With the current healthcare crisis, the medical industry has relied heavily on the production of rubber parts and seals to care for an influx of patients. Medical grade seals are required to meet high FDA and ISO standards, as well as rigorous testing in order to be eligible for use in healthcare.
Medical grade seals are critical in a wide range of life-saving applications. Here’s a closer look at how these seals and devices are being utilized in healthcare right now.
Personal Protective Equipment
COVID-19 has drastically increased the demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the medical industry. Medical grade seals play a large role in the effectiveness of PPE—sealing against harmful bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that could infect patients and healthcare professionals.
Advanced protective gear for long term usage that depend on medical grade seals include:
- Powered and supplied air respiratory protection
- Vented eye shields
- Half/Full face respirator
Right now, PPE is necessary for reducing the spread of COVID-19. Medical grade seals are required for proper shielding and protection against contamination.
Ventilators and Medical Devices
Medical equipment such as ventilators and testing devices are in high demand, and they require a number of rubber parts and seals for engineering. To comply with FDA regulations and to be suitable for patient use, medical grade seals in ventilators and other equipment must be biologically compatible with the environment.
Biocompatibility is a term used to describe the ability of a material to perform properly and without reaction to human tissue. In ventilators, this is extremely important to avoid further complications and disruptions with treatment.
Apple Rubber manufactures medical grade seals in specific standard materials that are known to be biologically compatible. These include:
- Fluoroelastomer/FKM
- Ethylene-Propylene/EPDM
- Silicone/VMQ
In addition to producing parts and seals for ventilators and testing devices, Apple Rubber medical seals are also designed for a variety of other medical applications that are still needed right now, such as medical pumps, IV components, feeding devices and implants.
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