Different Types Of Extruded Medical Tubing Available And Their Different Uses
Posted on: 22 May 2017
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Extruded medical tubing is used in many different ways in the medical field. Tubes can be inserted down the lungs to help an individual breathe, inserted in the urethra to help draw urine out of a patient who can't go to the bathroom, or even inserted in blocked collapsed veins or arteries to help hold them open. When you are selecting extruded medical tubing, you can select tubes made from different materials as well as those in different shapes and sizes. In addition to this, some tubes have different features that set them apart. Here are a few of those unique features that can be found on extruded medical tubing and when that type of feature is beneficial.
Radiopaque Tubing
Radiopaque tubing is perfect when for patients who need radiology services, such as CT scans and X-rays. The tubes are clearly visible during these services, ensuring a radiologist does not have to distinguish between a tube and a blockage in a patient.
Heatshrink Tubing
A doctor does not always know the exact size of extruded medical tubing they will need until they have their patient cut open on the operating table or are trying to perform a procedure. At that point in time, they do not want to try sticking various tubes in to figure out which one works best. Heatshrink tubing is a great alternative to this. The tube shrinks when exposed to heat, helping the doctor or surgeon fit it perfectly within their patient.
Thinwall Tubing
If a patient needs a thick, durable medical tube, a doctor will typically select a tube made from a stronger, thicker material, such as metal reinforced tubing or braided tubing. However, the fluids or medications that need to travel through the tubing may need to travel through plastic, not metal. Thinwall tubing is a thin layer of plastic tubing that can be inserted inside of thicker types of tubes. You get the benefits of a plastic tube inside the tubing, while the exterior is stronger and more durable than plastic or poly-plastic materials.
Splittable Tubing
The last unique type of extruded medical tubing available is splittable tubing. Splittable tubing is designed to rip in half very easily. When a patient has a catheter in, removing that catheter can be painful when the patient regains sensation. A splittable tube can be ripped in half, making removal much more comfortable on the patient.
There are many different types of medical tubing available. Learning about the different options may help open your eyes to options you did not know were available or start a dialogue with doctors in your hospital as to which tubing types the hospital should be ordering and why. Talk with a company like Diablo Sales for more information.