When it comes to industrial manufacturing, parylene stands out as one of the most popular coating materials for various devices. With its distinct qualities and unmistakable performance, the polymer has become the top choice for many product designers.
This popularity also holds for the material’s use in medical devices. Whether you refer to temporary treatments or permanent solutions, medical equipment often integrates parylene into its critical manufacturing processes.
To see why parylene coating is so prevalent in the healthcare field, here are a few benefits of using the polymer in medical devices.
Parylene Coating is Biocompatible
While parylene is a synthetic material, it is completely biocompatible and doesn’t have any toxic effects on living tissue. This quality is recognized by renowned public health organizations around the world. This makes parylene ideal for a host of medical devices that classify under temporary or permanent use.
These applications include but are not limited to stents, surgical tools, and implants. Since parylene can interact with internal organs and structures without affecting them negatively, it ensures optimal safety for patients and their respective devices.
It is Exceptionally Conformable to Contours
Parylene is a conformal coating, which means that the polymer can adjust to the contours of the surface that it’s applied on. This even holds for surfaces such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) that have an intricate structure and make it challenging to achieve optimal coverage.
As a result, using a parylene coating on medical devices prevents any chances for exposure to bodily fluids. This way, critical components remain free from risks of damage and gain optimal protection in surgical and treatment settings.
It Protects Against Constant Exposure to Fluids
Parylene is also hydrophobic, which provides it with the ability to repel fluids from its surface. Combined with optimal coverage of the coating, this offers medical devices ideal protection from bodily fluids. This also makes it easier to maintain hygiene and cleaning practices.
But perhaps the most significant advantage of this property comes in the form of long-term treatment procedures. Since parylene’s hydrophobic features can hold their own against constant exposure to fluids, medical devices such as pacemakers and cochlear implants can deliver long-lasting performance.
It is Easily Accessible for a Variety of Applications
Despite its widespread use in a slew of industrial applications, parylene coating is readily available to fulfill high production volumes. This makes it an accessible material for critical medical devices, where the manufacturing timeline matters just as much as the product’s functionality.
When this quality is paired with parylene’s easy installation, many product designers prefer the material above other protective or conformal coatings. This is yet another reason why the polymer is so sought after in a variety of medical applications.
If you want to make your medical devices more durable, considering parylene as a surface coating wouldn’t disappoint. But before you move forward with the integration, make it a point to compare the quality, cost, and services between various parylene providers. This helps you obtain a better deal without affecting the quality of your end product.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
