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Additional Context
Connector manufacturer TE Connectivity now uses 3D printing for catheter shafts. These medical device components are now lower in cost thanks to additive manufacturing. Catheters are often coated in polymer jackets, with different thicknesses, lengths, and materials being used at different areas of the catheter. TE’s Advanced Technology Group at their Galway, Ireland-based PROPELUS Prototype Center decided to develop a specific process to print on the catheter itself as the catheter is rotated. The resulting process uses less material and is quicker while part properties and looks are kept the same. Production is more flexible; more iterations can be made, while greater design freedom could lead to entirely new catheter designs and functionalities.
Pat Duane, senior vice president of TE’s