Italian Medical Equipment System Integrator — Four-Layer Composite Spring-Reinforced Tubing Solution for Respiratory Applications.
Client Background
- Italian medical device system integrator; contract manufacturer of tracheal/airway catheters for Medtronic.
- Requirements: A four-layer composite tube featuring thin walls, high elasticity, kink resistance, radiopacity, and biocompatibility, with an integrated spiral spring reinforcement.
Key Pain Points
1. Requires a balance between softness for easy insertion and kink resistance to prevent blockage.
2. The four-layer structure (PVC liner + spring + bonding layer + outer coating) is prone to delamination and poor concentricity.
3. Uneven spring spacing leads to inconsistent recoil/resilience.
Customized Solution (We provide the tubing and process integration)
1. Structure: Four-layer co-extrusion + inline spring winding
- Inner Liner: Medical-grade PVC (lubricious, biocompatible).
- Reinforcement: 0.15 mm stainless steel spring, pitch 0.8–1.2 mm (uniform and controllable).
- Bonding: TPU bonding layer; prevents delamination.
- Outer coating: Transparent PU; aging-resistant and easy to clean.
2. Precision: Outer diameter 6–10 mm, wall thickness 0.3–0.5 mm, concentricity ≥95%.
3. Performance: No tube occlusion upon 180° bending; radiopaque; compatible with ethylene oxide sterilization.
Deliverables
- Automated production line for spring-reinforced tubes; yield rate increased from 60% to 98%.
- Supplier of respiratory catheters to Medtronic, with an annual supply of 800,000 units.
- Certified under EU MDR and FDA regulations; used for ICU and emergency intubation.