Medical tubing manufacturer, SantopSeal explains the current trends driving the growth of Santoprene TPV & TPE as the material used to make medical tubing.

Various medical TPE thermoplastic rubber and Santoprene tubing can be found in a wide variety of medical devices, from breathing equipment to different equipment used in the laboratory for testing. It is vital to meet the various strict regulations of the medical industry for safety. All medical tubes in technical applications must comply with a myriad of specifications since they are utilized in extremely sensitive environments where it’s usually the difference between life and death. The substance used for the tube must be developed with care and exhibit the highest quality as a poor mixture of materials could have disastrous results. Hence the Medical tubing manufactured by the manufacturers must meet these strict requirements.

The Santoprene medical-grade material meets various requirements of the medical industry. Santoprene medical grade material meets the USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) Class VI requirements for plastics. Additionally, some of the ISO 10993 tests have also been conducted on the Santoprene medical grade material. This Santoprene medical grade also undergoes various annual testing for cytotoxicity and heavy metals, making it an ideal material for various medical industry applications. The tubing made from a medical-grade Santoprene is flexible, easily sterilized, and meets biocompatibility requirements as it is USP Class VI rated.

This Medical grade Santoprene TPV or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) tubing products are an excellent choice if a high purity, flexible tube is required. This medical-grade Santoprene tubing can be welded or sealed to itself by using a heat sealer for use in sterile applications, which is a unique advantage of the Santoprene thermoplastic rubber tubing. Santoprene medical-grade material meets the USP Class VI standards, and Santoprene food-grade material meets the FDA and NSF requirements.

Santoprene being a Thermoplastic rubber offers the best properties of both plastic and rubber. It is also phthalate-free and BPA-free.  Medical grade Santoprene tubing can hold higher pressure and vacuum than the similar sizes of the PVC tubing or rubber tubing. It provides abrasion and tears resistance, high tensile and elongation values, and virtually unlimited flexural abilities. Santoprene material offers excellent chemical resistance, and like silicone, its raw materials conform to FDA and USP Class VI standards.

Benefits of Medical Grade Santoprene Tubing:

Medical grade Santoprene tubing manufactured at the SantopSeal is of close tolerance and great quality. Our medical-grade Santoprene tubing has excellent benefits described as below:

Available in different hardness grade options: Grades of Santoprene tubing include the hardness durometer ranging from 35 Shore A to 90 Shore A. Other grades of Santoprene have FDA Grade. All Medical grades of Santoprene with varying durometer hardness are UPS Class VI rated.  These options allow for greater flexibility when choosing an appropriate product—45 Shore A Medical Grade tubing of Santoprene, for example, is exceptionally soft and commonly utilized in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.

Biocompatible: Many types of medical equipment must be placed directly into a patient’s body, meaning that it is vital for the equipment to be biocompatible to reduce the risk of complications. Since approximately three million people in the U.S. are allergic to natural rubber latex, Santoprene is an excellent alternative.

Chemically inert, odourless, and tasteless: These properties mean that medical-grade rubber and Santoprene tubing will not interact with the materials it touches, thus significantly improving its versatility. It is ideal for the administration of any medication, oxygen, or food.

Compatible with multiple sterilization processes: The medical industry requires frequent sterilization to eliminate contamination and ensure patient safety. Thermoplastic Rubber tubing holds up to numerous sterilization processes, including steam autoclaving and dry heat.

Extreme temperature resistance: Thermoplastic Rubber’s ability to withstand immense heat makes it ideal for use in critical medical equipment, as medical professionals can easily sterilize and disinfect it with heat-based processes. Medical Santoprene tubing can resist temperatures as high as275° F and as low as -81° F.

In addition to the benefits listed above, Santoprene Thermoplastic elastomers have an incredibly advantageous trait: There are no possible allergic reactions as the tubes are free from latex, PVC, BPA, Phthalates. It is reusable, durable, and eco-friendly. The tubes return to their original shape after being compressed, which also gives them a long lifespan. Santoprene also remains flexible without the use of additives, another property that improves its biocompatibility. Santoprene is also RoHS Compliant and In Europe REACH Compliant.

Applications of Santoprene tubing

Medical grade Santoprene thermoplastic rubber tubing is incredibly versatile. Some typical applications include:

• Peristaltic pumps
• Anesthesiology and respiratory equipment
• Oxygen transfer
• IVs and catheters
• Biopharmaceutical laboratory equipment and processing
• Cell and tissue culture systems
• Dialysis
• Management and drainage of blood and fluids
• Surgical drains

As medical tubing is widely used across medical and healthcare industries, it is vital to consider the desired properties of the tubing to meet the specific application. For example, medical Santoprene tubing that is used for internal human body contact needs to be flexible. In contrast, tubing that is used in laboratory testing and equipment used in labs needs to be a little more rigid. At SantopSeal, we can provide medical Santoprene rubber tubing in various sizes, styles, and lengths to ensure that all requirements are met.

This medical-grade tubing plays a crucial role in medical devices and healthcare equipment. At SantopSeal, we understand the importance of this equipment, and we create each part with expertise, precision, and a strong knowledge of the medical industry. We provide our clients with the best quality of medical-grade Santoprene tubing and the best competitive price in the market. Our offerings include medical-grade Santoprene tubing of various hardness durometers ranging from 35 Shore A to 90 Shore A and Medical grade cords.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the suitable tubing for your application. It’s vital to make a comparison of the pros and cons of materials, sizes, and the intended application.

Below listed key factors are essential when choosing the medical tubing for your application:

Fit –Medical tubing requires close dimensions for its applications, so it is important to have the right tubing dimension that can adequately fit the medical device as per your requirements.  At SantopSeal, we can make the Santoprene tubing according to your dimensions. We already have a range of standard sizes of tubing. Check here for the various sizes of the available medical-grade Santoprene rubber tubing.

Material –The material used in the medical application needs to be flexible, soft, or hard, depending on the application. It also needs to be free of toxicity and BPA-free. At SantopSeal we use Santoprene material ranging from 35 Shore A to 90 Shore. Below are the available Santoprene grades of various durometer hardness

• Santoprene™ 8281-35MED
• Santoprene™ 8281-45MED
• Santoprene™ 8281-55MED
• Santoprene™ 8281-65MED
• Santoprene™ 8281-75MED
• Santoprene™ 8281-90MED

Kink Resistance – Medical tubing needs to be kink-resistant for the consistent flow of the fluid. Santoprene tubing manufactured at SantopSeal is kink resistant with high fatigue resistance meaning this tubing resists breaking and has a more lasting quality.

Compound Compatibility – Medical tubing material needs to be compatible with the fluid flowing in it. Tubing should also not contaminate the fluid and should meet the medical industry requirements. Tubing manufactured from medical grade Santoprene are USP Class VI rated for plastics.

Cost – Above everything, it is crucial that the medical tubing fit in the budges and not be costly. This Santoprene tubing is a cost-effective solution for your budget and is less expensive than Silicone tubing. At SantopSeal, we guarantee to offer you the best competitive price in the market.

So, do you have an idea in mind where you can use a thermoplastic elastomer as a solution? Our experts at SantopSeal Corporation are considerate about detailing and perfection in every product that we process here. Being an extruded medical-grade Santoprene tubing manufacturer, we have varied experience and knowledge over the years in rubber products. Please discuss your requirements with us. Contact us with your details or email us at info@santopseal.com or call us on (412) 444-1888 to request your quote today and learn about our medical tubing solutions.