New Breakthrough in Minimally Invasive Device Materials! Confluent Achieves Customization of PTFE/Polyimide Tubing

To enable medical device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to better control the performance of their purchased polymer tubing, Confluent Medical Technologies has officially launched Filmcast Select, a custom solution. The company announced on January 28 that this material customization service allows customers to independently select the core performance indicators for Filmcast PTFE and polyimide tubing.

Material selection needs to be adapted to the complex design requirements of medical devices.

Confluent points out that traditional Filmcast polymer tubing processes offer little customization to device manufacturers. As medical procedures become increasingly minimally invasive, devices are shrinking in size and designs are becoming more complex, making this "one-size-fits-all" approach inadequate. The Filmcast Select customization program specifically addresses this industry pain point by allowing OEMs to select the relevant properties of Filmcast PTFE and polyimide tubing, including flexibility, strength, durability, surface finish, compliance, and optical clarity, based on the core needs of their specific application scenarios.

"The design requirements for next-generation medical devices demand precise control at every stage, and material selection is no exception," said Shane Wood, Director of Polymer Technology. "Filmcast Select's custom solutions allow customers to match material properties to the intended use of their devices, rather than forcing device designs to fit standard materials."

Wide range of material property options

This plan offers a variety of polyimide tubing options, including standard, REACH-compliant high-gloss and matte versions, and ultra-high-performance polyimide tubing. The material properties cover multiple dimensions, from high transparency and low friction to strong adhesion. Confluent added that in thin-wall designs, the tensile strength of ultra-high-performance polyimide tubing is approximately double that of the standard version.

Simultaneously, the plan also introduces several Filmcast PTFE tubing options, including the FlexaCast series for improved flexibility and elongation, the DuraCast series for enhanced abrasion resistance, and the UltraCast series for high-demand applications requiring higher tensile strength.

Confluent Medical also stated that companies can carry out customized production in cooperation with customer-specified PTFE dispersions, helping OEMs activate existing biocompatibility data and shorten the research and development cycle of new-generation medical devices.

Showcased at MD&M West

The company will showcase its new customized service and related material technology advantages at MD&M West, booth 1812. MD&M West, a comprehensive manufacturing industry trade show focusing on medical technology, plastics, packaging, and automation, will be held from February 3-5, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

Confluent is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States, and operations also in Costa Rica and India.