Minimizing Spallation in Medical Irrigation
Why Particle Control Matters in Tubing Selection
Peristaltic and roller pump mechanisms are integral to many medical irrigation systems. Their ability to deliver controlled flow through a sterile, closed loop makes them the preferred choice in applications such as cardiac ablation, arthroscopy, electrosurgery, endoscopy, laparoscopy, and wound therapy. Yet these same mechanical advantages bring a unique challenge: spallation, the gradual release of microscopic particles from tubing under repeated compression.
What is Spallation and Why It Matters in Irrigation Systems
Spallation is more than an equipment concern. In irrigation systems that interact directly with patients, particle shedding can introduce microplastics or other debris into the fluid path. Although much of human microplastic exposure stems from environmental sources, minimizing exposure during medical procedures remains an important step toward patient safety.
Recent medical studies have drawn attention to the presence of microplastics in human tissue, including findings that linked higher microplastic levels in atherosclerotic plaque with elevated cardiovascular risk. While these findings are still being investigated, they reinforce the importance of reducing potential exposure in any clinical setting.
For manufacturers and clinicians, this means that the tubing inside an irrigation pump should not only be durable and compatible but also resistant to spallation.
Spallation: The Impact of Particle Shedding
Historically, tubing selection for irrigation systems has focused on attributes such as burst pressure, clarity, and flexibility. Spallation resistance, however, directly affects fluid cleanliness and overall system reliability. Tubing that sheds fewer particles helps maintain optical clarity, prevents filter clogging, and ensures smooth flow through the irrigation line.
Because irrigation systems often involve longer tubing lengths and continuous operation, even a modest difference in particle generation can have a measurable impact on performance and patient protection.
Low-Spallation Tubing Solutions from Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain has evaluated the spallation characteristics of multiple tubing designs under real pump conditions, using rigorous testing modeled after ISO 19727:2017. The data consistently show that PharmaPure® and PharMed® BPT tubing achieve the lowest measurable particle release among peristaltic pump tubing options tested.
PharmaPure® Tubing is engineered for exceptional particulate control in applications that require maximum fluid cleanliness.
PharMed® BPT Tubing combines low spallation with long pump life, providing dependable performance over extended procedures and repeated use.
Together, they represent a proven standard for minimizing particle generation while maintaining reliable flow and mechanical stability.
Designing Irrigation Systems with Spallation in Mind
Mitigating spallation begins at the design stage. For irrigation systems, this includes:
Selecting low-spallation tubing for the pump segment, where mechanical compression is most intense.
Using in-line filtration to capture any residual particles before the fluid reaches the surgical site.
Balancing cost and performance by applying premium low-spallation tubing in critical areas and more economical transfer tubing elsewhere in the circuit.
Considering clarity needs. When visual monitoring of flow or color is required, Tygon® ND 100-55 Tubing provides the highest spallation performance among clear tubing options while preserving transparency.
By integrating these practices, manufacturers can enhance both system longevity and patient safety without significant design changes.
Spallation Control as a Standard for Safer Irrigation Systems
When choosing tubing for irrigation systems, spallation should be evaluated alongside traditional metrics. A focus on low particle release can:
Reduce microplastic exposure during patient procedures
Maintain the integrity and stability of the fluid path
Extend filter life and reduce service intervals
Improve consistency across long or repetitive procedures
Spallation resistance is a defining indicator of tubing quality in medical irrigation systems. It influences not only device reliability but also patient confidence and long-term procedural safety.
Through decades of research and validation, PharmaPure® and PharMed® BPT Tubing have established themselves as trusted options for minimizing particle generation in demanding medical environments. For systems that require visual monitoring, Tygon® ND-100-55 Tubing remains the leading clear-tubing option for balancing visibility with spallation control.
By treating spallation control as a design requirement rather than an afterthought, Saint-Gobain helps ensure that every irrigation system built with its tubing performs with the consistency and reliability clinicians expect.
What it is and why it matters
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