Medical Plastic Injection Molding

Manufacturing of medical components and devices using medical-grade plastic materials that are durable, reliable and meet FDA regulations is the essence of medical injection molding. The medical plastic injection molding process is cost-efficient, and ideal for high volume production runs and applications requiring consistency and tight tolerances.

This molding process is also used for medical device prototype development for the FDA approval process and use in laboratory testing.

​Medical Injection Molding Benefits
Since medical device plastics provide increased versatility and can be combined with metal to create enhanced medical product attributes, medical-grade plastics have become the preferred material for numerous types of electronic medical devices. Some of the advantages that medical injection molding companies can provide include:

• Improved ergonomics
• Reduced weight
• Increased functionality
• Lower cost
• The decreased burden of sterilization

 
Why Plastic Injection Molding is Important in the Medical Field?
Since inception, the use of plastics within modern medicine has steadily increased. Medical devices that are manufactured from injection molded plastic have contributed to a reduction in medical costs, infectious disease and pain management. High tech polymers are used within medical device prototype development and are commonly used to create improved artificial limbs and devices that reduce the risk of infection. Medical plastic injection molding directly leads to increased patient safety and the ability to save more lives.
 
Medical Plastic Injection Molding Applications
Using our medical injection molding processes, Stack Plastics produces delivery devices for stents, implants, sutures, and more. We also offer assembly services for subcomponents of larger, more complicated medical devices. In addition to medical injection molding, we manufacture plastic moldings that house other, non-plastic components or mechanisms.
 
Medical insert molding processes can create housings for medical devices including Needles, Surgical instruments and blades, Tubes, Dental instruments, Medical equipment components, Prosthetics.
 
Medical Plastic Injection Molding Materials
The medical-grade plastic materials we use for medical injection molding have high molecular weight and feature chemical and heat resistant properties. Each type of thermoplastic used for medical molding also features different advantages and qualities you will want to review before selecting a material for your injection molding application.

• Polycarbonate: naturally transparent and commonly used for medical tubing, this medical-grade plastic features high tensile, shear and flexural strength. It also provides high heat resistance, low moisture absorption, and is stronger than acrylic.
• PEEK: an exotic medical-grade plastic resin that is highly resistant to chemicals, resists cracking and fatigue and can be sterilized via autoclave. It is FDA approved for food contact and has a UL 94 V-0 flammability rating.
• Ultem™: used for medical devices and be sterilized via autoclave. It resists environmental stress and cracking, provides excellent dimensional stability and exhibits superior strength and stiffness.

 
Considerations for Selecting Medical Injection Molding Plastic Materials
There are several grades of plastic available for medical device injection molding and medical device prototype development. Each material carries unique properties that determine how it will perform in its intended application and operating environment. Considerations for selecting the right medical grade plastic material for your application include:

• Strength: Plastic resins provide varying levels of strength, so it is important to make sure the medical-grade plastic material you select provides the strength properties required for your application.
• FDA Requirements: Medical devices that are being implanted have different requirements than those being used for tubing, medical instruments, and other external uses. Review the FDA requirements for your application before selecting a material.
• Resistance to Chemicals and Heat: Chemical and heat resistance are two critical considerations when selecting a medical grade plastic material, especially if your finished components must be able to withstand sterilization via autoclave, gamma-ray or chemical methods.
• Operating environment: Operating conditions determine requirements for strength, temperature resistance, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, exposure to radiation, and other factors. Make sure the medical-grade plastic material you select can withstand the conditions of your operating environment.
• Molding Method: Medical injection molding and medical insert molding are two methods commonly used for medical device prototype development but not all plastic materials are compatible with both methods. It is important to determine which method you will be using before selecting a medical grade plastic material.

Reference: smedical-molding