In today’s medical device landscape, performance starts at the materials level. As procedures become increasingly minimally invasive, devices must get smaller, stronger, and more complex without compromising flexibility, durability, or compliance. That’s why Confluent Medical Technologies has introduced Filmcast Select™, a new materials customization program that empowers OEMs to intentionally select the polymer tubing properties that power their devices.

For years, medical device engineers have had to work within the limits of standard tubing formulations. But as device performance demands evolve, “one size fits all” is no longer sufficient. Filmcast Select™ changes that by giving developers control over the attributes that matter most, from flexibility and strength to surface finish and regulatory compliance. Supported by Confluent’s deep materials science expertise and vertically integrated manufacturing, Filmcast Select™ delivers tubing tailored to your applications. The program helps OEMs choose the physical properties of filmcast PTFE and polyimide tubing to meet design goals. Whether your priority is flexibility, tensile strength, optical clarity, or REACH compliance, Confluent’s team can match the tubing with your device’s functional and regulatory requirements.

Polyimide Options — Strength, Transparency, and Compliance

Polyimide is widely used in medical devices for its strength, stability, and chemical resistance. Confluent’s Filmcast Select™ program offers four specialized variations to address diverse application needs:

Standard Polyimide – The industry’s proven performer, offering excellent tensile strength, dielectric properties, and chemical resistance. Highly transparent for devices that require clear visualization through the shaft.

Glossy REACH Polyimide – Provides the same transparency and mechanical properties as standard polyimide while utilizing a REACH-compliant solvent. Each lot is fully compliant without additional processing or costly lot-release testing.

Matte REACH Polyimide – Combines REACH compliance with a translucent finish that provides improved bonding and lower friction on the outer surface, which is ideal for components where adhesion performance is critical.

Ultra Polyimide- A higher-modulus material with nearly double the tensile strength of standard polyimide. It delivers superior strength in thin-wall applications, maintaining stability and integrity in highly compact devices.

Each polyimide option can be further customized with PTFE additives for reduced friction or colorants for branding and visibility, giving engineers even greater design flexibility.

PTFE Options — Flexibility, Durability, and Strength

Confluent’s Filmcast PTFE tubing portfolio complements its polyimide offerings with three specialized options engineered for specific performance priorities:

FlexaCast ™: Higher Elongation – Designed for superior flexibility, FlexaCast ™ provides more than twice the elongation of traditional ram-extruded PTFE. It’s ideal for catheters and devices that must navigate tortuous anatomy without compromising wall integrity.

DuraCast ™: Higher Abrasion Resistance – DuraCast ™ excels in durability. It resists wear from multiple device exchanges, making it a strong choice for applications that undergo repeated tool passage or extended procedural use.

UltraCast ™: Higher Tensile Strength – For devices subject to high mechanical loads such as stent delivery systems or components where wrinkling and elongation must be minimized, UltraCast ™ offers the highest tensile strength of the lineup.

Each PTFE material can also be produced using customer-preferred dispersions to match existing biocompatibility data. This compatibility streamlines regulatory pathways, saving both time and development cost while supporting faster market entry.

Material customization is only the first step. Confluent’s vertically integrated capabilities enable customers to transform these tailored materials into complete, high-performance components. By combining selected PTFE or polyimide formulations with braid reinforcement or outer jackets, Confluent creates composite shafts tuned precisely to each device’s functional requirements.

This integration ensures optimized balance between flexibility and pushability, durability and control, characteristics critical to next-generation delivery systems.

Why Filmcast Select™ Sets a New Standard

Filmcast Select™ brings together Confluent’s materials science heritage and advanced manufacturing under a single, flexible platform. The result is polymer tubing that is not just manufactured but engineered for your unique device.

Key advantages include:

• Purpose-built material selection to match specific design goals
• Regulatory confidence through REACH-compliant options
• Enhanced performance consistency across production lots
• Reduced time to market through established biocompatibility pathways
• End-to-end manufacturing integration from tubing to finished subassembly

With Filmcast Select™, engineers no longer need to design around material limitations. Instead, they can start with the ideal material profile and build the device around it.

As medical technologies continue to evolve, material innovation will play an increasingly central role in device success. Confluent Medical’s Filmcast Select™ program reflects that future of a collaborative approach that allows OEMs to define, rather than adapt to, material performance.

Your next-generation device deserves materials that perform with purpose. With Filmcast Select™, you can select the material properties that power your device.