Do you know someone who believes that duct tape fixes everything? It’s a handy product; there’s no question about it. If only there were a similar, do-it-all solution when designing devices for medical and healthcare use.
Choosing the best fastening method for your product is no small decision. There are many factors to consider, including design, manufacturing, compliance, safety, and more. However, thanks to impressive material science advancements, adhesives have emerged as a viable, cost-effective replacement over mechanical fasteners.
Benefits of adhesives for medical devices
Today’s adhesives come in a wide range of structural, non-structural, and pressure-sensitive options. There are plenty of advantages of using adhesives in place of mechanical fasteners. Depending on your application, you can take advantage of:
- Lightweighting
- A uniform bond and reliable securement to a variety of surfaces (including skin)
- Improved manufacturability with fewer steps (no need to drill holes)
- Enhanced durability and resistance to environmental factors
- Design flexibility
Within the medical device field, adhesives offer additional benefits. Adhesives designed for medical applications are ready-made for FDA compliance, including durability rub tests, labeling, and digital tracking. Furthermore, some adhesives are UL-listed and certified with specific printing systems and inks. These attributes remove much of the guesswork of selecting materials that fit your specifications and industry requirements.
Adhesive application for medical devices
Whether sticking to skin or attaching one component to another, there are virtually endless uses for adhesives for medical devices and healthcare products. Here is just a sample:
- Wearables and patient monitoring equipment
- Medical device labels
- Medical device assembly
- Pharmaceutical labels
- Equipment graphics
- Overlays
- Sealing
Custom converting for adhesives
Once you’re ready to make the switch to adhesives, the next step is finding a trusted manufacturing partner. At Tapecon, we have vast experience working with adhesives, including innovative medical-grade options. In addition to our materials expertise, we have full-service printing and converting capabilities, as well as an ISO 13485 certified and FDA registered facility.
Get started with adhesives
At Tapecon, we have over 100 years of experience helping customers solve their complex product challenges. Learn more about our medical device components applications.