Achieving exceptionally uniform scratch- free surface finishes in medical devices

When and Why Scratch-Free Is Essential

In medical devices that require high blood flow, a uniform, ultra-precision, scratch-free surface finish is crucial to minimize complications such as hemolysis during device operation. Blood flow devices, such as heart pumps, are typically designed with a requisite surface roughness of sub-5 Ra. Achieving this specification consistently can be quite challenging for organizations lacking a specialized background in advanced processing methods.

What Makes Uniformity So Challenging?

Finding the Right Contract Manufacturer Medical device companies often look to advanced contract manufacturing providers for assistance in launching new, high-performance products. However, for specialized applications such as superlative surfacing, companies often struggle to identify a contract manufacturing partner that understands and can reliably fulfill advanced finishing requirements. At Pulse Technologies, we have an extensive range of advanced manufacturing operations along with in-house R&D expertise in developing novel approaches for complex device demands. Overcoming the Technology Gap Readily available technologies in the medical device manufacturing industry typically achieve surface finishes of 8 Ra. Meanwhile, high blood flow device surfaces commonly require supplementary polishing techniques to achieve finishes at the desired surface roughness value. Scalability becomes a prominent challenge with the incorporation of additional processing, such as hand polishing. Medical device manufacturers need a novel technique to consistently achieve uniform scratch-free finishes at high volume with repeatable specs.

Pulse’s Proprietary Solution

At Pulse Technologies, we have developed a proprietary scratch-free process to assist medical device companies with meeting requirements in a consistent and scalable manner. This process is typically conducive to stainless steel applications (specifically 300 series) but can carry over to alternative alloys that may require similar surface finish demands.

Example Use Case

Pulse implemented its proprietary scratch-free process for a medical device customer whose product required a tightly toleranced ID bore with virtually no surface-level imperfections. We were able to successfully meet the client’s requirements of maintaining tolerances of 5 Ra max. “Our proprietary scratch-free surface finish process has truly enabled the capabilities of our medical device customers,” says one senior process engineer at Pulse. “By nearly eliminating surface imperfections, we have enhanced blood flow characteristics, mitigating detrimental hemolysis in medical devices with high blood flow rates.”

Why Pulse Technologies?

• 25+ years of medical device manufacturing experience
• Industry-leading in-house metrology and testing capabilities
• 70,000-square-foot facility
• 100+ CNC machine tools.
• Data conveniently formatted for DHFs/DHRs and more

Searching for a uniform, scratch-free surface finish that will allow you to get the most out of your medical devices at scale? Contact us today.