Did you know that the experts at TriStar — already recognized as pioneers in custom plastic fabrication — also lead the market in the surface treatment of polymer components used in many test devices?

Microfluidics in medical

Simply put, microfluidics is the technology of designing devices to channel the flow of tiny amounts of fluids, often ranging in quantity from a microliter or even a nanoliter. In medical testing, microfluids — such as blood and other fluids — are used to determine a patient's true medical condition. Tests can range from a simple pregnancy confirmation to even detecting a life-threatening cardiac condition. The devices used in these tests consist of a rigid polymer component with an adjoined filter media.

Plasma for polymer

Our team incorporates our unique plasma treatment to alter the chemistry of the polymer components so they can bind fluid enzymes and keep the testing fluid stable. This method helps to ensure greater test accuracy for our clients, who include the market leaders in the field of diagnostic testing.

Our plasma treatment renders the testing device hydrophobic or hydrophilic, which enables it to better:

• Retain control of test fluid
• Promote uniformity
• Expedite results

With plasma, the testing devices also gain a good band of color to indicate a clear test result — which is critical to proper medical intervention. In addition to plasma treatment, our clients can also choose from corona, photolysis and Parylene techniques. Consult with one of our in-house engineers to learn about the benefits of each, or visit our Tech Talk blog to engage our engineering team with your particular design issue.