Lubrizol Releases High-Flexibility Polyurethane for Devices
The new material enables thinner, softer catheter profiles for complex vascular procedures without the need for additives.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Materials Science
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Lubrizol has released Tecothane Soft AR-65A, a medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane designed for use in vascular and cardiac delivery catheters. The material is currently available as a commercial product.
Why it matters
The material allows for the design of slimmer, softer catheter profiles, which are critical for navigating delicate anatomy in neurovascular and cardiac procedures.
The material features a 65A Shore hardness rating, achieving this level of flexibility without relying on additives or polymer blends. It maintains compatibility with standard catheter assembly techniques, including laser, reflow, solvent, and RF welding.
The players
Lubrizol
A specialty chemicals company that develops advanced polymers and ingredients for the medical device and industrial markets.
The details
Tecothane Soft AR-65A is a pure thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) – a polymer class known for high durability and biocompatibility. By engineering the molecular structure to hit a 65A Shore hardness – a measurement of material indentation resistance – without additives, the material maintains its structural integrity during the thermal and chemical bonding processes used to fabricate catheters. This enables engineers to create distal sections that are flexible enough for complex navigation but remain compatible with existing hydrophilic coating workflows.
Timeline
October 28-29, 2026: Lubrizol showcases the material at MD&M Midwest 2026.
The Tech Race
Medical device manufacturers are currently competing to reduce catheter profiles to reach increasingly narrow vascular pathways. This material release follows industry efforts to replace additive-heavy polymers with pure, highly specialized TPUs that maintain mechanical consistency.
Device manufacturers can now source this material for immediate integration into their neurovascular and cardiac catheter production lines. The material supports existing assembly workflows, requiring no changes to standard laser or RF welding equipment.
The takeaway
Lubrizol is pushing the limits of polymer flexibility for vascular delivery systems. Industry professionals can examine the material's performance profile at booth 2712 during the ongoing MD&M Midwest 2026 conference.
Further reading
For broader trends in catheter engineering materials, see Materials Science.
More information
View the technical specifications on the Tecothane product information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Medical Design and Outsourcing.
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