Radiopaque fillers have been added to thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) via melt blending for use in minimally invasive medical devices such as catheters for years. The most important function of these materials when the device is inside the body is to be visible under X-rays, to help surgeon to guide the device to its ultimate destination in the body. Miniaturization is today's trend in the medical device industry. Consequently, the polymer producers who blend radiopaque fillers and TPE materials have to have tight tolerances on the products and meet specifications, and still be processable into increasingly smaller and thinner tubes and parts.
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