Metal tubing plays a vital role in the delivery of healthcare worldwide. From sophisticated medical devices to basic medical procedures, tubing made from metals like stainless steel and titanium are ubiquitous in hospitals and clinics. In this article, we will explore the various types of medical metal tubing used across different specialties, their properties and applications.
Types of Medical Metal Tubing
In healthcare, the most commonly used tubing materials are stainless steel, titanium and nitinol alloys. Each has its advantages depending on the intended application.
Stainless Steel Tubing
Stainless steel tubing continues to be the workhorse material for medical tubing due to its corrosion resistance, strength, biocompatibility and affordability. It is used extensively in:
- IV lines and tubing sets that carry fluids like saline, medications and blood products to patients intravenously. Certain stainless steel alloys like 316L provide superior corrosion resistance for long-term IV applications.
- Endoscopy equipment like scopes, catheters and guidewires where visibility and pushability through narrow passages is important.
- Surgical and dental hand instruments where tubing transmits air or water to power tools.
- General plumbing within hospitals where fluids are transferred over long distances.
Titanium Tubing
While more expensive than stainless steel, titanium offers higher strength-to-weight ratio and superior biocompatibility for implantable applications. It is used in:
- Surgical implants and guides that interface directly with bone or soft tissues. Implants often have a porous or etched surface to allow for bone ingrowth.
- Catheters like urinary and feeding tubes that remain indwelling for extended periods.
- Dental and orthopedic prostheses where corrosion resistance and tissue compatibility is critical.
Nitinol Tubing
Nitinol or nickel titanium tubing is a shape memory alloy that has unique superelastic and thermal shape memory properties. It finds application in:
- Guidewires for angiography and vascular interventions due to its flexibility, kink-resistance and pushability.
- Vascular stents that are delivered in a compressed state and expand to scaffold arteries.
- Endovascular retrieval devices like snares, cages and baskets to capture debris, clots or stones inside blood vessels or anatomical tracts.
Medical Tubing Properties
Certain key properties determine the suitability of tubing materials for various Medical Metal Tubing:
Corrosion Resistance
Tubing that comes in contact with body fluids needs to resist corrosion to maintain structural integrity and avoid toxicity issues. Stainless steel and titanium alloys offer excellent corrosion resistance through a passive oxide layer.
Strength and Durability
Tubing carrying fluids at high pressures or functioning as mechanical components require sufficient tensile and burst strength. Metal alloys outperform polymers in withstanding stresses and strains.
Flexibility
Tubing used in intricate procedures within the body must have a controllable degree of flexibility to navigate tortuous anatomy without kinking. Nitinol is highly flexible while stainless steel can be softened through annealing.
Biocompatibility
For implantable and long-term indwelling applications, the material should be non-toxic, inert and well-tolerated by tissues. Precious metals like gold and titanium have exemplary biocompatibility profiles.
Weldability and Joining
Medical tubing often needs to be joined to other components through welding, soldering or adhesive bonding. The material properties must support reliable, hermetic and durable connections.
Specialized Processing
Tubing dimensions, surface properties and geometries are tailored for specific uses through specialized manufacturing techniques like metal removal, bending, coiling and surface treatments like passivation and electropolishing.
This covers some of the major types of metal tubing used extensively across many areas of medicine and healthcare due to their superior mechanical and chemical attributes compared to polymer alternatives.
Medical Applications of Metal Tubing
Cardiology
Stainless steel and nitinol hypodermic tubing are frequently used for guiding and delivering interventional cardiological devices:
- Guidewires and catheters for angioplasty, stent placement and ablation therapies rely on tubing for trackability and pushability.
- Diagnostic and imaging catheters like IVUS and OCT use tubing in construction to allow passage of optics and sensors.
- Stainless steel braided tubing provides kink-resistance and torque-ability for larger diameter sheaths and introducer needles.
Radiology
Metal tubing components facilitate minimally invasive procedures guided by imaging modalities:
- Nitinol and stainless steel guidewires and catheters navigate the vasculature and non-vascular spaces under fluoroscopy and ultrasound.
- Tubing channels fluids precisely to target areas and retrieves specimens, stones or clots under imaging control.
- Core wires and hypotubes reinforce devices like biopsy needles, drainage catheters and embolization coils during placement.
Orthopedics
Implantable tubes promote bone healing and integration:
- Porous titanium and titanium alloy hollow screws and cages encourage bone ingrowth for fusions.
- Drill guides made of stainless steel or nitinol precise hole formation in orthopedic surgeries.
- Specialized tubing transfers suction and irrigation to joint spaces in arthroscopic procedures.
Dentistry
Dental handpieces integrate tubing to deliver water, air and evacuate debris:
- Stainless steel and nickel-titanium tubing efficiently transmit compressed air, water and electrical signals in dental motor systems.
- Implant work often involves precise drilling aided by drill guides and sleeves made of corrosion-resistant alloys.
This covers some major clinical areas where metal tubing plays an irreplaceable role. Its mechanical integrity, flexibility and biocompatibility enables minimally invasive therapies across healthcare.
Sterilization and Manufacturing Considerations
Metal tubing intended for medical applications demands stringent quality control:
Sterilization
Tubing needs reliable sterilization to eliminate bioburden without compromising structural or functional properties. Methods like autoclaving and gamma irradiation are commonly employed while maintaining packaging sterility.
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