Small-Diameter Microtubes

International PolymerEngineering is producing small-diametermicrotubes and profiles made of KetaSpirepolyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC for the medical industry. Microtubesmade of KetaSpire PEEK offer greater strength and rigidity than PTFE microtubesand are easier to work with than those made of stainless steel. They are usedin a range of medical applications including catheters, endoscopic workingchannels and laparoscopic instruments. IPEhas produced microtubes made of unfilled KetaSpire KT-820 NT PEEK in sizes of0.029 OD by 0.016 inch ID (0.74 OD by 0.41mm ID) and 0.077 OD by 0.057 inch ID(1.96 OD by 1.45 mm ID). The company can make PEEK tubes with up to a 0.25 inch(6.35 mm) diameter. IPE manufacturesthe microtubes on a 1 inch extruder specially designed for high-temperaturematerials like PEEK, which process at very high melt temperatures in the rangeof 370C (700F). IPE also has the capacity to manufacture PEEK profiles, bothopen and hollow, for a wide range of applications.

KetaSpire PEEK is a chemicallyresistant plastic and offers strength, fatigue resistance and a continuous-usetemperature of 240C (464F). It can withstand more than 1,000 cycles of steamsterilization without any significant loss of properties and is also compatiblewith other sterilization methods, including ethylene oxide, vaporized hydrogenperoxide and gamma radiation. Based on biocompatibility testing as defined byISO 10993-1, KetaSpire PEEK demonstrates no evidence of cytotoxicity,sensitization, intracutaneous reactivity or systemic toxicity.

Small-Diameter Microtubes