Annealing – Annealing is a heat-treatment process in which a material is heated to a specific temperature and then cooled slowly. This process reduces internal stresses, increases ductility, and makes the material easier to form or machine.
Autoclave – An autoclave is a sterilization device that uses high-pressure saturated steam to eliminate microorganisms. It is commonly used in healthcare and laboratory settings to sterilize instruments and equipment.
Braid Angle – The braid angle is the angle formed between the braided reinforcement fibers or wires and the longitudinal axis of a tube. This angle significantly influences the tube’s flexibility, torque response, and strength.
Braid Pattern – A braid pattern describes the arrangement of reinforcing wires or fibers within braided tubing. Different patterns, such as standard or diamond braids, affect the tubing’s mechanical properties including flexibility and kink resistance.
Three main types are:
- Standard braid – The strands of one bobbin alternately cross over and under two strands. (One – over two – under two).
- Diamond pattern full load – The stands of two bobbins cross over and under two strands. (Two – over two – under two).
- Diamond pattern half load – the stands of one bobbin cross over and under one strand. (One – over one – under one).
CE Mark – The CE Mark indicates that a product complies with the health, safety, and environmental protection requirements of the European Economic Area. It allows manufacturers to market qualifying products throughout the European Union.
Catheter – A catheter is a flexible tube inserted into the body for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It can be used to deliver fluids, remove fluids, or provide access to blood vessels or internal organs. Length is generally referenced in centimeters, and diameter in French size (Fr), millimeters (mm), or inches.
Centerless Grinding – Centerless grinding is a machining process that removes material from the outside diameter of a workpiece without using a central fixture. It produces highly accurate dimensions and smooth surface finishes.
- Thru-feed grinding – Thru-feed grinding continuously feeds the workpiece through the grinding wheels from one end to the other. It is commonly used for long, straight cylindrical components.
- In-feed grinding – In-feed grinding is a method used for parts with varying diameters. The grinding wheel moves directly into the workpiece at a specific location instead of feeding it completely through.
Clean Room – A clean room is a controlled manufacturing environment designed to minimize airborne particles and microbial contamination. Air quality, temperature, humidity, and cleanliness are carefully monitored to meet industry standards.
Cold Sterilization – Cold sterilization uses chemical disinfectants or sterilants instead of heat to destroy microorganisms. It is often used for heat-sensitive medical devices and instruments.
Controlled Environment – A controlled environment is a workspace where temperature, humidity, and contamination are regulated to improve product quality. Although cleaner than standard manufacturing areas, it may not meet clean room certification requirements.
Distal – Distal refers to the end of a medical device that is farthest from the operator or point of attachment. In catheters, the distal end is the portion inserted into the patient’s body.
Durometer – Durometer is a standardized measurement of a material’s hardness, particularly for plastics. Higher durometer values indicate harder, less flexible materials.
Endoscope – An endoscope is a flexible or rigid medical instrument equipped with a camera and light source for viewing internal organs and body cavities. It is commonly used in minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures.
Etching – Etching is a surface treatment process that modifies a material to improve bonding or adhesion. In medical tubing, it is often performed on fluoropolymers before applying adhesives or coatings.
EtO (Ethylene Oxide) – Ethylene oxide sterilization uses EtO gas to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and spores from medical devices. It is especially suitable for products that cannot withstand high temperatures.
FDA – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food products, and other health-related goods in the United States. It helps ensure that medical products are safe and effective before they reach the market.
Flaring – Flaring is the process of expanding the end of a tube to create a larger opening. This feature allows easier assembly, joining, or connection with other components.
French Size (French Gauge) – French size is a measurement system (developed in France) commonly used for catheters and other medical tubing that measures the circumference of a device (written 7Fr or 7F). The diameter conversion of French Size is approximately 1/3 of a millimeter or .01314 of an inch in outside diameter (example: 5 Fr = 5 X .01314″ = .066″ OD). In some very old literature, you will see French Size abbreviated as Ch in honor of Dr. Charriere who invented the French Size system.
Gamma Sterilization – Gamma sterilization uses high-energy gamma radiation to destroy microorganisms on medical products. It is often used because it can sterilize products without high temperatures.
Gas Sterilization – Gas sterilization uses chemical gases, most commonly ethylene oxide (EtO), to sterilize medical equipment. It is effective for complex devices that cannot tolerate steam sterilization.
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) – Good Manufacturing Practice refers to regulations that ensure products are consistently manufactured according to quality standards. GMP helps minimize risks associated with production and contamination.
Heat Staking – Heat staking is a joining process that uses heat to soften thermoplastic materials and permanently secure components together. It is frequently used in medical device assembly and to imbed the braid wires into the base coat.
Hoop Strength – Hoop strength describes a tube’s ability to resist forces acting radially inward or outward. High hoop strength helps prevent collapse under compression and expansion under internal pressure.
Hubbing – Hubbing is the process of attaching or forming a hub on the end of a catheter or tubing. The hub provides a secure connection to other medical devices or instruments.
Hybrid Braid – A hybrid braid combines two or more reinforcement materials, such as stainless steel wire and high-strength fibers. This design balances flexibility, strength, torque transmission, and radiopacity.
Linear Reinforcement – Linear reinforcement consists of fibers or wires running parallel to the tube’s length. It improves tensile strength and stiffness without creating a braided structure.
Liner – A liner is the innermost layer of a catheter or tube that provides a smooth internal surface. Materials with low friction are commonly used to improve device movement through the lumen. FEP is a compound that is commonly used as a liner, along with other compounds.
Lubricity – Lubricity refers to a material’s ability to reduce friction between contacting surfaces. High-lubricity materials make catheter insertion and device movement smoother. FEP is an example of a compound that offers good lubricity.
Lumen – A lumen is the hollow interior passage of a tube or catheter. It allows fluids, guidewires, or medical instruments to pass through the device.
Number of Carriers – The number of carriers refers to the total bobbins used in a braiding machine – typically 8, 12, 16, 24, 32 or 48. More carriers generally produce finer braid patterns. Fewer carriers with the same pick rate would have a higher braid angle.
Number of Ends – The number of ends is the number of individual wires or fibers wound onto each braiding carrier. Increasing the number of ends can improve reinforcement strength and coverage.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) – An OEM manufactures components or products that are often sold to another company for integration into finished devices. Many medical device companies rely on OEM suppliers for specialized parts.
Pick Rate – Pick rate is the number of braid crossings per unit length of braided tubing. It directly influences flexibility, stiffness, and torque performance.
Polymer – A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating molecular units called monomers. All plastics are polymers, but not all polymers are plastic. Medical polymers are selected for properties such as flexibility, strength, and biocompatibility.
Proximal – Proximal refers to the end of a medical device closest to the user or operator. It is typically the portion handled during a medical procedure.
Radiopacity – Radiopacity is a material’s ability to be visible under X-ray or fluoroscopic imaging. Radiopaque materials help physicians accurately position medical devices during procedures.
Resin – Resin is the raw polymer material used to manufacture plastic products. It is typically supplied as pellets before being processed through extrusion or molding.
Rotary Cut – Rotary cutting uses a rotating blade that spins around the stationary tubing to maintain a clean, square edge. It is commonly used for precise, automated production of medical tubing.
Spiral Reinforcement – Spiral reinforcement involves wrapping reinforcing material around a tube in a helical pattern. This construction improves flexibility while providing resistance to collapse and kinking.
Stiffness – Stiffness describes a material’s resistance to bending or deformation. Materials with a greater flexural modulus exhibit more stiffness.
Straightener – A straightener is a device that removes bends and curvature from wire or tubing before further processing. It improves dimensional consistency and manufacturing accuracy.
Tie Layer – A tie layer is a thin polymer layer placed between two extruded dissimilar materials that do not naturally bond well – typically placed between liner and topcoat. It creates a durable interface in multilayer tubing.
Tipping – Tipping is the process of modifying the distal end of a catheter by adding softer material or shaping the tip. This helps improve navigation through the body while reducing the risk of tissue damage.
TIR (Total Indicated Runout) – Total Indicated Runout measures the variation in the circularity or concentricity of a rotating part. It is expressed as the difference between the maximum and minimum distance from the outer surface to the centerline of an object. Lower TIR values indicate greater precision and better roundness.
Variable Pick – Variable pick refers to changing the braid density or pick rate along the length of a tube. This technique creates different stiffness and flexibility characteristics in different sections of the tube.