Infusion sets, blood bags, peristaltic tubing. DEHP-free PVC compounds and TPE alternatives (SEBS, COPE) growing.
The dominant material is plasticised PVC, formulated with non-DEHP plasticisers (DINCH, TOTM, citrate-based) to meet current MDR and REACH requirements. PVC tubing is clear (allowing visual air-bubble detection), flexible, kink-resistant, and economical for single-use medical devices. Thermoplastic elastomers (SEBS, COPE) are growing as PVC-free alternatives for hospitals with sustainability mandates.
PVC's specific advantages — flexibility tuned by plasticiser choice, optical clarity, sterilisation compatibility (gamma and EtO), low cost, and decades of clinical track record — are difficult to match in a single alternative material. Many medical procedures (haemodialysis, blood collection, IV infusion) were developed around PVC's properties; switching requires re-validation of the entire device.
Medical PVC is safe when formulated to current standards. DEHP, the historical plasticiser, has been progressively replaced under MDR Article 10 and EU Regulation 2022/112 with alternatives like DINCH, TOTM and DEHT. DEHP-free PVC tubing has been the European standard for new infusion sets and blood bags for several years. The remaining DEHP-containing devices are being phased out through device-master-record updates.
Polyolefin tubing (PE-based) and thermoplastic elastomers (SEBS, polyurethane) are the main PVC alternatives. They eliminate plasticiser concerns entirely but are typically more expensive and have different handling characteristics (stiffness, kink resistance). Hospital procurement decisions usually balance per-procedure cost, sustainability targets and clinical familiarity. Most European hospitals run mixed PVC/non-PVC fleets.