: 0.841 wt% (24 hours)
Melting Temperature: n/a
Thermal Range: -269°C–400°C (-452°F–752°F)
Thermal Conductivity: 0.471 W/m*K
Coefficient of Friction: 0.5 (dry, dynamic)

Features of Thin-Wall Polyimide Tubing

• USP Class VI compliant
• Chemically inert
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Excellent torque transmission
• Excellent column strength
• Nonmelting
• Microsize IDs
• Transparent (amber) options

Characteristics / technical specifications

• ID Range: 0.004\"–0.085\" (0.102 mm–2.159 mm)
• Wall Thickness Range: 0.0005\"–0.0100\" (0.0127 mm–0.2540 mm)
• OD Tolerance: ±0.0002\"–±0.0005\" (±0.0051 mm–±0.0127 mm)
• Length: Standard 36\"–55\"; Maximum 32' ; Custom cutting range 0.020\"–73.0\" (with noted constraints)
• Colors: Amber (transparent), black, green, yellow, red, others
• Polymer Type: Thermoset
• Tensile Strength: ≥20,000 psi
• Elongation at Break: ≥30%
• Modulus: ~310 kpsi
• Dielectric Strength: 4000 V/.001\"
• Thermal Range: -269°C to 400°C
• Thermal Conductivity: 0.471 W/m*K
• Coefficient of Friction (dry, dynamic): 0.5
• Compliance/Attributes: USP Class VI compliant, chemically inert, excellent chemical resistance, high torque transmission and column strength, nonmelting