Translucency is critical, says Foster Corp

Foster Corporation has launched its newest technology for the catheter tubing market, in response to greater demand for translucent materials.

Dubbed ProPell T, the new material is said to offer low lubricity and translucency in medical device components when added to lower durometer TPU and Pebax^. polyamide elastomer compounds.

Foster says that ProPell T offers reduced coefficient of friction while maintaining critical mechanical properties, and improved manufacturing and handling of medical catheter tubing. In addition ProPell T offers a proprietary surface enhancing additive that also provides translucency.

Translucency is critical in medical applications that require close visual monitoring.

“Medical personnel can not only see the substance that is being transported through the tubing, but can also easily detect any defects in the device,” explains Larry Johnson, Vice President of Business Development for Foster Corporation.

The ProPell T technology reduces tackiness and friction in medical device components, especially soft, flexible polymers such as low durometer TPU, commonly used in central venous catheters (CVC), and Pebax polyamide polymers that are used in interventional vascular catheters.

“The use of ProPell T in catheters benefits medical practitioners by offering easier deployment and control of the device by enabling the catheter to move faster and smoother through the vascular system,” Johnson comments further.

In addition to improving manufacturing and application performance in extruded components such as catheter tubing, ProPell T also reduces tackiness in injection moulded devices as well, the firm states.