Polymers
Healthcare products

Some applicable sterilisation processes

Thermoplastics

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
IV spikes, luer, Y-connector, roller clamp, filter cases, blood dialysis units

Limited steam, EO, radiation, H₂O₂, ozone

Acetals (Delrin)
Stopcocks, structural keel for a prosthetic device, engineering plastic, others

Dry heat, EO

Acrylics
Tubing connectors, needle adapters, blood set components, contact lenses, lays

EO, limited radiation, chlorine dioxide, H₂O₂

Parylene-poly-xylene
Coating used in catheters, stents, needles, cardiac assist devices, prosthetics, cannulae

Steam, dry heat, EO, radiation, H₂O₂, ozone

Poly etheretheketone (PEEK)
Cardiovascular, orthopaedicand dental implants and tubing

Dry heat, EO, steam, radiation, H₂O₂

Polycarbonate
Blood sets (oxygenators), tubing connectors, injection sites, valve occluders, general structura, syringes, rigid containers, cases, safety syringes, haemodialysers, cardiotomy trocars, reservoirs, surgical instruments, profusion devices, blood centrifuge bowls, stopcocks, needles syringes, drug delivery devices, IV connectors, part of positive expiratory pressure (PEP) system.

Steam (watch out for vacuums), limited dry heat, EO, limited radiation, H₂O₂, ozone

Polyethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
Packaging, hydroged, gloves, drug delivery, silms

EO, radiation

Polyglycolide (PGA), polyactide (PLA) includes copolymers, polycaprolactone (PCL)
Ophthalmology lenses and contact lenses, grout for artificial joints, orthopaedics, bone cement, cranioplasty, neurosurgery, membrane oxygenators, corneal prosthesis, contact lenses.

Limited chlorine dioxide, EO, limited radiation, H₂O₂

Polyolefins, polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, UHMWPE) and polypropylene (PP) also PP/PE copolymers
Films, tubing and containers for packaging applications, container-sterile water, urine bags, blood oxygenators-polypropylene membrane and hollow fibres, syringes, dialysis membranes, heart valve occluders, sutures, catheters, protective tubes, hip joints, packaging, PP contact lens casting cup, part of positive expiratory pressure (PEP) system.

EO, limited radiation (on polypropylene), limited steam (PP and some high density polyethylene), low temperature dry heat limited (polypropylene), H₂O₂

Polyolefin copolymers (PE/PP, PPCO)
Parenteral solution containers

Steam, EO, H₂O₂

Polystyrene
Sputurn cups, containers, tubes, petri dishes.

EO radiation, H₂O₂

Polyurethane
IV containers, enteral feeding tubes, blood pumps, artificial heart ventricles, catheters and tubing, leads, catheters and components, valves, needless syringes, drug delivery devices, diagnostic components, lipid resistant stopcocks, vials, connetors, components connected to PVC tubing, surgical instruments, facial protheses, cuffs, transdermal patches, drug delivery devices, angioplasty balloons, blood device interfaces.

EO, radiation, limited dry heat, steam, H₂O₂

Polyvinyl chloride
IV therapy: glucose solutions and saline solutions, drug mixtures, nutrients, flexible PVC containers collection, storage and administration of blood and blood components (blood bags), tubing and catheters, oxygenators and dialysers, IV drip chambers, gastrointestinal grafts, shrink tubing, urine bags, endotracheal tubes, drip chambers, blood vessels, gastrointestinal grafts, hearing aid components.

Steam, limited dry heat, EO, limited radiation, H₂O₂

Styrene - acrylonitriles (SAN)
Dialysis, intravenous connectors

EO, radiation, H₂O₂

Thermoset Polymers

Silicone
Extruded tubing - small tubing, foley catheters for urinary drains, catheters used for infusion of IV solutions required for parenteral nutrition, silicone rubber membranes in blood oxygenators, nasogastric tubing, eustachian tube prosthetics (ear parts), other prosthetics (mammary glands, heart components, joints), reconstructive surgery, ear, bone and joints.

Dry heat, limited steam (may not penetrate), EO (leaves residues), limited radiation (may crosslink), H₂O₂, ozone