Medical-grade PEEK tubing engineered to exhibit fluoropolymer-like lubricity

Blending strength and lubricity is kind of a Holy Grail to medical device manufacturers, says scientist Irina Roof, PhD, who was holding court at the Zeus booth at MD+M West. She is understandably thrilled to announce that Zeus, a specialist in polymer tubing and material science, has engineered a medical-grade PEEK that achieves a significant reduction in coefficient of friction. A press release distributed at the show states that an independent study confirmed a 14 percent decrease, but a more recent test pegs the increase in lubricity at a whopping 50%, says Roof. Zeus is happy to discuss the test methodology, by the way.

PEEK is the strongest material that Zeus currently extrudes. While PEEK has some natural lubricity, it doesn't come close to fluoropolymers. "Zeus set out to alter the surface of a PEEK tube to make PEEK surface lubricity closer to that of fluoropolymers," says Roof. It found inspiration in the lotus leaf.

Natural protrusions on lotus and water lilies allow water to bead instead of wetting the leaves. PEEK Surface Engineered Tubing works much the same way. By engineering channels into the PEEK tubing, Zeus was able to replicate this phenomenon.

No fillers are used to enhance lubricity, which will facilitate adoption of the material by medical device manufacturers. Introducers and minimally invasive devices will benefit from this material that combines the pushability of PEEK with the lubricity of fluropolymers.

Zeus surface engineering methodology can also be applied to fluoropolymers, decreasing the coefficient of friction on what is already one of the most lubricious substances known to man, according to Zeus.

If you are attending MD&M West in Anaheim, CA, this week, drop by booth 3101 to learn more.