TPT July 2008

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33 July 2008
Technology Update
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The innovative ProfilControl 5-Medictube
inspection system is a system for inline
inspection of the quality of medical tubing
during the production process and over
the complete tube length. Until now, it is
claimed such tubes could only be inspected
by random checks.
ProfilControl 5-Medictube can be used to
inspect tubing made of PVC, PE, PUR and
rubber. It can also be used in medicine
– cardiac catheterization or dialysis, for
example. Due to its compact design, the
ProfilControl 5-Medictube requires an
installation length of only 250mm, and can
easily be integrated into existing production
lines. The system is suitable for use under
clean room conditions.
The homogeneity of the tube material
plays a decisive role, especially for medical
tubing. If inhomogeneities are mistaken
as blood or other contaminations (ie in
transparent dialysis tubes), or an inclusion
in the tube wall is misinterpreted as an air
bubble, this can cause irritation or lead to
false conclusions.
Pixargus PC 5-Medictube
detects such defects
during the production
process, such as holes,
fissures, foreign particles
or inclusions in the tubing
material. The production
staff can immediately
take corrective action
and sort out the defective
material. At the same
time it helps to avoid
such defects in the
future.
Besides the fact that
the outside diameters
of the tubing are often
very small, the semi-transparency of the
product surface poses another challenge to
inspection system designers. This was one
reason why automatic inspection of these
materials was not possible in the past. In
addition, material-inherent reflexions of
the lustrous tube surfaces pose a difficult-
to-solve problem for optical inspection
systems.
Pixargus has now succeeded in combining
light and camera technology in a
sophisticated design that despite these
difficulties makes material defects visible.
Pixargus GmbH – Germany
Fax: +49 241 196 2278
Email:
Website:
High medical safety due to complete
tubing surface inspection
 The design of the measuring head is so compact that the system can be
easily integrated into existing production lines