Method for preparing polymer pipe hole

Abstract

The method comprises the following steps: measuring specification parameters of a high-molecular pipe with a high-molecular pipe hole to be manufactured; fixing the polymer pipe on an operation platform; preparing an air blowing system, and conveying inert gas to the polymer pipe part to protect the ablation work in the next step; according to the measured specification parameters, the focus, needing to be aligned, of the laser on the polymer pipe is calculated for ablation; according to the scheme of the actually-needed hole, parameter adjustment is carried out on the laser device, after adjustment is completed, the polymer pipe is ablated, the situation that traditional machining usually needs tedious equipment setting and process control is avoided, the method is suitable for various medical polymer materials including but not limited to silica gel, PVC, TPU and the like, and then the application range is expanded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to a method for preparing polymer tubular pores. Background Art

[0002] Polymer materials usually have good biocompatibility and biodegradability, so polymer materials (such as silicone, PVC, TPU, etc.) are widely used to manufacture various medical devices, such as catheters, infusion tubes, urinary catheters, etc. In practical applications, these polymer tubes may need to be processed with various types of holes, such as diversion holes, drainage holes, vent holes, etc. The design and function of these holes depend on the specific medical application and device requirements.

[0003] The traditional method of preparing functional holes in machined medical polymer tubing has the following significant problems: the preparation process is cumbersome. Traditional machining usually requires cumbersome equipment settings and process control, including adjustment of parameters such as tool selection, rotation speed, and feed speed. Imprecise control of these factors may lead to unstable hole quality or low processing efficiency; poor precision and high control difficulty. The production of functional holes in medical polymer tubing requires precise hole position and appropriate size to ensure that it does not affect the overall function of the polymer tubing and the required fluid dynamics requirements of some parts. Traditional machining may be difficult to achieve the required high precision, especially in the processing of small-sized holes; poor surface quality and smoothness. The holes in the polymer tubing need to be kept smooth and burr-free to avoid poor use results or even secondary damage during use. Traditional machining may cause rough or burred hole edges, requiring additional post-processing steps to improve surface quality.

[0004] It is not difficult to see that there are still many problems in the prior art, and it is necessary to improve the existing method of punching holes in polymer tubes to overcome the defects of the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a method for preparing polymer tubular pores.

[0006] The present invention solves the above problems by the following technical means:

[0007] The present invention also provides a method for preparing polymer tubular pores, comprising:

[0008] Measuring the specification parameters of the polymer tube of the polymer tube hole to be manufactured;

[0009] Fixing the polymer tube on an operating platform;

[0010] Prepare a blowing system to deliver inert gas to the polymer tubing to protect the next step of ablation;

[0011] By means of the measured specification parameters, the focus of the laser on the polymer tube is calculated to perform ablation;

[0012] According to the actual hole plan required, the parameters of the laser are adjusted, and after the adjustment is completed, the polymer tube is ablated.

[0013] Furthermore, the specification parameters include: the outer diameter, wall thickness and length of the polymer tube of the polymer tube hole to be made. It should be noted that the specification parameters can be measured using a vernier caliper, and the measurement of the outer diameter can make the focus more accurately aligned. The measurement of the wall thickness can be used to set the parameters of the laser to ablate polymer tubes of different materials more specifically.

[0014] Furthermore, the flow rate of the gas delivered by the blowing system is 10-100 L / min. It should be noted that the main purpose of the blowing system in the present invention is to cool and blow away the debris in the process of hole making of the polymer tube and protect the polymer tube.

[0015] Furthermore, the laser is an ultraviolet picosecond laser, and the collimated laser is focused into a Gaussian beam through a focusing field lens, and the spot diameter is 20-35um. The parameter range of the laser is: power 1-10W, repetition frequency 500-1200KHZ, pulse width 50-500fs, scanning speed 1-20mm / s, and processing times 1-5 times. It should be noted that in the hole-making process, the selection of appropriate laser parameters has a great influence on the processing results. The present invention has been tested many times and finally determined that the above parameter range is the most suitable parameter for hole-making processing. The appropriate laser parameters are selected, and the ultraviolet femtosecond laser is like a water knife to cut various complex and special-shaped holes on the surface of the polymer tube.

[0016] Furthermore, the method further comprises: after the ablation is completed, the ablated and perforated polymer tube is placed in an ultrasonic cleaning machine for cleaning, the cleaning time is 2-8 minutes, and the ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic cleaning machine is 10-80 khz.

[0017] The method for preparing polymer tubing holes described in the present invention adopts the mutual cooperation of laser and blowing system, avoids the cumbersome equipment setting and process control usually required for traditional mechanical processing, and uses laser ablation to punch holes. The ultraviolet picosecond laser specially selected by the present invention, and after many experiments, the optimal range of the use parameters of the laser is selected. Within the parameter range selected by the present invention, it can be ensured that the holes with very good effects are formed without melting or burning. The present invention significantly improves the processing efficiency by optimizing the key factors such as the pulse energy, repetition frequency and scanning speed of the ultraviolet femtosecond laser. Compared with traditional processing, the present invention can complete the processing of holes in a shorter time, greatly improving the efficiency. The present invention can realize the precise control of the aperture and hole shape, can process holes of various complex shapes and sizes, and ensure that the edges of the holes are smooth and burr-free, thereby adapting to the needs of different medical polymer tubing. The present invention is applicable to a variety of medical polymer materials, including but not limited to silica gel, PVC, TPU, etc., thereby expanding the scope of application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 The present invention is a flow chart of the method for preparing polymer tubular pores. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be pointed out that the described implementation examples are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] Example

[0022] The present invention is described in more detail below:

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a method for preparing polymer tubular pores, comprising:

[0024] Measuring the specification parameters of the polymer tube of the polymer tube hole to be manufactured.

[0025] Preferably, the specification parameters include: the outer diameter, wall thickness and length of the polymer tube of the polymer tube hole to be made. It should be noted that the specification parameters can be measured using a vernier caliper, and the measurement of the outer diameter can make the focus more accurately aligned. The measurement of the wall thickness can be used to set the parameters of the laser 6 to ablate polymer tubes of different materials more specifically.

[0026] The polymer tube is fixed on the operating platform.

[0027] Prepare a blowing system to deliver inert gas to the polymer tubing to protect the next step of ablation;

[0028] Preferably, the flow rate of the gas delivered by the blowing system is 10-100 L / min. It should be noted that the main purpose of the blowing system in the present invention is to cool and blow away the debris in the process of hole making of the polymer tube and protect the polymer tube. Preferably, the gas delivered by the blowing system includes but is not limited to supercritical carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

[0029] The focus of the laser on the polymer tube to be aimed at is calculated based on the measured specification parameters for ablation.

[0030] According to the actual hole plan required, the parameters of the laser are adjusted, and after the adjustment is completed, the polymer tube is ablated.

[0031] Preferably, the laser is an ultraviolet picosecond laser, and the collimated laser is focused into a Gaussian beam through a focusing field lens, and the spot diameter is 20-35um. The parameter range of the laser 6 is: power 1-10W, repetition frequency 500-1200KHZ, pulse width 50-500fs, scanning speed 1-20mm / s, and processing times 1-5 times. It should be noted that when the laser 6 is used to ablate the polymer tube to be made into a hole, the present invention has found a most suitable laser removal parameter range for silicone catheters after many experiments between the laser energy being too large and easy to melt and the laser energy being too small and difficult to remove the tube. The parameter range selected by the method of the present invention will not cause a large burn and melt of the polymer tube, and can ensure a good removal effect. In the process of hole making, the selection of appropriate laser parameters has a great influence on the processing results. After multiple tests, the present invention finally determined that the above parameter range is the most suitable parameter for hole making. The appropriate laser parameters are selected. The ultraviolet femtosecond laser is like a water knife to cut various complex and special-shaped holes on the surface of the polymer tube.

[0032] Preferably, the method for making a polymer tube hole provided by the present invention further comprises:

[0033] After the ablation is completed, the ablated and perforated polymer tube is placed in an ultrasonic cleaning machine for cleaning. The cleaning time is 2-8 minutes. The ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic cleaning machine is 10-80 khz.

[0034] Preferably, in order to make the processing and manufacturing efficiency of the present invention higher, before ablating the polymer tube, the present invention further performs pre-treatment on the polymer tube, and the pre-treatment on the tube includes but is not limited to: surface cleaning treatment, refrigeration treatment, etc.

[0035] Preferably, the surface cleaning treatment includes but is not limited to: ultrasonic cleaning, solvent cleaning, air blowing cleaning, etc. (removing dust, oil and other impurities on the surface of the polymer tube helps to improve the absorption efficiency of laser energy, reduce energy loss, and improve processing efficiency).

[0036] Preferably, the refrigeration treatment is to place the polymer tube into an ultra-low temperature refrigerator for refrigeration before laser ablation; and to perform processing and ablation when the temperature of the polymer tube reaches -80 to 0°C (the refrigeration treatment can reduce the initial temperature of the polymer tube material, reduce heat diffusion and thus reduce the range of the heat-affected zone. At the same time, it can reduce material deformation and cracks caused by thermal stress and improve processing accuracy and quality).

[0037] In order to make the present invention easier to understand, several embodiments are listed below for further explanation:

[0038] Example 1

[0039] Precondition: the polymer tube is a silicone catheter after vulcanization treatment, a double-two-tetrasulfide system, a hardness of 60A, and the shapes to be processed are a racetrack-shaped ellipse with a major axis of 4.5 mm and a minor axis of 1.5 mm, an ellipse with a major axis of 3 mm and a minor axis of 1.2 mm, and a circle with a diameter of 1.5 mm.

[0040] According to the method of making holes in polymer tubing as described above, the outer diameter d of the tube is measured to be 5mm, and the wall thickness t is 0.9mm. First, immerse the silicone tube in ultrasonic cleaning solution to remove dirt and impurities on the surface through the bursting effect of tiny bubbles generated by ultrasonic vibration. Then put the cleaned silicone tube into an ultra-low temperature refrigerator and refrigerate it to -30°C. Place the tube on the laser processing platform and calculate the focus of the laser on the silicone catheter. The focus is the point where the laser reaches the surface of the tube after emission. It can be calculated according to the actual situation. Based on the actual situation of the tube and the specific form of the operating table, the required pattern is made, and the blowing system is turned on. The nitrogen gas flow rate is about 50L / mi n, a UV femtosecond laser with a wavelength of 343nm, a repetition frequency of 1000KHZ, a single pulse energy of 4.13uj, a scanning speed of 4mm / s, and a scanning number of 1 times was selected. The processing time required for the three shapes of single holes mentioned above was 2.355s, 1.7275s, and 1.1775s respectively. The ablated silicone catheter was placed in an ultrasonic cleaning machine with a frequency of 50khz for cleaning for 5min, and the ablated surface was photographed with an optical microscope and an electron microscope. Analysis showed that the roughness of the ablated surface reached an order of 5um, the edge of the hole was smooth, and the surface was transparent.

[0041] At this point, the production of the three holes on the silicone urinary catheter is officially completed.

[0042] Example 2

[0043] Precondition: the polymer tube is a TPU medical tube with a Shore hardness of 85A, and a vent hole with a diameter of 1.5 mm needs to be processed.

[0044] According to the method of making holes in polymer tubing as described above, the outer diameter d of the tube is measured to be 4.65mm, and the wall thickness m is 0.8mm. First, put the TPU tube into a water-based cleaning solution to clean the surface of the tube, and combine brushing to enhance the cleaning effect. Put the cleaned tube into an ultra-low temperature refrigerator and refrigerate it to -20°C. Place the tube on the laser processing platform. Place the tube on the laser processing platform and calculate the focus that the laser 6 needs to be aimed at on the silicone catheter. The focus is the point where the laser reaches the surface of the tube after emission. It can be calculated according to the actual situation. Based on the actual situation of the tube and the specific form of the operating table, the required pattern is made and the blowing is turned on. Gas system 7, the flow rate of supercritical carbon dioxide gas delivered is about 40L / min, a UV femtosecond laser with a wavelength of 343nm is selected, the repetition frequency is 750KHZ, the single pulse energy generated is 2.95uj, the scanning speed is 3mm / s, the number of scans is 1, and the processing time required to complete a single hole is 1.57s. The ablated TPU medical tube is placed in an ultrasonic cleaning machine with a frequency of 50khz for 4 minutes, and the ablated section is photographed by optical microscopy and electron microscopy. The edge of the hole is smooth and the surface is transparent.

[0045] At this point, the production of the vent holes of the TPU medical tube is officially completed.

[0046] Example 3

[0047] Precondition: the polymer tube is a PVC medical tube, which needs to be processed with an infusion hole with a diameter of 0.8 mm.

[0048] According to the method for making holes in polymer tubes as described above, the outer diameter d of the tube is measured to be 5.3 mm, and the wall thickness m is 0.8 mm. First, the surface of the tube is treated with low-temperature plasma, and organic pollutants and surface impurities are removed by active particles in the plasma. The cleaned tube is placed in an ultra-low temperature refrigerator for refrigeration to 0°C, and the tube is placed on a laser processing platform. The focus of the laser 6 on the silicone catheter is calculated. The focus is the point where the laser reaches the surface of the tube after emission. The calculation can be performed according to the actual situation to make the required pattern, and the blowing system 7 is turned on. The argon gas flow rate is about 50 L / min. A ultraviolet femtosecond laser with a wavelength of 343 nm is selected, the repetition frequency is 600 KHZ, the single pulse energy generated is 3.35 uj, the scanning speed is 5 mm / s, and the number of scans is 1. The processing time required to complete a single hole is 0.5024 s. The ablated PVC medical tube is placed in an ultrasonic cleaning machine with a frequency of 50 khz for 8 minutes, and is taken out after cleaning.

[0049] At this point, the production of high-quality PVC tube infusion holes is officially completed.

[0050] Obviously, through the description of the above three embodiments, it can be clearly felt that the method for preparing polymer tube holes provided by the present invention avoids the cumbersome equipment setting and process control usually required for traditional mechanical processing. The device and method provided by the present invention are simple to operate, have good preparation effect and short time, and are easy to large-scale and standardized production.

[0051] The method for preparing holes in polymer tubes described in the present invention avoids the complicated equipment settings and process control usually required for traditional mechanical processing through the mutual coordination of laser and blowing systems, and uses laser ablation to perform drilling. The present invention specifically uses an ultraviolet picosecond laser, and limits the range of the use parameters of the laser. Within the parameter range defined by the present invention, it can be ensured that holes with very good effects are formed without melting or burning.

[0052] The advantages of the present invention include but are not limited to:

[0053] First, the precise control of ultraviolet femtosecond laser parameters. The present invention achieves efficient and high-quality hole processing for medical polymer tubing by precisely controlling key parameters such as ultraviolet femtosecond laser pulse energy, repetition frequency and scanning speed. Compared with traditional laser processing methods, it significantly improves processing efficiency and reduces processing time, reflecting innovative laser parameter optimization technology.

[0054] Second, high-quality hole processing. The present invention adopts ultraviolet femtosecond laser technology to effectively avoid the problems of thermal effects and thermal deformation, ensuring that the edges of the holes are smooth, burr-free, and free of thermal damage, which is particularly suitable for the high-standard processing requirements of medical polymer materials.

[0055] Third, the adaptability to multiple materials. The present invention is applicable to a variety of medical polymer materials, including but not limited to: silicone, PVC, TPU, etc. By adjusting the laser parameters, it can achieve the best processing effect on different materials, expand the application scope of laser processing technology, and improve the versatility and practicality of the process.

[0056] References to "one embodiment", "another embodiment", "embodiment", "preferred embodiment", etc. in this specification refer to specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the example included in at least one embodiment generally described in this application. The appearance of the same expression in multiple places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a specific feature, structure or characteristic is described in conjunction with any embodiment, it is claimed that the realization of such feature, structure or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments also falls within the scope of the present invention. Although the present invention is described herein with reference to a number of illustrative examples of the present invention, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can design many other modifications and implementations that fall within the scope and spirit of the principles disclosed in this application. More specifically, within the scope of the present application disclosure, drawings and claims, in addition to the deformation and improvement that can be made to the components and / or layout of the subject combination layout, other uses will also be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a polymer tubular pore, characterized in that: include: Measuring the specification parameters of the polymer tube of the polymer tube hole to be manufactured; Fixing the polymer tube on an operating platform; Prepare a blowing system to deliver inert gas to the polymer tubing to protect the next step of ablation; By means of the measured specification parameters, the focus of the laser on the polymer tube is calculated to perform ablation; According to the actual hole plan required, the parameters of the laser are adjusted, and after the adjustment is completed, the polymer tube is ablated.

2. The method for preparing polymer tubing pores according to claim 1, characterized in that: The specification parameters include: the outer diameter, wall thickness and length of the polymer tube of the polymer tube hole to be manufactured.

3. The method for preparing polymer tubing pores according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow rate of the gas delivered by the blowing system is 10-100 L / min.

4. The method for preparing polymer tubing pores according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser is an ultraviolet picosecond laser, which focuses the collimated laser into a Gaussian beam through a focusing field lens, and the spot diameter is 20-35um. The parameter range of the laser is: power 1-10W, repetition frequency 500-1200KHZ, pulse width 50-500fs, scanning speed 1-20mm / s, and processing times 1-5 times.

5. The method for making a polymer tube hole according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: After the ablation is completed, the ablated and perforated polymer tube is placed in an ultrasonic cleaning machine for cleaning. The cleaning time is 2-8 minutes. The ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic cleaning machine is 10-80 khz.

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