
In
the vast field of Medical industry there is a considerable use of numerous
types of extruded profiles. These profiles may be in materials like
aluminium rubber or vast range of plastics. These extruded profiles display
superior quality along with durability. Some of the uses of these extruded
profiles are discussed here:
Aluminium Extruded Profiles
A popular use of the extruded profile is the wheelchair ramp. It is so
designed to go over stairs as well as high steps. The surface of the wheel
chair ramp is fabricated from the extruded aluminium profiles. The ramps
prepared this way gives advantages in the form.
- A perfect non-slip surface.
- Easy dispersability of rain and snow.
Another popular application of the extruded aluminium profiles in the
bed lights used in hospitals and nursing homes. The high quality light is
made with powder coated aluminium extruded cover.

Aluminium profiles are used as part of the machines that crushes kidney
stones by using sound waves. The machine pulverises kidney stones using
sound waves. A technique that can give greater relief than surgery.
Extruded Rubber profiles
Extruded rubber profiles are one of the most popular products to feature in
medical and pharmaceutical machinery. For example take the case of extruded
seals made of silicone rubber, pharmaceutical machineries use them during
processing of liquids or in formation of tablets.
Medical Tubing

In
case of medical tubing the extrusion process produces single-lumen,
multi-lumen and co-extruded tubing that has vast range of properties and
diameters. Tubes made of extruded rubber are used in the critical care
segment, as they are a regular feature in dialysis of kidney and heart
machines for carrying of blood. Image is shown here of multi lumen
tubing. Other popular applications include:
- Radiopaque tubing
- Drainage tubes
- Peristaltic pump tubing
- Two and three lumen catheter mainshafts
- Oxygen tubes
- Suction tubes
Extruded Plastic profiles
Coming to the extruded plastic profiles and tubing that is used in the
medical industry, there is a comprehensive range of products that are put to
good use. Lets' see some of the products in detail.
- Extruded Medical Tubing
State-of-the-art
plastic extrusion processes are utilized for manufacturing extruded
tubing to be used for critical medical applications. Hardness factor is
vital in medical tubing. Generally polymers that has hardnesses from 20
Shore A to 150 Shore D are used for medical tubes. Another important
factor in medical tubing is the tight tolerances. Co-extruded tubing
that utilizes unique features of different plastic materials are also
available in wide variety of plastic polymer materials. Some of the
plastics that are used for extrusion includes PVC, nylon,
polycarbonate, polyurethane and other types of polymers.
- Single Lumen Tubing
In Single-Lumen tubing there is a single channel that runs through the
interior. Single lumen tubing comprises an Inner Diameter (ID) as well
as Outer Diameter (OD), also there is a wall thickness between the OD
and the ID. The inner diameter is made available in various shapes like
oval, circular, triangular, square, crescent etc. Single lumen tubing is
also made by co-extrusions for allowing extruding single lumen tubing
with several layers of different materials. One very critical
application of the single lumen tubing that is made up of extruded nylon
material is its use as pre-form in manufacturing angioplasty balloons.
Other popular application is the ubiquitous Stethoscope.

- Muti Lumen Tubing
Multi lumen tubings are also used in the medical industry. They are
used used for application as guidewires, gases, fluids, wires etc. One
of the popular application of the multi lumen tubing is in the minimal
invasive surgery.
Some
of the popular applications included
- Catheters
- Liquid Sample Preparation
- Electronics
- Analytical Equipment
- Fluid Transfer
- Fiber Optic Instruments
- Drug Delivery
- Specialty Medical Instrumentation
- Liquid Crystal Polymer Tubing
Liquid crystal polymer tubing or LCP tubing is another popular product
that is extruded. LCP tubes can offer significant advantages in their
use as medical device. Some of the popular uses of liquid crystal
polymer tubing includes endoscopic, laproscopic, and urological
instruments. The following image describes how a liquid crystal polymer
tubing is manufactured.
