What is tubing, and what is its purpose?
Reinforced tubing is typically used to support access devices or as a delivery method for another device. Reinforcing the walls of plastic tubing increases its internal pressure rating, provides kink resistance, adds column strength, and increases torque transmission. The result is stronger tubing compared to non-reinforced tubing. Some applications that use reinforced tubing include MRI-compatible catheters, stent placement shafts, vascular access sheaths, and endoscopes.
How is tubing made, and what is bump tubing?
Bump tubing is a tube that has different diameters at each end. The diameter may also vary along the tube’s length. Generally, the smaller diameter end is inserted into the body and the larger diameter attaches to a medical device.
The manufacturing process is similar to other extruded tubing processes, except bump tubing adds the complexity of forming and sizing more than one diameter as the part is continuously extruded. The larger diameter is formed as the extrudate leaves the die, in the gap between the die and a cooling device. This is achieved by controlling the internal air pressure while varying the speed at which the product is extruded. That is, the puller speed slows while internal air pressure increases to create the larger diameter. The reverse brings the tube back to the smaller diameter. The rate of change must be accurately controlled to maintain consistent diameters.
What are hoses?
Hoses are flexible tubes that have been reinforced with an embedded braid or wire mesh. Hoses often are made with stiffer plastic, dual walls, or a heavy wall. A hose is usually used and rated for high-pressure applications.
What is radiopaque tubing?
What is paratubing?
Paratubing joins two or more tubes in a side-by-side formation, allowing for customization for specific medical applications. The tubes are thermally welded or solvent-bonded longitudinally and are used in applications in which several fluid lines are joined in one conduit, and then branch apart to different connections. Multiple tubing configurations are possible.
