Plastics are the most widely used materials in medical devices and components. The demand for medical-grade plastics is increasing as the global medical device market continues to expand.

From surgical gloves, syringes and intravenous (IV) tubes to optical components, coronary stents and antimicrobial coating on medical equipment, plastics are being increasingly used in medical device applications because of their advantages such as lightweight, durability, cost efficiency, contaminant and chemical resistance, sterilisation capability, biocompatibility, and numerous design possibilities.

Finding the top plastic medical device manufacturers

Medical Device Network has listed some of the leading plastic medical device manufacturers based on its intel, insights, and decades-long experience in the sector.

The list includes companies that design and manufacture a wide variety of safe and reliable plastic medical device products and components, meeting the specifications and regulatory needs of the medical industry.

The information contained within the download document is useful for hospital administrators, physicians and surgeons, senior procurement executives, medical device manufacturers, distributors, engineers, technicians, and any other individual involved in the production, operation and maintenance of medical devices.

The download contains detailed information on the manufacturers and their product and service lines, alongside contact details to aid your purchasing or hiring decision.

Types of plastic materials and their applications in medical devices

The most common plastics used in manufacturing medical devices and components include, but are not limited to:

  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Blood and dialysis bags, IV bags and tubing, oxygen masks and oxygen tubing, surgical gloves and gowns, and catheters
  • Polyethylene (PE): Implants, personal protective equipment (PPE) and catheters
  • Polypropylene (PP): Disposable syringes, sutures, surgical trays, and implant caddies
  • Polystyrene (PS): Culture trays, test tubes, implants, diagnostic components, and housings for test kits and medical equipment
  • Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): Implantable textiles and tubing for angioplasty balloons, sewing cuff of heart valves, and vascular prostheses
  • Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS): Medical masks, valves for ventilators, non-absorbable sutures, ligament prostheses, and tracheal tubes
  • Polycarbonate (PC): Anaesthesia containers, blood oxygenators, arterial filters, intravenous connectors, surgical instruments, and endoscopic appliances
  • Acetal plastic: Handheld diagnostic wands, sterilisation trays, dental instruments, and imaging equipment
  • Polysulfone (PSU): Heart valve sizers, dialysis filtration cartridges, and surgical instrument cases and trays, and
  • Polyurethane (PUR): Implant devices, feeding tubes, dialysis devices, intra-aortic balloon pumps, surgical drains, pacemakers, artificial hearts, hospital beds, and surgical tables
  • Acrylic (PMMA):  Medical device models, marketing displays and laboratory testing parts/products

Mitigating the environmental impact of plastic medical products

With the changing public perception and strict government regulations to control environmental pollution, plastic medical device manufacturers are looking at innovative technologies and materials to reduce their carbon footprints and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

While biodegradable and recycled plastics are being increasingly used in medical applications, some hospitals are recycling their single-use plastic waste into materials that can be used to make plastic products such as bottles, bins, bags and toolboxes, among others.

Download our list here.