25.07.2023

K meets MEDICA – TPU Films in Medical Wearables

Bild: tragbare Elektronik an einer schwarzen Puppe auf der MEDICA; Copyright: DSTNCTVE
TPU films from Covestro offer flexibility and functionality. Copyright: DSTNCTVE

20.12.2024

MEDICA 2024, the leading trade fair for medical technology, is an important meeting place for innovations and new technologies. Covestro, a global player in the polymer industry and a key exhibitor at K, is taking this opportunity to showcase its latest solutions made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films. These are increasingly being used in the manufacture of medical wearables.

3D-gedrucktes Elektronik; Copyright: Covestro
Flexible sensor circuits are printed onto the TPU film using silver conductive ink. Copyright: Covestro

The flexible and versatile materials offer new possibilities for integrating electronic functions into wearable devices thanks to their printability and excellent mechanical properties.

Covestro's TPU films are characterised by their high stretchability and excellent mechanical strength, making them ideal candidates for use in medical devices that require both comfort and durability. Of particular interest is the use of TPU as a basis for printed electronics, where the films serve as a carrier for conductive layers that are applied to flexible substrates.

In the video, Karin Benbelaid, Global Head for the Medical Segment, explains that these TPU films not only provide the basis for the integration of electronic components, but also enable a cost-effective and efficient manufacturing method. The technology of printing electronic components directly onto films improves production processes and makes the development of new, flexible wearables even more accessible.

At MEDICA in November 2024, Covestro presented a series of prototypes using TPU-based materials in medical wearables. These new solutions offer more functionality, improve wearing comfort and open up prospects for wearable devices that are tailored to the needs of patients.

Text: Elena Blume (Editorial team K-Mag), Video: DSTNCTVE