Industry News
Feb 13,2026
PI Tubing vs. PTFE Tubing: Which is Better for Catheter Liner?
In the development of minimally invasive medical devices, the choice of liner material directly determines the success of the procedure. PI tubing (polyimide tubing) and PTFE tubing have always been core components of high-performance catheters. Key conclusion: If extremely thin wall thickness, excellent torque transmission, and kink resistance are required, medical-grade PI tubing is the best choice; if ultimate lubricity is needed, PTFE offers advantages.
As a professional manufacturer deeply rooted in the field of interventional medical consumables, our business scope covers the entire range of medical-grade PI tubing solutions, from basic materials to complex structures, dedicated to solving material challenges for medical device engineers worldwide.
In-depth Comparison of Key Performance Characteristics of Medical-Grade PI and PTFE Tubing
Before deciding which material to choose, we recommend a thorough evaluation of PI and PTFE tubing based on the following four core dimensions:
Wall Thickness Limit and Space Efficiency
This is the core strength of medical-grade PI tubing. It can achieve extremely thin wall thicknesses (as low as 0.0005 inches) while maintaining extremely high strength. Compared to the susceptibility of PTFE to deformation at thin wall thicknesses, PI tubing significantly optimizes the inner diameter (ID) space of the catheter. We provide extruded single-layer/multi-layer tubing, which can be precisely customized according to requirements, helping devices achieve miniaturization.
Mechanical Strength and Structural Support
PI tubing has extremely high tensile strength. For catheters that need to navigate tortuous blood vessels, our spiral/braided reinforcement sheath technology maximizes the physical properties of medical-grade PI tubing, ensuring excellent torque response.
Coefficient of Friction and Surface Treatment
Although PTFE has better inherent lubricity, we can effectively improve the smoothness of PI tubing through various surface treatment solutions, making it possess both strength and passability, meeting the clinical needs of various single-lumen/multi-lumen tubing.
Stability under Complex Conditions
In high-temperature or high-pressure environments, special engineering materials such as PEEK/PI tubing exhibit superior dimensional stability compared to PTFE, especially in the manufacturing process of single-layer/double-layer/triple-layer balloon catheters, providing more reliable support.
Why Choose Our Medical-Grade PI Tubing Solutions?
We understand the stringent material requirements for medical devices, and therefore have built a diversified product portfolio to provide customers with a one-stop procurement experience:
Precision Extrusion Process: Covering single-layer/multi-layer tubing extrusion, ensuring dimensional tolerances are controlled within extremely tight ranges.
Complex Structure Customization: Providing everything from simple single-lumen/multi-lumen tubing to complex spiral/braided reinforced sheaths, enhancing the pressure resistance and flexibility of catheters.
Balloon Technology Support: For dilation devices, we offer high-performance single-layer/double-layer/triple-layer balloon tubing.
Cutting-edge Material Coverage: In addition to our core medical-grade PI tubing, we also offer high-end engineering plastics such as PEEK tubing, meeting the needs of different interventional scenarios.
Selection Recommendations and Expert Consultation
Choose PTFE tubing: Suitable for projects requiring extreme inner lumen lubricity and where space constraints are relatively loose.
Choose Medical-grade PI tubing: Suitable for cutting-edge devices in neurointerventional and cardiovascular interventions requiring ultra-thin walls, high strength, and precise control.
As a professional manufacturer of PI tubing and interventional components, we not only provide high-quality products but also offer comprehensive surface treatment solutions. Regardless of the stage of your R&D project, we can provide support from small-batch prototyping to large-scale production.