Protection of Conductors

The primary function of the cable jacket is to enclose the various components together and protect them from damage during use, cleaning and sterilization.

For maximum protection of the cables internal components during use, polyurethane is typically recommended.  Polyurethane is often the recommended jacket and overmold material for cables used by first responders or for used outside of a clinical setting such as Holter monitoring.

For cables that will be subject to a high number of sterilization cycles, a silicone jacket offers the maximum protection.

Durability the Cable Jacket

The durability of a cable jacket is a function of the type of material, as described previously, but also of the hardness of the material and wall thickness of the jacket.  Increasing the wall thickness of the cable jacket increases the durability, but conversely reduces the flexibility of the cable, irrespective of the material.

Provides Additional Strength

Additional strength and protection of cable terminations can be achieved by employing a robust cable jacket that is mechanically clamped to the internal components.  If this method is used, the stronger and thicker the cable jacket, the greater the protection of terminations is.

Polyurethane is the most durable material commonly used for medical cable jackets and can add significant strength to the cable assembly.  Silicone, while having other advantageous properties, offers the least amount of added strength or protection.  A thermoplastic elastomer, such as Santoprene®, is stronger than silicone and typically more flexible than polyurethane.