TPU is widely used in the field of biomedicine due to its good biocompatibility and mechanical properties. Its applications in the medical field have become diverse. The main products are artificial heart assist devices, artificial blood vessels, artificial skins and so on. Medical TPU has flexibility, abrasion resistance, high compatibility, no deformation, no allergic reaction, good blood compatibility, and does not affect blood components, and is widely used in the medical field.
With the progress and development of society, polymer materials represented by PVC and TPU have become the most commonly used biomedical materials. At the same time, the application of polymer materials in vitro diagnostic equipment is becoming more and more important.
ARTIFICIAL HEART ASSIST DEVICE
The artificial heart assist device has very strict requirements for its performance and materials due to its critical position. It does not damage blood cell components, does not produce toxins and allergic reactions, does not cause harmful immune reactions, does not release electrolytes, and does not damage neighboring organizations. Clinical experiments tell us: TPU has many performance advantages over natural rubber and silicone, such as blood compatibility and durability.
MEDICAL CATHETER
Because of its mechanical stability, biocompatibility and elasticity, TPU is often used to prepare medical catheters, such as infusion tubes and artificial catheters. An important part of the optical fiber gastroscope, the gastroscope tube has high performance requirements, sufficient elasticity and flexibility without toxic side effects, the diameter of the catheter is the same, and there is no bending or deformation. The surface of the catheter needs to be smooth. The gastroscope tube made by TPU meets the above requirements and medical requirements.
The TPU endotracheal intubation tube is light and flexible, convenient for clinical use, and patients can move freely and comfortably. It can prevent radiation damage to the human body and is beneficial to treatment and diagnosis. It can replace metal endotracheal tubes and is one of the most advanced medical devices in the world.
MEDICAL FILM
Traditional PE and PVC films have the advantages of waterproofing and preventing liquid seepage. They are very popular in medical protection such as wound dressings and surgical operations, but they have the defect of not being able to discharge sweat produced by human metabolism in time, causing discomfort such as heat, cold, and dampness. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of medical film to replace such products. The pressure-sensitive adhesive is sprayed on the surface of the polyurethane elastomer film to make a polyurethane elastomer medical film. Compared with traditional PE and PVC medical films, TPU medical films have the characteristics of lightness, good skin affinity, high elasticity, strong moisture permeability, and 100% waterproof, which can effectively prevent the film from falling off during surgery. Inhibit the transfer of various germs during surgery. Such as orthopedic surgery, heart valve replacement, intravenous indwelling needle, abdominal and thoracic intubation, treatment of spinal fluid shunt surgery, etc., can significantly reduce the infection rate. There is also a waterproof and antibacterial medical polyurethane elastomer. The medical protective gloves made of medical protective gloves have good mechanical properties, waterproof and breathable, and can resist the invasion of Gram-positive and negative bacteria.
MEDICAL ARTIFICIAL SKIN
Artificial skin can be made of TPU foam. Because of its excellent air permeability, it can also accelerate the growth of the epidermis, avoid the loss of moisture and inorganic salts in the injured part, and also avoid bacterial infection. Natural latex is often used to make medical gloves, but for some users, they may have an allergic reaction to latex. However, polyurethane elastomers can be made into medical gloves by adjusting their molecular structure. Therefore, polyurethane elastomers can be used as a new raw material for medical gloves to replace the original medical gloves made of natural latex. Compared with TPU based on MDI, gloves made of polyurethane elastomer have many advantages. For example, they are not easy to age. Traditional latex gloves are easy to change color after using for a period of time, and they are not easy to produce allergic reactions, and they are closer to the skin.
OTHER AREAS
At present, TPU has made some achievements in the medical field, such as the successful development of shape memory polyurethane elastomer, and the composite textile of body temperature shape memory polyurethane elastomer and thermoplastic polyurethane film can be used to produce hypoallergenic gloves and wound dressings. Under mild reaction conditions, amphoteric biodegradable medical polyurethane elastomer is prepared.
In addition, good results have been achieved in prostheses, cartilage, separation membranes, medical sutures, and so forth.
CONCLUSION
In summary, TPU material has good biocompatibility, anti-thrombotic performance, large design freedom, good mechanical strength, easy processing and molding, good adhesion, good friction resistance, and excellent bending resistance. It is obtained in medical materials. A wide range of applications is the focus of future research. Here briefly introduces several applications of polyurethane elastomer elastic materials in the medical field, such as artificial heart assist devices, medical catheters, medical films, medical artificial skin, etc. There are still more applications of TPU in the future that will be applied in the medical field.
