Question 1

What customisation dimensions do you support for extruded tubing?

Accepted Answer

Wall thickness, material, size, lumen shape and colour are all customisable, along with durometer, profile and radiopacity. All materials meet biocompatibility requirements.

Question 2

Which sizes are available for the cholangioscope main body tube?

Accepted Answer

7F, 8F, 9F and 11F are standard; custom sizes are available on request.

Question 3

What are the specifications of your PET heat shrink tubing?

Accepted Answer

Shrink ratios of non-shrink, 1.3:1 and 1.6:1; working temperature -55°C to 200°C; shrink onset ≥100°C; full recovery at 210°C. Processable outer diameter 0.25–8mm and wall thickness 0.0025–0.05mm.

Question 4

Do your materials meet biocompatibility and sterilisation requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All materials meet biocompatibility requirements, and our PET heat shrink tubing complies with ISO 10993-1 and RoHS while supporting ethylene oxide (EO) and gamma sterilisation.

Question 5

What value-added processes can you provide on top of tubing?

Accepted Answer

Printing, insert molding, tipping, flaring, hole punching and forming — a one-stop value-added process chain that helps your product reach its finished form quickly.

Question 6

Can you analyse a competitor sample we send in?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer an incoming sample cross-section analysis service to help you reproduce or improve on an existing construction.

Question 7

Can you work from our drawing, or from a competitor sample?

Accepted Answer

Both. Send a drawing and we quote against it directly. If you only have a competitor sample, our incoming sample cross-section analysis service measures the construction — layer count, wall thicknesses, reinforcement and durometer transitions — and we quote a tube that reproduces or improves on it.

Question 8

What is the difference between an extruded tube and a composite tube?

Accepted Answer

An extruded tube is formed in one operation from one material system; it is the right choice when you need a defined lumen geometry, durometer and colour at low cost. A composite tube combines several materials — for example a lubricious liner, a braid or coil, and an outer jacket — so you can get a smooth inner wall, higher burst pressure, better torque transfer and durometer that changes along the shaft. Composite construction costs more and is chosen when a single-layer tube cannot meet the mechanical requirement.

Question 9

Which value-added processes can be done on the same shaft?

Accepted Answer

Printing, insert molding, tipping, flaring, hole punching and forming are all done in-house, so a shaft can go through several of them in one sequence without leaving us. A common order is: extrude or build the composite shaft, print the marker bands, punch side holes, flare the proximal end, insert mold the hub, form the tip, then heat-set the shape.

Question 10

Why does the tip need to be formed rather than just cut?

Accepted Answer

A cut end leaves a square edge and, on a reinforced shaft, exposed braid or coil ends. Both can catch on tissue or on a guidewire. Tipping reshapes the distal end into a taper or radius and encapsulates the reinforcement, so the transition is continuous. On neurovascular catheters an ultra-soft TPU outer layer is often used at the distal end for the same reason — a softer tip reduces trauma to the vessel wall.

Question 11

Do you provide samples before volume production?

Accepted Answer

Yes. After feasibility assessment and material selection we prepare tooling and run a trial extrusion, then deliver samples with a dimensional report for your evaluation. We iterate until the specification is met before transferring to cleanroom volume production.

Question 12

How should I describe a tube I need if I do not have a drawing?

Accepted Answer

The four things that determine most of a quote are: outer diameter and wall thickness (or inner diameter), the number and shape of lumens, the material or the durometer you need, and the application — which tells us whether radiopacity, a reinforcement layer or a soft distal section is required. Length and annual volume let us advise on tooling. Anything else can be worked out in conversation.

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