Silicone molding of medical device components supports improvements in design and performance as well as patient safety. AMETEK EMC offers Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) molding as well as Silicone Transfer molding (STM) that offer significant benefits over the standard injection molding.
What is Silicone Molding used for in the Medical Industry?
Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) and Silicone Transfer Molding (STM) are widely used in the medical device industry for the production of various medical device components such as :
- Catheters and Tubing
- Connectors
- Handles or Grips
- Surgical instruments
- Respiratory and Anesthesia equipment
- Programming antenna for Cardiac Rhythm Management
- Hearing aids and Earplugs, etc.
Why Silicone?
Benefits of silicone are that the material has more grip, a tacticle feel and is highly durable. Silicone is also biocompatible material, has low toxicity levels, can easily be sterilized and autoclaved and is hence perfectly suited for sterile environments. It can also withstand a wide temperature range. Silicone is also chemical inert, can be coated and comes in a range of durometers (from soft to hard) depending on its use and required impact resistance.
LSR and Silicon Transfer Molding offer different properties, versatility, and flexibility that make them suitable for a broad range of medical devices and applications.
Which Silicone Molding Processes does AMETEK EMC offer?
AMETEK EMC is a leading manufacturer of components for custom medical devices offering a wide range of manufacturing capabilities including the following Silicone Molding processes:
1.)
Liquid Silicone Rubber Molding and
2.)
Silicone Transfer Molding
either as single molding operation or as a series of processes.
Both molding operations are carried out at our TSE (Technical Services for Electronics) facility in Jackson, Minnesota in the United States.
LSR and Silicon molded components are used by medical experts in a variety of surgical procedures, These components are compatible with a many surgical procedures and are created to provide optimal performance and adaptability.
We use Silicone Molding at the end of cable assemblies to connect the cable with the connectors. Along with manufacturing over-molding alternatives for limited or single-use devices, we use our over-molding for the components that humans come in contact with to improve the feel and touch of the device, such as molding and overmolding for ECG cables.
Medical Instrument Interconnect Cable with Silicone Molded Handle
AMETEK EMC also offers a third non-Silicone molding process:
3.)
Low-pressure molding of polymers.
This can be used if no autoclaving is needed. The process is fully automated at tends to be at a lower cost than LSR or ST molding. We can achieve complex geometrics for encapsulated component requirements with this highly controlled process.
Quality Assurance
AMETEK EMC’s molding expertise is founded on more than 40 years of experience. Our engineers have in-depth knowledge and expertise in working with LSR and Silicone materials. We understand the biocompatibility, resistance, and versatility of materials which allows us to pick the perfect solution for different custom components and projects.
Our commitment to quality is unwavering. We adhere to rigorous quality control processes throughout the manufacturing journey. Each component undergoes inspection and testing to ensure it meets the highest standards of performance, accuracy, and reliability. Our quality management systems are ISO 13485 certified, underscoring our dedication to delivering safe and effective medical devices. AMETEK EMC continues to set the standard for LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) and Silicone Transfer Molding solutions.
AMETEK EMC delivers cutting-edge products with a strong emphasis on innovation created to fulfil the highest requirements of performance, safety, and reliability.