TPE: the trusted material for medical diagnostic equipment

Medical diagnostic equipment features a variety of diagnostic tools and equipment for accurate testing, tracking, measurements, and evaluations. These include ophthalmoscopes, electrocardiographs, thermometers, digital sphygmomanometers, dopplers, ultrasonography, echocardiography, and other instruments used by clinicians to screen and accurately assess a patient’s health.

These devices are commonly used in settings such as home, clinics, and hospitals, as well as hospices. In addition to diagnosing diseases, they can also track therapies and help with the management of common and long-term illnesses.

Continuous advancement of medical technologies is crucial in enhancing the accuracy of diagnosis. Today, medical equipment manufacturers and designers are discovering new ways to improve equipment performance by incorporating medical-grade engineering thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), which are valued for their versatility, durability and safety.

KRAIBURG TPE manufactures custom engineered TPE compounds to meet the most stringent development requirements in the diagnostic medical equipment industry. KRAIBURG TPE’s compounds fulfil a wide range of end-use requirements for every specific application.

THERMOLAST H TPE – safe, quality material

Thermolast H TPE series compounds from KRAIBURG TPE are free of animal ingredients, PVC, silicone, and latex. It conforms to numerous international standards, including ISO 10993-5, GB/T 16886.5, EU No. 10/2011, GB4806, FDA CFR 21, REACH, and RoHS, as well as biocompatibility testing such as ISO 10993-5 and GB/T 16886.5. Furthermore, it has material advantages such as good compression set, sealing capabilities, good surface haptics, minimal friction, and sterilizability using an autoclave at 121°C and EtO, making it an excellent choice for medical device applications. THERMOLAST® H is available in translucent form, and depending on project requirements, in-house precoloring is also an option.

HC/AP series – Design flexibility with excellent haptics

When processed by multi-component injection molding and extrusion, the Thermolast H HC/AP series provides good bonding with polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) resins, allowing for versatility in product designs. Additionally, the HC/AP series offers exceptional haptics with a soft touch surface feel. These are ideal for applications such as soft touch handles and buttons, seals and closures of many types of medical diagnostic equipment.

Sustainability successes of our TPE

Besides the materials for medical diagnostic equipment applications, KRAIBURG TPE’s recent sustainability innovations include a specially developed material solution for automotive, consumer, and industry applications comprising post-consumer recycled (PCR) and post-industrial recycled (PIR) content. 

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Category: Features, Technology & Devices