Some plastics meet the strict standards for use in medical applications. These medical-grade plastics are non-toxic, chemical resistant, and can withstand common sterilization processes. This ensures they are suitable for use as surgical instruments, medical implants, syringes, tubing, and other medical equipment.
Key Characteristics of Medical Grade Plastics
There are many types of plastics used in medical applications, and each one may have a unique set of characteristics. However, to meet industry standards, plastics in this class typically must be:
Biocompatible
Plastics that come into contact with bodily fluids or tissue must be safe. Biocompatible plastics do not cause harm when used in medical devices or implants.
Chemical resistant
Medical equipment must be able to withstand contact with harsh cleaning agents, medicines, and bodily fluids.
Durable
Many medical tools and disposables face bending, stretching, and impacts. Plastics used to make them must have the durability to withstand these stresses.
Non-toxic
Materials used for medical applications should contain no leachable compounds that could cause harm to patients or providers.
Sterilizable
Plastics used in medical equipment must be compatible with sterilization processes such as autoclaving, dry heat, ethylene oxide gas, ionizing radiation, and chemical sterilization.
Traceable
Medical devices and equipment must be traceable. This is especially important during recalls.
Medical-grade plastics must also meet strict manufacturing standards. Common standards that plastics may need to meet include ISO 10993, USP Class VI, and REACH. The Food and Drug Administration considers the ISO 10993 standard for biocompatibility sufficient for plastics used in implanted medical devices.
Types of Medical-Grade Plastic
Several plastics meet the requirements for use in medical applications. The most commonly used ones include:
Acrylic
Chemical resistance, good clarity, UV resistance, and surface hardness make acrylic a popular material for medical applications including cuvettes, syringes, blood filters, and bassinets.
Polycarbonate
Its durability and ease of sterilization make polycarbonate a good choice for dialysis machines, safety syringes, and nebulizers.
Polyethylene
PE is a biomaterial used extensively for implanted devices. Its versatility makes it ideal for scaffold implants.
Recycled polystyrene
Its resistance to chemicals and lightweight, moldable composition make recycled HIPS one of the most common materials for medical trays, containers, and packaging.
Thermoplastic polyurethane
TPU is biocompatible and chemical resistant, making it a preferred material for artificial heart components, catheters, and blood collection equipment.
Thanks to their favorable qualities, many other plastics, including polyvinyl chloride and polymethyl methacrylate, have also found valuable roles within the medical industry.
Medical Applications for Plastics
Medical-grade plastics are versatile, lightweight, and cost-effective. Manufacturers frequently use them for diagnostic equipment, implantable devices, and surgical tools.
Many blood collection equipment and intravenous lines use flexible plastics such as polypropylene and TPU. Plastic is a common material for blood bags, tubing, syringes, gowns, and other forms of PPE.
Implantable devices commonly feature plastic components. Some examples include:
- Bone plates, screws, and joint replacements
- Pacemaker components
- Temporary dental implants
Device packaging and storage containers are examples of what medical-grade plastic is good for. Blister packs, shipping materials, and trays are all frequently made from medical-grade plastics.
Medical Grade Plastic Trays
At Ready-Made Plastic Trays, we use high-quality medical-grade plastics to make storage and shipping trays for medical products. We stock hundreds of unique configurations, or we can create custom trays for your specific medical application. Request a sample today.
