Best Materials to Use When Deep Drawing Medical Components

Over the decades, medical instruments have evolved from crudely crafted and rustic devices into what many might feel are modern works of manufacturing art. As the techniques of industry changed in line with new and tighter regulations, the resulting products became more precise, more reliable, and definitely more sanitary.

In the medical industry, sanitation is king. The drive to maintain a sterile environment regulates everything from the clothing worn by staff, to the materials used in the manufacture of the equipment that everyday saves countless lives all over the world. From the smallest needle to the most complex scanning device, every part must be diligently designed with sterility in mind.

Many of the instruments used in the medical industry are produced using the deep drawn process, as the characteristics of deep drawn parts match perfectly with the stringent requirements for medical use. In order to meet sterility demands, the materials chosen for deep drawing medical components are also carefully considered.

The term ‘stainless steel’ is one commonly heard when discussing manufacturing, although it can sometimes be misleading. There are many types of stainless steel available, and not all are suitable for medical use. Stainless steel gains its desired properties from the introduction of nickel to the composition, an element that can cause allergies in many humans. A unique alloy of stainless, called “surgical steel” contains very limited amounts of nickel yet maintains the corrosion resistant properties that make stainless a reliable material for deep drawing medical components.

Another common material used in the manufacture of medical devices is copper. While copper is sometimes mistakenly considered a less refined metal, modern alloy compositions allow for the production of components that meet the rigorous sanitation requirements yet retain the many desirable properties of pure copper. As a material, copper is naturally anti-microbial, meaning simply that biological microbes (bacteria) are unable to live and multiply on the surface, which helps in maintaining a sterile environment.

When the device requires exceptionally high strength, titanium is certainly the most popular choice. As a material, titanium is corrosion resistant, acid resistant, and exhibits extremely high tensile strength. Deep drawing medical components using titanium creates products that have a highly rigid natural grain structure, which is further enhanced by the work hardening of the deep draw process. Titanium products are well known to survive extensive lifetimes even in the harshest, most abusive environment; the human body.