Micro-Diameter Tubing

Teleflex Medical OEM is a global leader in ultra-small tubing used for peripheral vascular, cardiology, and neurology applications. We manufacture tubing with IDs ranging from 0.002” to 0.091” (.0508mm to 2.31mm) and wall thickness from 0.003” to 0.007” (.008mm to 0.178mm). Our capabilities include reinforced and conductor-embedded tubing designs constructed of polyimide, PTFE, thermoplastics, and hybrid blends.

Materials

Polyimide Tubing:

• Teleflex Medical OEM uses a unique combination of ductility, strength, and stiffness to provide toughness and durability. Our polyimide tubing withstands repeated changes in bending, pressure, and tension.
• Extensive expertise: We have manufactured outstanding polyimide tubing for 45+ years.
• Polyimide is a cross-linked, thermoset polymer comprised of organic compounds. It is a standard material for high-strength products requiring micro-diameters and ultra-thin walls. Our expertise includes:
  • Polyimide hybrid tubing
  • Coil-wire, reinforced polyimide tubing
  • Braid-wire, reinforced polyimide tubing
• Unlike traditional extrusion methods, polyimide tubing, in general, uses a layering process (also known as film casting) to build tube walls. We use a continuous, dip-coat process that reduces delamination of the layers.
• Material characteristics:
  • Lightweight and flexible
  • High-thermal stability
  • Resistant to solvents, radiation, and cryogenic conditions
  • USP class VI
• Size Range:
  • ID ranging: 0.002” to 0.091” (.0508mm to 2.31mm)
  • Wall thickness: 0.003” to 0.007” (.008mm to 0.178mm).

PTFE Lubricious Tubing:

• Our low friction PTFE and PD-Slick™ material are outstanding selections for medical tubing liners or wire coatings.
• Size Range:
  • ID ranging: 0.002” to 0.091” (.0508mm to 2.31mm)
  • Wall thickness: 0.003” to 0.007” (.008mm to 0.178mm).
• PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)
  • Lowest coefficient of friction polymer (very lubricious)
  • USP Class VI
  • Resistant to most chemicals
  • Utilized to coat the inside diameter of a tubing product or blended with another polymer
  • Etched surface available
• PD-Slick™ material is a proprietary blend of PTFE and polyimide
  • Gamma radiation resistant
  • USP Class VI
  • Material can be used to coat either the inside or outside diameter of a tubing product
  • Low friction with the material properties of polyimide

Thermoplastic Tubing:
A proprietary coating process for our thermoplastic tubing uses liquefied thermoplastics to create unique, state-of-the-art polymer tubing and insulated wire products.

• Materials: Pebax®, Nylon 11, and Vestamid®
• Utilized as a top layer over polyimide or PTFE to improve bondability and flexibility
• Size Range:
  • ID ranging: 0.002” to 0.091” (.0508mm to 2.31mm)
  • Wall thickness: 0.003” to 0.007” (.008mm to 0.178mm).
• Pebax® polymers are available in different durometers ranging form 72D to 40D

Hybrid Tubing:

• Typically constructed of a thermoset polyimide base with an outer layer that is a thermoplastic polymer.
• Outstanding combination of strength, flexibility, and bondability
• Size Range:
  • ID ranging: 0.002” to 0.091” (.0508mm to 2.31mm)
  • Wall thickness: 0.003” to 0.007” (.008mm to 0.178mm).

Construction

Non-Reinforced Tubing:

• Tubing constructed of either one insulation material or multiple material types (hybrids) without the use of wires within the wall.

Reinforced Tubing:

• Tubes constructed of either one insulation material or multiple material types (hybrids) with the use of wires within the wall.
  • Reinforcement can be either coiled or braided, round or flat wire.
  • Longitudinal wires may also be utilized.
• Reinforcement materials:
  • Stainless steel
  • Nitinol
  • Vectran® liquid crystal polymer (LCP) fiber
  • Kevlar® synthetic fiber

Conductor Embedded Tubing:

• Tubes constructed of either one insulation material or multiple material types (hybrids) with the use of conductive wires in the wall.
• Wire can be coiled, braided, or linear within the wall.
• Provides conductive path using alloy wires inside tube walls.

Finishing Operations for Micro-Diameter Tubing:

• Holes
• OD reduction
• Flaring, tipping or, forming of ends
• 360-degree pad printing
• Laser machining
• Cut-to-lengths

Known Applications:

• Electrophysiology
• Peripheral vascular
• Pain management
• Urology
• Cardiology
• Laparoscopy

Tubing Size Chart

“Insulated Medical Wire and Micro-Diameter Tubing” brochure, read online or download a PDF

Value Added Services 

Cut-To-Length Tubes

Our pure polymer/hybrid tubing can be cut to precise lengths as short as .05 inches, with a length tolerance of plus or minus .005 inches. We have the capability of cutting tubing with OD’s of .011 inches to .091 inches, for thermocouple caps, electrical insulating sleeves, as well as bundling collars for groups of wires or fibers.

Laser Machining

Teleflex Medical OEM offers very precise laser maching of our tubing products.

Pad Printing

Teleflex Medical OEM can provide pad printing of our tubing products, including 360⁰  printing.

Customization Is What We Are All About

Teleflex Medical OEM is your single source solution for device development and manufacturing. Our extensive, vertically-integrated capabilities include concept development, engineering, material selection, prototyping, testing and validation, manufacturing, finishing operations, assembly and packaging.
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