Medical Devices
Blood Collection and IV Access
Self-sealing vents for safety IV catheters, blood collection needles, and arterial syringes.
Protecting Clinicians During Blood Collection
Porex self-sealing safety IV catheter vents are assembled into devices used to obtain blood samples, introduce fluids, and administer drugs. The vent lets air escape from the flashback chamber so blood flashes back on venipuncture, then shuts off the instant blood reaches it: nothing escapes the chamber, and clinicians are protected from bloodborne pathogens. Arterial syringe vents do the same job under arterial pressure. They let the syringe fill and purge air, then seal to keep the blood gas sample airtight for transport and to protect staff from aerosolized and bloodborne pathogens.
High Airflow With a Reliable Barrier
Our vents allow gases to escape at high airflow under arterial pressure while blocking liquids the instant they contact the media. A broad portfolio lets you select bacterial and viral filtration efficiency, with options including polyethylene self-sealing vent plugs and Porex Virtek sintered PTFE membrane vents.
Key Features & Benefits:
- Self-sealing on contact: Media shut off airflow immediately on fluid contact to eliminate blood bypass.
- Airflow matched to the device: Venting and pressure drop are optimized for venous pressure in IV catheters and venous blood collection needles, and for high airflow under arterial pressure in blood gas syringes.
- Selectable BFE and VFE: Virtek® PTFE grades reach >99.9999% BFE and >99.999% VFE nominal; polyethylene self-sealing plugs are rated >99.9987% BFE and VFE nominal(modified ASTM F2101).
- Color-change option: Patented color-change technology can be incorporated into the media.
- Sterilization compatibility: Gamma, e-beam and EtO compatible designs are available.
Related Resources
Drug Delivery Devices Brochure
In this brochure, explore our extensive capabilities in using porous polymers for drug delivery, including inhalation devices, topical applicators, and injectable devices.
The Certified Pure Porex Program
The Certified Pure Porex program ensures that Porex medical-grade filters and materials are third-party tested for purity, compatibility, and bacterial filtration efficiency.
Porex Virtek® PTFE Medical Materials and Filters Brochure
Explore the capabilities and applications of POREX VIRTEK® PTFE Solutions designed to deliver uniform UV and visible light reflectivity.
Medical Device Video Series: Drug Delivery Reservoirs
A visual guide to understanding how custom-engineered Porex drug delivery reservoirs work with advanced sintered polymers.
Request a Sample
Explore our most common functional sample library and see for yourself the possibilities of custom materials.
Ask an Engineer
The first step is a quick consultation with one of our experienced Application Engineers.