PTFE & Emerging Lubricious Polymer Platforms for Catheter Development

PTFE has earned its place as the gold standard for catheter liners, but the lowest coefficient of friction is no longer the only factor R&D teams need to consider. 

In this episode of MedTech Unboxed, Steve talks with Benny Cheung, Technical Lead at Dynaflex Technologies Inc., about PTFE and emerging lubricious polymer platforms for catheter-based medical devices. They explore where PTFE still excels, particularly in ultra-thin-wall and demanding catheter applications, and how evolving device requirements are expanding material options for engineers. 

The conversation builds on Dynaflex’s recent white paper, “PTFE: Proven Performance, Rising Constraints in Catheter-Based Medical Devices,” taking a deeper look at the latest considerations affecting catheter liner selection.  

Benny dives into how liner selection can affect bonding, delamination, distal flexibility, torque response, manufacturability, and the overall catheter design. He also discusses how emerging thermoplastic liner technologies, including EverGlide+, a PFAS-free platform, can give engineers additional flexibility around durometer, material interfaces, laser-cut hypotube designs, and sterilization strategy.  

What you’ll hear in this episode: 

• Why coefficient of friction alone doesn’t tell the full story when selecting a catheter liner
• How etching, bonding, delamination, and material interfaces can affect downstream manufacturing
• How thermoplastic liner platforms expand options for varying durometer and distal flexibility
• What emerging liner technologies mean for laser-cut hypotubes and advanced catheter designs
• Why sterilization compatibility should be considered alongside material and performance requirements
• How you can choose the right material for your application earlier in development