Adam Spence and Microspec  recently forged a partnership that allows Adam Spence to offer reinforced catheter shafts that feature Microspec’s multi-durometer extrusions.

“This partnership between Adam Spence and Microspec is the coming together of two pioneering innovators in extrusion technology and braid-reinforced catheter solutions. It bodes well for customers seeking to enhance performance while lower(ing) costs,” Steve Maxson, VP of marketing and sales at Adam Spence, said.

Currently, the most common way to construct a catheter shaft with different discrete length sections of varying durometers is to laminate the four tubing sections together over the braided shaft in a re-flow process, according to Adam Spence.

“Microspec’s inline multi-durometer extrusion technology allows two alternating durometer sections to be joined continuously during the extrusion process ensuring gradual transition from one durometer to another,” said Timothy Steele, founder and CEO of Microspec. “The length of each section can be programmed into the extrusion process per product specification.”

Combined distal and combined proximal sections are laminated together to reduce the number of bond joints from three to one during catheter shaft construction.

“This process will increase productivity, reduce overall costs and improve the mechanical integrity of the catheter shaft,” William Li, senior catheter engineer at Adam Spence, said.