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How are elastomers used in pacemaker leads and catheters?

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Know how researchers created a synthetic material, elastomers, that can change color and texture to specific voltage change, like that of cephalopods — elastomer Learn about elastomers that are changeable in colour and texture, much like the skin of octopuses and other cephalopods. In the elastomers, these changes take place under electrical stimulation.

Elastomers are essential in medical technology, particularly for cardiovascular applications, due to their high elasticity, impact resistance, and gas permeability.1

In the construction of pacemaker leads and catheters, elastomers are utilized primarily as flexible tubing. These materials are favored because they can be extended by 100 to 1,000 percent of their initial dimensions without undergoing permanent deformation, allowing them to withstand the dynamic environment of the human body.1

Specific types of elastomers used include:
* Silicone rubbers: These are cross-linked materials that offer high durability and stability.1
* Polyurethane elastomers: These consist of soft and hard segments that undergo microphase separation. This structure provides the materials with a relatively high modulus and extraordinary long-term stability under sustained cyclic loading, making them particularly well-suited for long-term cardiovascular devices.12

By leveraging these mechanical properties, manufacturers can create devices that are both resilient and biocompatible, ensuring they function effectively while in contact with blood or host tissues.12