Dry Film Lubricant Addresses Medical Device Tolerances

MicroCare Medical, a supplier of cleaners, carrier additives, coatings and lubricants, has released the DuraGlide family of dry film lubricants. The custom-blended line of lubricants is designed to address the specific device tolerances required by medical device design engineers.

Device tolerances are specified by the design engineer to allow reasonable leeway for variability in production of metal stampings, springs and plastic parts. However, these tolerances often stack up against each other in the manufacturing process, particularly during high-volume production. With its proprietary microdispersion PTFE technology, DuraGlide dry film lubricants deposit a thin, smooth, fast-drying lubricant film over a surface, which is reported to reduce the force needed to actuate the device by 25 to 30 percent.

Other benefits to DuraGlide dry film lubricants include its nonflammable handling, storage and use, materials compatibility, and environmental properties that meet Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and U.S. EPA Significant New Alternatives Program (SNAP) approval.

DuraGlide dry film lubricants can be custom blended for dip, spray and aerosol applications, and are used on devices or mechanical assemblies destined for the operating room that function outside of the body such as catheters, cutting tools, staplers, hypotubes, and other surface-to-surface complex assemblies.

In related news, MicroCare Medical recently announced collaboration with Dow Corning Corporation to offer DuraGlide siloxane lubricants. These lubricants are linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based, and are individually calibrated and mixed according to a customer's needs using Dow Corning 360 Medical Fluids and a carrier fluid that deposits the lubricant prior to evaporating, leaving a thin, uniform film of PDMS. Because DuraGlide siloxane lubricants are available in liquid form and not from concentrate (as silicone lubricants are typically delivered), this removes the need for the engineer or manufacturer to mix and calibrate the batch themselves.

The coating can be used on a variety of medical devices, such as needles, syringes, blades or other devices that contact skin and require lubrication for better performance and patient comfort.  The fluid is compatible with materials such as glass, metals, plastic and rubber, and can be applied using dipping, wiping, brushing or sprays.