What adhesive is safer and more efficient for bonding catheters? This article outlines the major types of catheters, commonly used materials, sterilization methods, and the importance of ISO 10993-5 certified medical device adhesives to ensure safety and compliance.
Catheters play a vital role in modern healthcare, used extensively for diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care. Selecting the appropriate medical device adhesive or catheter bonding solution is crucial to ensure assembly durability, biocompatibility, and compatibility with sterilization. This article introduces the major types of catheters, common materials, structural bonding needs, and how ISO 10993-5 certified adhesives contribute to safe and reliable catheter manufacturing.
1. Six Common Types of Catheters and Their Clinical Applications
- Urinary Catheters:
Foley, intermittent, and external (non-invasive) catheters are used for short- or long-term urinary drainage. - Intravenous (IV) Catheters:
Peripheral IVs, Central Venous Catheters (CVC), Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC), and implanted ports for chemotherapy or long-term home care. - Arterial Catheters:
Used in intensive care for real-time blood pressure and blood gas monitoring. - Balloon Catheters:
Designed for angioplasty or stent expansion procedures. - Interventional & Imaging Catheters:
Multi-lumen or guidewire-compatible catheters with marker bands for cardiovascular or neurological procedures. - Specialty Catheters:
Custom-designed for dialysis, thermal therapy, or laser treatment.
2. Catheter Assembly Points and Key Bonding Applications
Due to the complexity of catheter designs, bonding various substrates of different hardness and surface energy is critical. Common bonding applications include:
- Y-Connector Bonding: Requires high tensile strength and leak resistance.
- Shaft-to-Hub Bonding: Must withstand repeated liquid flow and manual manipulation.
- Balloon-to-Tip Bonding: Requires high sealing and flexibility at the distal tip.
- Marker Band Attachment: Securing metal marker rings with precision micro-dispensing.
- Multi-lumen Bonding: Demands accurate adhesive application to prevent blockage.
- Strain Relief Connection: Requires both elasticity and bonding durability under tension.
ISO 10993-5 certified catheter adhesives are strongly recommended to ensure safety and compatibility. These adhesives are tested cytotoxicity-free, making them safe for use in medical environments and body contact.
3. Common Catheter Materials and Adhesion Characteristics
| Material | Application Characteristics and Bonding Behavior |
|---|---|
| Silicone | Excellent softness and biocompatibility; low surface energy makes it hard to bond. |
| Polyurethane (PU) | Balanced flexibility and strength; good bonding compatibility. |
| PVC | Cost-effective and easy to process; used in disposable catheters. |
| Pebax | Offers both flexibility and rigidity; moderate adhesion challenge. |
| Nylon | Rigid and durable; commonly used for balloons and connectors. |
| Polyolefins (PE/PP) | Lightweight and low-cost; very difficult to bond without surface activation. |
| PC / PEEK | High rigidity and chemical stability; ideal for hard connectors like Y-junctions. |
Selecting ISO 10993-5 compliant adhesives helps ensure long-term safety for implanted or contact-type catheters made with these materials.
4. Common Sterilization Methods and Adhesive Compatibility
| Sterilization Method | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Ethylene Oxide (EtO) | Ideal for heat-sensitive materials with excellent penetration, though time-consuming. |
| Gamma Irradiation | Efficient for mass production; may degrade some plastics or adhesives. |
| Electron Beam (E-Beam) | Environmentally friendly and fast, though limited in penetration depth. |
MXBON’s medical adhesives are developed to be compatible with these major sterilization methods, and each formulation comes with ISO 10993-5 certification and validated sterilization resistance data.
Conclusion: Start with the Right Medical Device Adhesive
Each step in catheter production—from design, material selection, and bonding to sterilization—affects final product safety and performance. Choosing the right medical-grade adhesive is essential. MXBON offers a wide range of ISO 10993-5 certified adhesives specially designed for catheter manufacturing.
Stay tuned for our next article where we introduce MXBON’s advanced catheter bonding technologies and real-world case studies.
📌 Related Resources
- 👉MXBON Medical Device Adhesives – Full Product
- 👉MXBON Medical Device Adhesive: Solving Medical TPE Soft Material Bonding Issues
📩 If you’re seeking bonding or sealing solutions for medical devices, feel free to contact our team for technical advice and business consultation.