By providing device manufacturers and engineers new liner options, catheter designs that once seemed unimaginable can now be explored, helping to extend the boundaries of vascular access via catheterization.
Unlike early catheters, modern vascular catheters are comprised of highly specialized materials and sophisticated components. The inner liner, braid reinforcement, and outer jacketing material are all carefully chosen and precisely engineered to produce a device capable of traversing complex anatomies and delivering life-saving therapies. While catheter technologies have advanced tremendously over the years, the historical and somewhat limiting options for ultra-thin PTFE catheter liners has posed a significant challenge.
Until recently, catheter liners requiring wall thicknesses < 0.001″ (0.025 mm) have been limited to two production methods: film cast and free extrusion. Each of these processes results in PTFE catheter liners with performance tradeoffs involving flexibility and strength. Now, thanks to newly patented technology, a third process has emerged, expanding the design options for newer and more advanced vascular catheters.
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