
Medical Device
Parylene Coatings for Life Saving Technology.
Leading edge design engineers reinvent what’s possible by using the best tools and technology. And technology is evolving fast. Devices are getting smaller and performance is increasing. The tools in an engineer’s toolbox will build our future.
Parylene is an ideal coating for virtually any biomedical substrate. Parylene has a proven history coating glass, metals, elastomers, ceramics, plastics, and silicone rubber.
VSI Parylene brings the personal attention, rapid development and precision to make it happen.
VSI Parylene helps engineers take their designs to the next level. Think big. We dream of a world where engineers are unstoppable and products go anywhere.
Implantable and FDA-approved.
Parylene is FDA-approved and safe to use within the body. Parylene protects medical devices from moisture, electrical charges, bodily fluids, and contamination. It has a USP XXII, Class VI biocompatibility rating. Both parylene C and parylene N have been used in a wide range of medical devices for decades. Acting as a barrier layer, parylene protects the body from the device and the device from the body. Contact VSI Parylene for a copy of our Class VI implantation 3rd party test certificates.
Dry Lubricity.
When parylene N is deposited in very thin layers, it acts as a dry-film lubricant. Parylene’s low coefficient of friction is comparable to Teflon (~ 0.25 μs per ASTM D 1894). This makes it an ideal solution for medical device cables and tubing, catheters, and medical seals.
Vapor Deposition Benefits.
The vapor deposition process that VSI uses has unique benefits compared to dip and spray coatings. Depositing parylene molecule by molecule in a room temperature vacuum chamber means that sharp edges, crevices, points, and exposed internal surfaces can be coated with uniform thickness and a pinhole-free coating.
- Vapor deposition has the added benefit of being solvent-free, and it doesn’t require a curing cycle after coating.
- Parylene is deposited at micron thicknesses, typical applications range from 1-50 microns.
- Delicate components can be coated because no thermal cycling and no fluid contact.
Sterilizable on any Substrate, Parylene is the “Clear” Choice.
Parylene can be used with all common sterilization methods.
- e-beam, gamma
- ethylene oxide (EtO)
- autoclave.
Depending on the application, some methods are more favorable. If you have an application that requires sterilization, contact us to discuss the details.
Choosing Parylene C or Parylene N.
Parylene C is usually the conformal coating of choice of medical device manufacturers that are looking for a biocompatible barrier layer or dielectric layer. Parylene C has been used in long-term implantable devices for decades and has provided protection for many of the world’s most advanced life-saving devices.
Parylene N also plays an important role. Some examples of applications where we would recommend using Parylene N include applications solutions that require: dry lubricity, deep crevice penetration, and RF applications.
Have a question about your own application? Contact an engineer about your medical application today. Discuss your application with a VSI Parylene engineer today. Even if you are already using parylene and have encountered issues or problems that your current supplier cannot solve, VSI can help.
EXAMPLE MEDICAL APPLICATIONS |
BLOOD-HANDLING COMPONENTS |
BONE-GROWTH STIMULATORS |
BONE PINS |
BRAIN PROBES |
CANNULAE |
CARDIAC ASSIST DEVICES |
CATHETER MANDRELS |
CATHETERS / STYLUSES |
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS / HEARING ASSIST |
ELASTOMERIC SEALS |
ELECTRODES |
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS |
ELECTROSTIMULATION DEVICES |
ENERGIZED SURGICAL TOOLS: TURBINE MOTORS AND JAWS |
EPIDURAL PROBES |
FEEDER TUBES |
FORCEPS |
FORMING MANDRELS |
GASTRIC GALLONS AND CUFFS |
GUIDEWIRES |
GUIDING CATHETERS |
IMPLANTS / IMPIANTABLES |
ISO 80369 SMALL-BORE CONNECTORS |
LAPAROSCOPIC DEVICES |
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS AND CIRCUITS / WIRELESS / RF |
MOLDS |
MDI (METERED DOSE INHALERS) |
NEEDLES |
NEUROSTIMULATORS / NEUROSTIMULATION DEVICES |
NITINOL FORMS |
OCULAR IMPLANTS |
ORTHOPEDIC HARDWARE: PINS AND SCREWS |
PACEMAKERS / PACEMAKER COMPONENTS |
PRESSURE SENSORS |
PROSTHETIC COMPONENTS / DEVICES |
SILICONE FABRICATIONS |
STENTS |
STOPPERS |
SURGICAL / ELECTROSURGICAL TOOLS |
ULTRASONIC PROBES |
ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS |
AND MORE |