What is a self

January 27, 2023 By MDO Contributors Network

From innovative new cancer therapies to pioneering diabetes care, self-lubricating LSRs may be the right choice to efficiently manufacture medical devices that make a life-changing difference in patients’ lives. [Photo courtesy of Avantor]

From well-established biocompatibility to robust performance characteristics, silicone offers medical device manufacturers a unique engineered material ideal for these applications. One type, self-lubricating liquid silicone rubbers (LSRs), provides an excellent medical-grade material that can solve manufacturing challenges and increase device performance.

These elastomers contain a built-in lubricant that, over time, elutes to the molded part’s surface. For medical-grade LSRs, this lubricant offers many of the same properties as the elastomer, such as inertness or biocompatibility. In addition, the lubricant can be formulated so it won’t cause swelling when it contacts other silicone elastomers, a process that can create dimensional or even mechanical challenges.

Self-lubricating LSRs are available with varying lubricant levels and can be formulated to meet regulatory guidelines for short- and long-term implant use. These formulations are available off-the-shelf but can also be customized for specific manufacturing or end-user needs.

The characteristics of self-lubricating LSRs make them ideal for minimizing friction at component interfaces to enhance the performance of medical devices, including wearable devices. In addition to components like O-rings and connector gaskets, these elastomers are used in dynamic seals, slit valves, membrane septa and duck-bill valves.

For example, a self-lubricating LSR can be used on a silicone septum in an insulin delivery device to protect the needle, improve reliability and enable consistent performance. The elastomers have also been used in needle-free injection ports to deliver cancer treatments and other life-saving therapies. In these applications, a self-lubricating LSR allows manifolds to move more consistently and smoothly than a typical LSR.

Self-lubricating liquid silicone rubbers (LSRs) provide an excellent medical-grade material that can solve manufacturing challenges and increase device performance. [Photo courtesy of Avantor]

Material selection is essential when designing the next breakthrough. Whether you’re developing an innovative new cancer therapy or pioneering diabetes care, medical-grade self-lubricating LSRs may be the right choice to help you efficiently manufacture medical devices that make a life-changing difference in patients’ lives.

Alex Santayana is an applications engineer with NuSil [Photo courtesy of Avantor]

The opinions expressed in this blog post are the author’s only and do not necessarily reflect those of Medical Design & Outsourcing or its employees.