UBM Technology｜Aren’t disposable items all bad? not necessarily!

Latest update time：2024-04-10

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disposable items

Are all bad?

The issue of single-use plastic has become a hot topic, and for good reason. The environmental harm caused by discarded plastics is well documented and we are encouraged to recycle existing plastic products. However, for the medical industry, recycling plastic parts is not necessarily something to be encouraged.

In the interconnected world, medical connectors play a very special role. The connector provides a lifeline between the patient and the device and needs to be extremely reliable – which may determine its longevity. However, the medical industry raises an issue that centers on equipment reliability and patient safety.

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keep clean

One of the key requirements for any medical device is to eliminate as much contamination as possible. Instruments are designed to be cleaned and disinfected before each use to ensure patient health. One of the most popular techniques used to sterilize medical equipment is steam. Medical instruments are placed in a device called an autoclave, which uses pressurized saturated steam to kill any bacteria or other biohazards, allowing the instruments to be cleaned for reuse.

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There are other options for steam sterilization, especially if the instrument may be damaged by overheating. Chemicals or radiation may be used to provide the level of sterilization required for use with surgical instruments. However, both methods have their dangers. To sterilize equipment used during surgery, the chemicals themselves can have a pungent smell and can be dangerous. Radiation sterilization also presents other potential dangers.

Sterilization techniques can also have an impact on the instrument itself. The materials used to make the instruments and connectors must also be able to withstand the process without compromising the reliability of the device.

Many medical devices are designed to ensure that patients cannot come into contact with conductive components. In the event of an internal failure, it is crucial to ensure that the patient is protected from any metal parts accidentally connected to the circuit. Therefore, many medical connectors use plastic housings instead of metal to provide the necessary isolation for patients.

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material selection

Therefore, plastic materials used for medical connectors must be chosen carefully. They must provide mechanical strength and robustness while also providing chemical stability against repeated sterilization. Several materials provide the necessary properties for medical connectors, and all have been proven in use at different times.

Image source: DesignSpark

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a hard engineering plastic with excellent chemical, temperature and radiation resistance. A similar material with slightly lower properties is polyetherimide (PEI), which is often used in medical applications under the name Ultem. The problem is, these and other plastic materials used in medical connectors are not cheap. These are high performance polymers and they are priced to match.

So why not make disposable connectors out of cheaper materials? This way the materials won’t have to withstand the rigors of repeated sterilization.

In addition to mechanical and chemical reliability, medical connectors must provide excellent electrical performance. Some sensors or monitoring devices are used to detect tiny analog signals, and the circuits carrying these signals must provide the lowest resistance. This means that the design of the electrical contacts within a connector is as important as the material from which the connector is made. Because of their long-term reliability, many medical connectors use turned or machined contacts in preference to lower-cost stamped and formed designs. They are also plated with a thick layer of gold to provide the best possible electrical and mechanical performance.

As consumers, now more than ever, we are being asked to understand how plastic is used and recycled. The same is true in the medical industry, where manufacturers and professionals alike need to balance safety and cleaning needs with the cost impact of single-use devices. Choosing the right materials for your product can have a huge impact on its performance, a decision that extends beyond the medical field. Without proper selection, costs will increase and reliability will be affected. Choose wisely and your customers will reward you with their loyalty.