TPE tubing is designed specifically for the most demanding bio-pharmaceutical applications. TPE is flexible, sterilizable and moldable, and is ideal for use with peristaltic pumps, single-use assemblies, process filling and sampling devices. TPE is compatible with all common tube sealers and aseptic tube welders such as Vante, Terumo, BioWelder and GE Sterile Tube Fuser to name a few. Sentinel Process Systems partners with the leading TPE suppliers providing you the best pricing and delivery possible.
TPE combines the flexibility of rubber with the processing advantages of thermoplastics, making this material suitable for the most demanding life sciences applications. High-purity TPE tubing can be sterilized using either gamma irradiation or autoclaving, which creates a closed, aseptic connection and removes the risk of contamination from barbed fittings and clamps that are often required by other elastomers.
Because of its molecular design, TPE tubing has very low levels of adsorption, which means that your active pharmaceutical ingredients and sensitive biologics are not affected by being transferred through TPE tubing. This biocompatibility, along with TPE tubing’s compliance with USP Class VI and ISO 10993 certifications, makes it an ideal tubing material for producing vaccines, manufacturing cell therapies and filling products under aseptic conditions.
TPE tubing is available in a range of specialized formulations developed to meet the demanding requirements of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. While the underlying chemistry may vary, these materials are engineered to deliver consistent performance across critical processing steps. Selecting the appropriate TPE tubing depends on several key factors, including weldability, chemical compatibility, flexibility and mechanical strength.
Sentinel Process Systems is a distributor of multiple TPE products, including:
By evaluating process conditions such as temperature ranges, pressure requirements and fluid composition, manufacturers can select TPE tubing that provides reliable performance while supporting efficiency, safety and compliance throughout the production lifecycle.
No single TPE formulation fits every process. Sentinel Process Systems works with multiple TPE suppliers to recommend tubing that aligns with the specific chemical, mechanical and regulatory requirements of each application. Our Sanisure and AdvantaFlex TPE tubing solutions are designed to prioritize safety, performance and sustainability in demanding applications.
Both materials are capable of meeting the stringent specifications required by most regulatory agencies, but they also show some very unique characteristics that make them well-suited to specific applications.
A major advantage of TPE tubing is that it has a better gas barrier than silicone tubing and lower permeability. TPE tubing is an ideal material for applications where minimizing oxygen transfer or minimizing carbon dioxide loss is critical.
The fact that TPE tubing can be sterilized and welded means that, in many cases, single-use TPE tubing does not require connectors. This reduces both the cost of the system and the number of potential leak points. Additionally, TPE tubing is made without silicone oil, so there is no risk of silicone oil contaminating sensitive downstream processes or causing foam problems.
One significant advantage of using silicone tubing in extreme temperatures (i.e., from -100°F to 400°F) compared to TPE tubing (which operates between -40°F to +140°F) is long-term peristaltic pump life for continuous-duty applications.
However, for single-use systems, aseptic transfers and applications that utilize weldable connections, TPE medical tubing has proven to provide substantial benefits, leading to a rapid expansion of TPE medical tubing in the biopharmaceutical industry.
At Sentinel, we are dedicated to delivering CAD design services that align with the industry’s demands for accuracy, innovation and compliance. Contact us today to learn more about how our services can enhance your operations and turn your vision and specific requirements into a reality.