For many years, the medical industry has relied on wire to keep up with the demands of new medical technology on the market. Whether it be wire for medical tubing, orthopedics, dentistry, or various other products, Loos and Company Medical Technologies Division's wire is used to provide support. As our wire is used in numerous medical applications, we want to answer some frequently asked questions about medical wire and its role in the medical industry.
What is Medical wire?
Medical wire is specialty wire designed and manufactured for the medical industry. While Loos and Company manufacture various wire products designed for a range of applications, our specialty wire is the best choice for the medical industry. We can tailor specialty wire to the high-level precision required in the medical industry. Specialty wire is unique as its precision requires state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and technology that is not typically required in mass-produced general use wires.
Are there any other advantages of specialty wire in the medical industry?
As specialty wire is available in various sizes, shapes, and materials, the capabilities of specialty wire are endless. For example, round wire is frequently used for medical applications, but when round wire is not the right fit for your medical application, you can use flat wire or shaped wire. Due to specialty wire having infinite manufacturing possibilities, it is the ultimate choice for those within the medical industry.
Which types of wire are used in medical tubing?
Two types of wire are commonly used in medical tubing, braiding wire and core wire. Reinforced tubing with braided wire is ideal for medical tubing as it keeps the tube from kinking. Braiding wire is frequently used in medical tubing because it is manufactured from strands of wire braided together, meaning the finished wire will not easily break when flexed.
Core wire is a single end wire used as either a mandrel or place holder during the medical tubing extrusion process. Once the tubing polymer is extruded, the Silver Clad Copper or Tin Clad Copper core wire is elongated to decrease the wire’s diameter. The final part of the process is sliding the wire out of its “sheathing” and leaving a round tube for medicine delivery, guide wire/device insertion, or other technical applications.
What are the key differences between braid, coil, and mandrel wire?
One of the main features of coils is improving wire kink resistance. Coiled wire supports and reinforces medical tubing. Braid wire also primarily improves wire kink resistance. Preventing kinking is crucial because if kinks occur, wire products become ineffective and need replacing. Braided wire withstands internal pressure from fluid and air flowing through medical tubing. While coiled and braided wires support and reinforce medical tubing, mandrel wire forms precise inner diameters for tubing during medical extrusion.
What are some other medical applications that use wire?
As the medical industry continues to evolve, high-quality wire is being relied upon by more applications than ever before. Some examples of medical products that use wire include catheters, endoscopes, orthopedic spinal rods and pins, dental braces, surgical instruments, and staple wire.
If you are looking for a place to buy high-quality medical wire, choose Loos and Company Medical Technologies Division. We manufacture various types of wire rope that are crucial to the success of medical products. To browse our medical wire options, visit our product page here. Alternatively, if you have any questions, our team is happy to help! Reach out to us by email at sales@loosco.com or by phone at (860) 928-7981.