Coated Hypotube Shafts
The Merit proprietary spool-to-spool coating process makes it possible to apply coating in a cost-effective manner onto hypotube-based device shafts in various diameters and lengths.
Merit's coated hypotube shafts offer an extremely uniform covering of PTFE hydrophilic coating. The thin yet effective coating layer allows maximum design freedom for the tubing, especially when the inside and outside diameter is critical.
With its in-house knowledge and capabilities, Merit can provide hypotube shafts that are well-balanced with respect to stiffness, kink resistance and flexibility. The hypotube shafts are available in a variety of colors, and can be supplied in defined lengths, with shaft markers and distal shape finishing (stylet, skive, spiral cut and in combination) according to your requirements.
Key Characteristics
- Wide range of OD/ID
- Various distal finishes possible (stylet, skive, spiral cut and in combination)
- Coated, cut to length and with shaft markers
- Textured surface area for improved bonding strength
- Smooth surface
- Ultra-thin, well-defined coating
- Extremely consistent diameter
- Tight coating tolerance (2.5 μm – 5.0 μm)
- Cost-effective coating process
LubriSkin™ PTFE
- Soft, flexible, thin coating
- Smooth
- Superior lubricity
- Durable, thin coating
- Smooth surface
- Lubricious
SlipSkin™ Hydrophilic coating
- Increased wet lubricity
- Reduced friction level
- Flexible
- Hard, rigid, thin coating
- Profiled surface
- Lubricious
Technical Information
Coating
- PTFE (LubriSkin™, HardSkin™, and DuraSkin™)
- Hydrophilic (SlipSkin™)
Base Material
- Stainless Steel Wire (304 or 304V)
- Nitinol Tube (superelastic or shape memory)
- Other materials on request
Diameter Range
- OD 0.30 mm – 0.90 mm (.012” - .035”)
- ID upon request
- Wall as thin as 0.05 mm (.002”)
Standard Coating Thickness
- 4 μm – 10 μm (.00016” - .0004”) / side
- Other coating thickness upon request
Coating Colors
- Black, Blue, Clear, Green, Grey, White
Delivery Options
- Coated tube on spool
- Straight and cut to length coated tube
- Straight and cut to length coated hypotube shaft (finished)
Applications
- Hypotube shafts for neuro-, cardio- en peripheral vascular devices
- Sensor wire tubing
