Materials specialist showcases extended range of peelable heat shrink tubing and liner solutions to provide differentiation for OEMs across a range of catheter-based devices

Materials specialist and pioneer of peelable heat shrink tubing (PHST) technology, Junkosha, unveils the introduction of six additional sizes of 1.8:1 shrink ratio Translucent PHST solution to its extensive portfolio, providing customers with the widest array of both small and large sizes. This latest offering reinforces Junkosha’s commitment to developing innovative and customer-centric solutions in the medical device industry. Alongside this, Junkosha is highlighting its commitment to be the best long-term partner by working together with customers to not only meet their unique requirements, but also provide Etched PTFE Catheter Liner solutions aimed at significantly improved yields and reduced catheter manufacturing costs.

As devices become more complex, medical device designers are constantly pushing for a greater variety of physical properties from their tubing solutions. For example, catheter delivery systems for neurovascular treatments rely on increasingly complex shapes, constructs and polymers to deliver their intended treatment. Thanks to proprietary design techniques, Junkosha’s 1.8:1 Translucent PHST allows for the easy addition of complex shapes and constructs to be added to the catheter, providing advantages in dimensional tolerance, elongation and wall thickness for processing ease and increased efficiency. In addition, the 1.8:1 shrink ratio translucent PHST solution is ideal for the manufacture of interventional medical devices such as micro-catheters due to its simplicity in removal. Requiring only a single slit in one end to get it started, Junkosha Peelable Heat Shrink Tubing peels easily along its entire length without the need for additional fixtures or tools in the process. This leads to a more streamlined and cost-effective production of intricate catheter builds.

Caroline Herdman, Global Product Specialist for Junkosha, explains: “From a processing standpoint, customers are looking for any improvements that will speed up production and delivery. This often involves providing custom dimensions and other tailored design specifications and tolerances or eliminating secondary steps when possible due to greater production efficiencies. Heat shrinking is gaining in popularity as a method for customizing and differentiating medical devices by adding stiffness to catheters without significantly adding to the size of the device. We have listened to market requirements by offering a comprehensive range to serve as a baseline for benchmarking a starting point for catheter development.”

In response to the increasing complexity of their medical devices, OEMs turn to their tubing partners to simplify their designs - resulting in fewer failure points, easier assembly and reduced total cost of ownership. Junkosha has leveraged its extrusion technology to produce catheter liners with exceptional tensile strength. This makes them less prone to elongation and results in a lubricious inner surface with a low coefficient of friction, which can help minimize the risk of snagging during device tracking and deployment. Junkosha’s processing equipment for liner manufacturing is centered on consistency which allows manufacturers to achieve higher yields through consistent product performance characteristics.

“Our customers are looking for material recommendations more now than they have historically,” adds Yohei Washiyama, Etched PTFE Liner Product Specialist for Junkosha. “They are coming to Junkosha for our material expertise to address their evolving needs effectively. We have a deep heritage in materials science and fluoropolymers, which means our solutions are at the leading edge of what is possible. By utilizing Junkosha Etched PTFE Liners, manufacturers can significantly reduce the failure ratio and mitigate dimensional inaccuracies during the lamination process, as well as enhance overall manufacturing efficiency, ultimately leading to significant cost savings,” concludes Washiyama.

Junkosha will be exhibiting its extended range of Peelable Heat Shrink Tubing solutions alongside its Etched PTFE Liner products at the MD&M Minneapolis exhibition from October 16-17th. More information on Junkosha’s market-leading catheter related products can be found here: https://www.junkosha.com/catheter.