Views: 0 Author: Kevin Publish Time: 2026-02-02 Origin: Jinan Chensheng Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
In hemodialysis, the "pump segment"—the section of tubing inserted into the peristaltic blood pump—is the engine of the entire treatment. It endures thousands of compressions per hour to circulate the patient's blood through the dialyzer.
If this tubing fails, the consequences are severe: from inaccurate blood flow rates (reducing dialysis adequacy) to dangerous hemolysis (rupture of red blood cells).
For dialysis technicians and procurement managers, choosing the right Medical Silicone Tubing is not just about durability; it is about ensuring the patient receives the prescribed dose of dialysis safely and effectively.
Unlike standard IV lines, dialysis tubing is dynamic. The roller pump squeezes the tube to push blood forward. This mechanical action creates two specific risks that your tubing choice must mitigate:
Spallation: Under constant friction, low-quality tubing can shed microscopic particles from its inner wall into the bloodstream. These particles can accumulate in the patient's organs over years of treatment.
Hemolysis: If the tubing is too hard or the inner surface is rough, the shear force generated during compression can physically tear red blood cells, leading to anemia and potassium spikes.
The Solution:High-Purity Medical Silicone is the preferred material because of its superior elasticity and smooth surface finish, which minimizes trauma to blood cells.
To optimize the "Kt/V" (dialysis adequacy) and ensure safety, focus on these three engineering properties:
When the pump roller moves away, the tube must instantly spring back to its full round shape to fill with blood for the next cycle.
The Risk: If the tubing fatigues and stays flattened (hysteresis), the actual blood flow will be lower than what the machine displays.
The Spec: Choose Platinum Cured Silicone with a specialized "pump grade" formulation. These are engineered to maintain 95%+ rebound memory even after 4+ hours of continuous pumping.
Finding the "Goldilocks" zone is vital.
Too Soft (<50A): The tube may collapse under the negative pressure of the arterial draw, causing alarms.
Too Hard (>65A): The pump has to work harder, and the rigid tube causes more damage (hemolysis) to the blood cells.
Recommendation: A hardness of 50 to 60 Shore A is typically ideal for standard hemodialysis blood pumps.
Dialysis machines undergo rigorous disinfection between patients.
The Challenge: Exposure to citric acid, bleach, or heat disinfection (80°C+) can degrade inferior materials.
The Spec: Ensure your Medical Silicone Tubing is chemically inert and rated for the specific disinfection protocols used in your clinic.
The Challenge: A dialysis center noticed that towards the end of 4-hour treatments, the actual blood flow (Qb) was dropping by 10% compared to the pump setting, leading to under-dialysis.
The Diagnosis: The PVC-blend tubing they were using was suffering from "fatigue flattening" due to the heat generated by the pump rollers.
The Switch: They upgraded the pump segment to our High-Rebound Medical Silicone Tubing.
Result: The silicone maintained its shape throughout the entire session. Post-dialysis blood work showed improved toxin clearance rates, and machine alarms due to flow errors decreased significantly.
Correct Installation: Do not over-stretch the silicone segment when loading it into the pump. Stretching thins the wall and reduces the tube's life.
Lubrication: Some high-performance silicone pump tubes require a specific external coating or lubrication to reduce friction with the rollers. Check with your manufacturer.
Visual Checks: After treatment, inspect the used pump segment. If you see deep grooves or cracking, it may indicate the pump occlusion is set too tight, or the tubing quality is insufficient for the pump speed.
In dialysis, the tubing is as important as the dialyzer itself. It controls the flow, protects the blood, and endures the stress of the procedure.
By investing in Fatigue-Resistant, Platinum Cured Medical Silicone Tubing, you protect your patients from hemolysis and ensure they receive the full benefit of their treatment time.
At JNGXJ, we understand the critical hemodynamics of dialysis. Contact us to discuss our Medical Silicone Tubing solutions customized for peristaltic blood pumps.
Q: What causes hemolysis in dialysis tubing?
A: Hemolysis (breaking of blood cells) is often caused by excessive mechanical stress. This happens if the tubing is too hard, the pump occlusion is too tight, or the inner surface of the tubing is rough. Smooth, platinum cured silicone minimizes this risk.
Q: How long can silicone tubing last in a blood pump?
A: While silicone is durable, in dialysis, the tubing is typically single-use for infection control. However, during that single use (4-5 hours), it must withstand thousands of compressions without degrading.
Q: Why is Platinum Cured Silicone better than Peroxide Cured for dialysis?
A: Platinum cured silicone has fewer extractables (cleaner), better transparency, and superior physical strength (tear resistance). It does not release by-products that could interact with the blood.
Q: Does the tubing affect the dialysis dose (Kt/V)?
A: Yes. If the tubing flattens out (loses its round shape) during the treatment, the pump moves less blood per revolution than calculated. This means less blood is cleaned, potentially lowering the Kt/V score.
