Why Plastics for Respirators & Ventilators?
Respirators and ventilators are machines designed to provide mechanical ventilation by moving air into and out of the lungs of patients, delivering sustainable breathing to patients who are physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently enough to get oxygen levels in the blood at levels high enough to sustain organ function. Ventilators play a critical role in the care of patients with severe respiratory illness (such as pneumonia, bronchitis and COVID-19) who need assistance because they cannot breathe effectively on their own. In instances such as these, ventilators allow a patient’s lungs to rest and recover while the ventilator performs the critical life-sustaining functions of supplying oxygen. Plastics such as such as PEEK, PPSU, PSU and others in applications where biocompatibility is critical, and especially where there is a need for chemical and autoclave resistance, as well as if FDA and/or USP Class VI compliance for some applications. Common applications include tubing, molded masks, valve components, fittings and manifolds. Structural plastics (such as ABS, Nylon, Polycarbonate, Acetal, etc.) are used for injection molded housings, supports, and other applications within the device, where strength, toughness and weight reduction is required.
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