Clear Polyimide Tubing targets medical applications.

Press Release Summary:




Clear polyimide tubing is suitable for medical applications that require visual monitoring, UV transparency, or imaging transmission. Tensile strength is 17,000 psi, flexural modulus is 550,000 psi, and tubing exhibits resistance to wear, heat, radiation, and electrical arcing. Wall thickness as low as 0.0005 in. with tolerances down to ±0.0002 in. are available for precision catheter lumens and shafts. Ability to easily accept pigments allows for range of custom colored tubing.



Original Press Release:



Putnam Plastics Introduces Clear Polyimide Medical Tubing



DAYVILLE, CT, USA - (March 27, 2012) - Putnam Plastics Corporation, a leader in advanced extrusions for minimally invasive medical devices, introduces clear polyimide tubing for medical applications that require visual monitoring, UV transparency or imaging transmission. Unlike traditional dark, amber polyimide which has limited options for pigmenting, clear polyimide also allows for a wide range custom colored tubing options.

The clear polyimide tubing offers unique properties suitable to specialized catheter application, including tensile strength of 17,000 psi (117 MPa) and flexural modulus of 550,000 psi (3,792 MPa).. It also has excellent resistance to wear, heat, radiation and electrical arcing. Putnam produces polyimide tubing with wall thickness as low as 0.0005 in (0.0127 mm) and tolerances down to +/- 0.0002 in (0.005 mm) for precision catheter lumens and shafts. The combination of property and processing versatility offers considerable advantages for a wide variety of specialty catheter applications from imaging diagnosis to ablation therapy.

Putnam's new polyimide is clear and allows for designs of vascular devices that require visual transparency or transmission. Additionally, clear polyimide easily accepts pigments for a range of custom colored tubing to replace existing dark, amber polyimide designs. New color options not previously available in polyimide, such as blue, allow designers to use colors for aesthetics or branding of devices.

"Unlike flexible nylons and polyurethanes commonly used in catheters, polyimide has higher mechanical properties necessary for specialized catheter lumens and shafts," said Ray Rilling, Director of R&D at Putnam. "Our clear polyimide provides new design options as a transparent tube, including UV light transmission for curing adhesives in catheter assemblies."

For more information on clear polyimide tubing, please visit www.putnamplastics.com.

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