Dymax is a leading global manufacturer of advanced light-curable materials, coatings, oligomers, dispensing equipment, and light-curing systems used throughout the medical device industry.
Specially formulated for medical device assembly, the Dymax MD® line of medical device adhesives and coatings is used in a variety of catheter, syringe, anaesthesia mask, reservoir, tube set, and medical electronics applications. They cure within seconds upon exposure to LED UV and/or broad-spectrum light, permitting bonding of a variety of metal, glass, and plastic substrates, including UV-inhibited and tinted plastics. The products are solvent-free, RoHS-compliant, and meet ISO 10993 and/or USP Class VI biocompatibility standards.
Innovative adhesive technologies for the medical device industry
A cutting-edge developer of light-cure adhesive and coating solutions, Dymax creates new technologies that increase process efficiency, productivity and throughput, as well as minimise costs and inventory. With more than 40 years of experience, Dymax understands the demands of the medical device market.
Many Dymax light-curable formulations feature patented Encompass® technology, which enables visual verification of material placement onto substrates and confirmation of cure through its colour-change capability.
Additionally, bonded components fluoresce bright red when exposed to a low-intensity ‘black light’.
This technology enhances the functionality of automated vision equipment for high-speed, high-volume production.
Light-curable materials for hard-to-bond medical device applications
Light-curable adhesives, coatings, maskants, and sealants are ideal for the assembly of medical devices as they allow unlimited time for parts adjustment before an immediate cure is initiated.
They expedite the assembly process via their ability to cure on-demand upon exposure to the appropriate wavelength of light.
Since many catheters, prefillable syringes, in-vitro diagnostic devices, and injector pens are designed of plastic substrates specially formulated to resist harsh chemical and environmental conditions, bonding with medical device adhesives is more efficient and easier than alternatives such as solvent welding or mechanical fastening.
Adhesives for catheter assembly
The Dymax CTH line of catheter bonding adhesives is specifically made for medical device manufacturers engaged in the design and assembly of Y-connectors, balloon bonding, marker bands, and many other catheter assembly applications.
Meeting a variety of ISO 10993 standards, CTH catheter adhesives bond a wide range of materials, including polycarbonate, nylons, PEBA, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinyl chloride, nitinol, and stainless steel.
Needle and syringe bonding adhesives
The capability of Dymax needle-bonding adhesives to bond ‘on-demand’ in seconds makes them very suitable for high-speed, high-volume syringe assembly lines that incorporate inline testing and packaging.
Their blue or red fluorescing capability enables easy detection of material coverage on finished components, improving the performance of automated quality vision systems.
Bondable substrates include polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylic, glass, and metal such as stainless steel used in the assembly of syringes and blood collection needles, as well as other applications bonding cannulas to hubs.
Airway management device assembly
Dymax’s solvent-free respiratory device adhesives meet ISO 10993-5 Cytotoxicity approvals, making them an appropriate choice for assembling airway management devices such as breathing circuits, anaesthesia masks, and resuscitator bags.
The light-cure adhesives form strong, moisture-resistant, flexible bonds to styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), PVC, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polystyrene (PS), as well as highly plasticised plastics.
Available in a range of viscosities, they are easily dispensed by spraying and screen printing or by syringe and dipping well.
Medical wearables and electronics
Light-curing materials are used to bond, seal, and coat medical electronics used in the design, manufacture, and assembly of wearable diagnostic and therapeutic devices that monitor diabetes, pain, vital signs, or sleep.
To meet the demands of the expanding wearables market, Dymax is developing safe medical-grade adhesives used for sensitive skin applications, as well as other medical electronic coatings and adhesives used to hermetically seal components when skin sensitivity is not a concern. Dymax light-curable materials bond extremely well to a variety of the metal, glass, and plastic substrates used in the assembly of these wearable devices.
Dispensing and light-curing equipment
Dymax manufacturers dispensing and light-curing systems that are optimized to work seamlessly together with Dymax medical device adhesives, providing companies with complete assembly solutions from initial dispense to finished component.
Equipment includes manual and automated spray valves, syringe dispensers, and controllers that offer accurate, low-to-high volume dispense of light-curable materials onto parts. A range of broad-spectrum and LED UV light-curing equipment utilises medium-to-high-intensity light energy for fast 1-30 second cures.
Products include spot curing systems, flood lamps, and conveyor systems.
