Dry Lubricants in Medical Devices: Four Common Myths Dispelled

Many of today’s single-use medical devices would not be commercially viable without a lubricant coating. Dry lubricants using PTFE particles provide design engineers with a solution to addressing stacked tolerances — a common challenge in complex, single-use mechanical assemblies such as staplers and arthroscopic devices. Tolerances refer to the permissible limit or limits of variation in a physical dimension, and are specified to allow reasonable leeway for imperfections and inherent variability, without compromising performance of the finished assembly or process. Resolving tolerance issues can also benefit the end user by yielding a device or product that performs its function more precisely and smoothly. As dry lubricants become a recognized solution for stacked tolerances, many designers may still hold on to myths and outdated misconceptions about dry lubricants, whether it is the overall cost of the lubricant, the application process, the finish, or environmental friendliness. A better understanding of each of these areas may lead medical design engineers and manufacturers to make more informed decisions about how to address dimensional tolerances in their product designs.