Mechanical clamp stress on poly(vinyl chloride) infusion tubing: Impact on the surface degradation

Abstract

AbstractSeveral commercial infusion tubes made of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) were shown to present a layer of bloomed species on their internal wall (lubricants and stabilizers), which are poorly soluble in water. During infusion, tubes are crushed and pinched to regulate the flow. The impact of mechanical stress on these layers infusion was studied. Device inner surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy in order to put into evidence surface degradations before and after infusion. This was correlated with a global and local infrared analysis. Because of the clamp stress, the deposits were damaged. Thus, injecting water into the damaged tubing increased the layer degradation. Roller clamp and pinch clamp may have very different effects on the inner layer morphology and degradation and this may be modulated by the initial layer morphology. Injecting water into clamp stressed tubing may increase the risk of detaching parts of the internal layer and be a supplementary factor of particulate contamination for the patient.