Yes, you can !

Ten years ago, building a functional catheter prototype in your own lab was nearly impossible unless you worked for a large medical device company. Suppliers demanded minimum orders of 1000 pieces. Lead times stretched to 8-12 weeks. A single prototype could cost €1000+ just in materials.

That world is disappearing.

Today, a growing ecosystem of suppliers, marketplaces, and specialized partnerships makes it possible for R&D engineers to source catheter components in quantities of 10, 25, or even individual pieces. Combined with accessible fabrication techniques, you can now build and test functional delivery systems in your lab for €300- per prototype.

This guide shows you exactly where to find the components you need: catheter tubes, radiopaque markers, adhesives, distal tips, and proximal connectors. We'll compare traditional suppliers against newer alternatives, highlight cost differences, and explain which sources work best for prototyping vs. production.

The goal? Tell you how to build your own catheter for prototyping and testing purposes, for exemple to use with a U-handle, without breaking the bank at day one.

The prototyping sourcing challenge

If you've ever tried to source medical device components in small quantities, you've hit the same walls:

Traditional supplier requirements:

• Minimum order quantities: 500-1000+ pieces
• Custom extrusion setup fees: €2,000-5,000
• Lead times: 6-12 weeks for custom specs
• No sampling: "Order the minimum or nothing"

What this meant for prototyping:

• Can't test 3 different tube stiffnesses without ordering 3000 pieces total
• Stuck with whatever specs you commit to upfront
• Iteration cycles measured in months
• Massive capital tied up in inventory you might not use

The new reality:

A combination of factors has democratized component access:

1. B2B marketplaces specifically for medical device prototyping (Chamfr.com leading the charge)
2. Catheter specialists offering small-batch services (AP Technologies, SG Medical, MicroLumen)
3. Strategic partnerships like Protobrix's tube stock program
4. Unconventional sources for non-implantable prototyping components (more on this below)

The result: You can now source a complete catheter's worth of components for €80-150 in materials, delivered within a week.

Let's break down exactly where to find each component.

Catheter tubes: your three sourcing strategies

Catheter shafts are your most critical component—and historically the hardest to source in small quantities.

Option 1: Chamfr.com Marketplace

What it is: B2B marketplace connecting medical device developers with component manufacturers

Why it matters for prototyping:

• Minimum quantities: 10-50 pieces (vs. 1000+ traditional)
• No custom extrusion setup fees for standard profiles
• Ships from supplier inventory—faster than custom orders
• Search by diameter, material, reinforcement type

Available materials:

• Pebax (various durometers: 25D, 35D, 40D, 55D, 63D, 72D)
• PTFE (virgin and reinforced)
• Polyurethane (Pellethane, Carbothane)
• Nylon (various grades)

Best for: Exploring multiple material/diameter combinations without massive commitments

Pro tip: Chamfr also hosts webinar series "Concept to Prototype" featuring component suppliers and prototyping techniques—great educational resource.

Option 2: Direct Specialist Suppliers

Some suppliers have built businesses around small-batch catheter component sales:

Qosina

• Specialty: Off-the-shelf medical tubing and connectors
• Strengths: Immediate availability, no minimums, ships same-day
• Limitations: Limited to standard catalog sizes (can't get custom durometers or reinforcement patterns)
• Best for: Quick-turn prototypes with standard specs
• Website: qosina.com

Nordson Medical

• Specialty: Custom extrusions but with prototyping programs
• Strengths: Can get semi-custom specs in 25-100 piece quantities
• Process: Submit drawing, get quote, receive samples
• Lead time: 4-6 weeks
• Best for: When you need specific reinforcement patterns or wall thicknesses

MicroLumen

• Specialty: Ultra-small diameter tubing (down to 0.001" ID)
• Strengths: Unmatched for neurovascular and small-diameter applications
• Minimums: 50-100 feet depending on spec
• Best for: 6Fr and smaller applications

Option 3: Protobrix tube stock program

What it is: Through partnerships with AP Technologies and SG Medical, Protobrix maintains inventory of commonly used catheter tubing specifically for U-Handle users.

Why it matters:

• Pre-selected compatibility: Tubes are verified to work with U-Handle configurations
• Faster shipping: 2-3 days delivery (EU-based stock)
• Small quantities: Buy exactly what you need for prototyping
• No minimums: Purchase single pieces or small sets
• Expert guidance: Protobrix engineers help select optimal specs for your application
• Pre-cut service available: Specify your total length (working length + U-Handle mounting length) and receive tubes cut to exact specification

Available through Protobrix:

• Pebax tubes (40D, 55D, 63D, 72D durometers)
• Braided and non-braided reinforcement
• PTFE liners (single-lumen and multi-lumen)
• Polyurethane shafts
• Coil-reinforced options

How to order:

Email contact@protomed.fr with:

• Desired outer and inner diameters (French or mm)
• Material preference (Pebax, PTFE, Polyurethane)
• Reinforcement type (braided, coiled, or plain)
• Total length needed (include U-Handle mounting length—see Configuration Guide)

• Brief application context

  • Quantity needed

Best for: U-Handle users who want guaranteed compatibility, fast turnaround, and engineering support in material selection

Material Selection Quick Guide

Not sure which tube material to start with?

Pebax (Polyether Block Amide):

• Properties: Excellent flexibility, good kink resistance, moderate pushability
• Best for: General-purpose catheters, cardiovascular applications

• Durometer guide:

  • 40D-55D = very flexible, distal segments
  • 63D = balanced flexibility/pushability, most common
  • 72D = stiffer, better pushability, proximal segments
• Cost: Moderate (€40-80/meter)

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene):

• Properties: Extremely low friction, excellent for inner liners
• Best for: Inner tubes in coaxial designs, reducing friction
• Advantage: Smooth sliding, no sticking
• Cost: Moderate to high (€20-50/meter depending on grade)

Polyurethane:

• Properties: High tensile strength, good abrasion resistance
• Best for: Applications requiring higher burst pressure
• Trade-off: Less flexible than Pebax
• Cost: Moderate (€30-70/meter)

Radiopaque markers: The cost divide

Radiopaque markers allow visualization under fluoroscopy: critical for positioning validation during testing.

Traditional medical suppliers

What they offer:

• Platinum-iridium (Pt-Ir) marker bands
• Medical-grade specifications
• Controlled material certifications
• Various geometries (bands, coils, spheres)

Typical suppliers:

• Fort Wayne Metals
• Anomet Products
• MicroGroup

Pricing (traditional):

• Single marker band: €25
• Minimum quantities: Often 100+ pieces
• Lead time: 2-4 weeks

Best for: Production devices, regulatory submissions, final validation testing

Alternative Sources for Prototyping

Here's where it gets interesting, and controversial.

AliExpress / Temu for Pt-Ir markers:

Yes, you can find platinum-iridium marker bands on consumer marketplaces:

Pricing:

• Marker bands: €0.30-0.80 per piece
• Marker coils: €0.50-1.20 per piece
• 10x-20x cheaper than medical suppliers

What you get:

• Same Pt-Ir alloy composition (typically 90/10 or 80/20 ratio)
• Various diameters and geometries
• Ships from China (2-3 week delivery)

What you DON'T get:

• No material certifications
• No traceability documentation
• No biocompatibility testing documentation
• Unknown manufacturing quality control

Critical distinction:

These markers are perfectly suitable for benchtop prototyping and ex-vivo testing, where you need fluoroscopic visibility to validate:

• Marker position accuracy
• Deployment sequence visualization
• Catheter tracking through tortuous paths in silicone models
• Video documentation for Design Input Documents

These markers are absolutely NOT suitable for:

• Animal studies
• Human clinical use
• Regulatory submissions
• Any implantation scenario

Medical-Grade Adhesives

Bonding catheter components requires adhesives that:

• Provide medical-grade biocompatibility (for final devices)
• Cure quickly for rapid prototyping
• Create strong, flexible bonds (catheters flex constantly)
• Work with diverse materials (Pebax, PTFE, polyurethane)

The Prototyping Adhesive Kit

Bostik 7452 (Cyanoacrylate - Fast Cure):

• Use case: Bonding marker bands, quick tube-to-tube joints
• Cure time: 10-30 seconds
• Bond strength: High, rigid bond
• Best for: Components that won't flex much (markers, rigid connectors)
• Application: Precision applicator, tiny drops
• Typical cost: €15-25 per 20g bottle

Bostik 7475 (Flexible Cyanoacrylate):

• Use case: Tube-to-tube joints that must flex
• Cure time: 30-60 seconds
• Bond strength: High, but retains flexibility
• Best for: Catheter shaft connections, areas subject to bending
• Application: Thin bead around circumference
• Typical cost: €18-30 per 20g bottle

Bostik UV1540 (UV-Cure Adhesive):

• Use case: Precise positioning applications, complex geometries
• Cure time: Instant with UV lamp (30-60 seconds cure)
• Bond strength: Excellent, controlled cure
• Best for: Distal tips, complex multi-component assemblies
• Requires: UV lamp (365nm or 405nm, €30-60 for prototyping lamp)
• Typical cost: €25-40 per 10g syringe

Bostik 2720 (Two-Part Epoxy):

• Use case: Maximum strength bonds, threaded inserts
• Cure time: 24 hours full cure (workable for 5-10 minutes)
• Bond strength: Highest, rigid
• Best for: Proximal connectors, luers, high-stress joints
• Typical cost: €20-35 per kit

Application Equipment

To use these adhesives effectively:

Precision applicator tips:

• 27-30 gauge needles for cyanoacrylates

UV lamp (for UV1540):

• 365nm or 405nm wavelength
• 3-10W sufficient for prototyping

Cleaning supplies:

• Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) 99% for surface prep
• Acetone for cleanup (use sparingly, can damage some plastics)
• Lint-free wipes
• 
  

Distal Tips: Three Fabrication Approaches

The distal tip is critical for catheter navigation—it needs to be atraumatic (soft, rounded) while maintaining enough column strength to push through anatomy.

Approach 1: 3D Printing (Formlabs)

Equipment needed:

• Formlabs Form 3B+ or Form 4 printer
• Biocompatible resins

Materials:

• Surgical Guide Resin: Rigid, good for prototyping form and fit
• Elastic 50A Resin: Soft, flexible, mimics atraumatic tip behavior
• Cost: €150-200 per liter (makes 100+ tips)

Process:

1. Design tip geometry in CAD (Fusion 360, SolidWorks)
2. Export as STL
3. Print using Elastic 50A for atraumatic tips
4. Post-cure per Formlabs specifications
5. Bond to catheter shaft using Bostik UV1540

Advantages:

• Rapid iteration (print new geometry in 2-3 hours)
• Complex geometries possible (side ports, internal channels)
• Low per-unit cost once printer amortized

Limitations:

• Lower tensile strength: 3D printed polyurethane ~2-3 MPa vs. injected polyurethane ~8-12 MPa
• Not suitable for high-stress applications
• Permanently bonded (can't swap easily)

Best for: Early-stage prototyping, testing multiple tip geometries quickly

Approach 2: Low-Pressure Injection Molding (Holipress)

Equipment:

• Holipress system by Holimaker (available at Protomed facilities)
• 3D-printed molds (Formlabs)
• Medical-grade polyurethane pellets

Process:

1. Design tip geometry and create negative mold in CAD
2. 3D print mold in high-temp resin
3. Inject medical-grade polyurethane using Holipress (~2-3 bar pressure)
4. Cure per material specifications (often heat cure)
5. Demold and bond to catheter

Advantages:

• Superior mechanical properties: Injected TPU achieves 8-12 MPa tensile strength
• Closer to production-quality parts
• Can integrate radiopaque fillers directly in material

Limitations:

• Requires access to Holipress equipment
• Mold design requires more expertise
• Still permanently bonded to shaft

Cost per tip: €5-10 in materials Time per tip: 20-30 minutes (including injection and cure)

Best for: Pre-clinical validation, tips that will experience higher stress

Approach 3: Protobrix Threaded Atraumatic Tips

What makes them different: Screw-on/screw-off attachment instead of permanent bonding

Key features:

• Radiopaque (visible under fluoroscopy)
• Multiple durometer options: Shore 60A (soft), 70A (medium), 80A (firm)
• Standard thread interface (M2.5 or M3)
• Medical-grade polyurethane construction
• Critical advantage: Swap tips in 2 minutes without rebuilding catheter

Why this matters for prototyping:

Traditional bonded tips mean if you need to test a softer or firmer tip, you rebuild the entire catheter (60-90 minutes + risk of errors).

Threaded tips let you:

• Unscrew Shore 70A tip
• Screw on Shore 60A tip
• Resume testing
• Total time: 2 minutes

Use cases:

• Testing multiple tip stiffnesses to find optimal
• Testing different tip geometries (rounded vs. tapered)
• Disassembling catheter to change internal U-Handle components (unscrew tip, slide tube out, reconfigure, slide back, screw tip on)

Availability & Ordering:

Not in standard catalog—contact directly:

• Email: contact@protomed.fr
• Subject: "Threaded Atraumatic Tip Order"
• Specify: Thread size, durometer, tip geometry, quantity
• Cost: avg €150 per tip

Critical limitation: Benchtop testing only (not for animal studies or clinical use)

Proximal Components: Luers, Connectors, Hubs

Luer Lock Connectors

Traditional medical suppliers:

• Qosina: Extensive luer catalog, ships same-day
• Cost: €0.50-2.00 per luer
• Materials: Polycarbonate, polypropylene
• Standards: ISO 594 compliant

Alternative sources:

• Amazon: "Medical luer lock" search
• AliExpress: Bulk quantities (50-100 pieces)
• Cost: €0.20-0.80 per luer
• Suitable for prototyping, not clinical use

Hemostatic Valves (Touhy-Borst)

When needed: If your testing requires simulating blood backflow prevention

Sources:

• Qosina catalog (search "hemostatic valve")
• Cost: €5-15 per valve
• Consider: Standard vs. rotating hemostatic valves

For U-Handle users: Most benchtop testing doesn't require hemostatic valves unless you're specifically validating sealing performance

Strain Reliefs

Purpose: Prevent stress concentration at catheter shaft connections

Sources:

• Heat-shrink tubing (McMaster-Carr, Amazon)
• Medical-grade strain relief boots (Qosina)
• Cost: €0.10-1.00 per piece

Conclusion: democratized access changes everything

Five years ago, building a functional catheter prototype required:

• €1000+ in component minimums
• 12-16 weeks lead time
• Connections with traditional medical suppliers
• Commitment to specifications before any testing

Today, you can:

• Source complete component sets for €300-
• Receive delivery in 1 week
• Test multiple configurations without massive inventory
• Iterate rapidly based on testing results

The barrier to entry has collapsed.

This democratization means:

• Academic researchers can prototype devices
• Startups can validate concepts before major fundraising
• R&D engineers can test 5 design variations instead of committing to 1
• Time from concept to mounted catheter on U-Handle: 2 weeks instead of 6 months

Your first step: Email contact@protomed.fr with your catheter specifications (tube diameters, lengths, application). Protobrix's team will help configure an optimal component package and provide accurate quotes.

Next article: Now that you know where to source components, we'll walk through exact assembly techniques—how to bond markers, join tubes, attach tips, and mount your completed catheter on the U-Handle in under 2 hours.

Ready to start sourcing?

📧 Protobrix tubes & tips: contact@protomed.fr

🛒 U-Handle shop: protobrix.fr/shop

📞 Component guidance: +33 367 176 721

Download: Component Supplier Directory PDF

Complete contact list, pricing ranges, lead times, and ordering tips for every component type mentioned in this guide.

Download Component Supplier Directory →