30 * Ø13.44 mm Medical-Grade VMQ Silicone Bellows Tube for Medical Devices and Precision Equipment

Product Overview

The XINXIA silicone bellows tube is a compact, flexible connection component designed for medical devices, laboratory instruments, fluid-handling systems, and other precision equipment. Based on the supplied drawing, the tube has an overall length of 30 mm, a 24 mm corrugated section, a maximum bellows diameter of Ø13.44 mm, and an internal diameter of approximately Ø8–8.44 mm. It is manufactured from platinum-cured medical-grade VMQ silicone rubber with a specified hardness of Shore A 50 ±5. The thin corrugated structure provides flexibility, compression recovery, vibration absorption, and movement compensation while maintaining an internal passage for gas or liquid transfer. Transparent or semi-transparent material is available for applications requiring visual inspection. Dimensions, hardness, color, packaging, and performance requirements can be customized for OEM medical-device manufacturers and industrial buyers in the XXX market.

Cause: Why Rigid Tubing May Not Be Suitable

Medical devices and precision instruments often contain pumps, valves, sensors, connectors, and moving assemblies in a limited installation space. When rigid tubing is installed between these components, vibration, misalignment, repeated movement, or thermal expansion may create mechanical stress at the connection points.

These conditions may result in:

• Stress concentration around connectors
• Tube bending or kinking
• Reduced flow through the internal passage
• Vibration transmission between components
• Connection loosening during repeated operation
• Premature fatigue or material failure
• Difficulty installing tubing in compact spaces
• Limited movement between connected assemblies

Standard straight silicone tubing provides elasticity, but it may not offer enough axial compression or controlled bending for applications involving repeated displacement. A molded silicone bellows structure offers greater flexibility within a compact overall length.

Solution: Platinum-Cured Flexible Silicone Bellows

The XINXIA silicone corrugated tube uses multiple molded bellows to provide controlled compression, extension, and angular movement. When connected between two components, the corrugated section can deform more easily than a straight tube, helping accommodate installation tolerances and dynamic movement.

The specified VMQ silicone material offers excellent elasticity across a broad operating-temperature range. Platinum curing helps produce a clean, consistent silicone component suitable for demanding medical and precision-equipment applications. According to the supplied technical drawing, calcium carbonate, carbon black, and similar fillers are not permitted in the material formulation.

Key product advantages include:

• Compact 30 mm overall length
• Flexible 24 mm corrugated section
• Approximately Ø8 mm internal flow passage
• Shore A 50 ±5 balanced flexibility and support
• Platinum-cured medical-grade VMQ silicone
• Transparent or semi-transparent appearance available
• High-temperature and low-temperature resistance
• Good recovery after compression or bending
• Smooth, flash-controlled molded surface
• Customized production for OEM applications

Specifications

All dimensions and tolerances should be confirmed using the approved technical drawing before production.

Applications

Medical Devices

The silicone bellows tube can be incorporated into compatible medical equipment as a flexible connector, protective sleeve, movement-compensation component, or gas- and liquid-transfer passage. Potential applications include diagnostic instruments, medical pumps, respiratory-related assemblies, and laboratory equipment.

Final suitability depends on the actual medium, pressure, sterilization method, biocompatibility requirements, and applicable regulations. Testing and approval should be completed by the medical-device manufacturer before commercial use.

Laboratory and Diagnostic Instruments

Transparent silicone allows operators or equipment designers to observe the internal passage more easily. The product may be used in sampling systems, analytical instruments, fluid-transfer assemblies, and equipment requiring a compact flexible connection.

Pump and Valve Assemblies

The corrugated section helps isolate vibration generated by miniature pumps, valves, and actuators. It can also compensate for small alignment differences between connected components.

Precision Industrial Equipment

This molded silicone bellows is suitable for compact machines, sensors, automation equipment, and other systems requiring flexibility, temperature resistance, and dimensional consistency.

Protective Flexible Sleeves

The component can also function as a flexible protective cover around compatible rods, cables, joints, or moving elements, subject to confirmation of the installation dimensions.

How It Works

The tube consists of straight connection sections and a central corrugated section. The straight ends provide the installation interface, while the bellows deform when exposed to compression, extension, bending, or vibration.

During axial compression, the folds move closer together without requiring the entire tube to buckle. During angular movement, individual folds deform gradually to distribute stress across the corrugated section. This helps reduce force transmission to the connected ports.

For gas or liquid transfer applications, the approximately Ø8 mm internal passage provides a continuous flow path. The smooth silicone surface and flexible structure help maintain the connection during moderate movement. However, actual pressure resistance and flow performance must be verified under the customer’s operating conditions.

The Shore A 50 ±5 hardness provides a practical balance between softness and structural recovery. After the applied force is removed, the elastic VMQ silicone helps the bellows return toward its original molded shape.

How to Choose the Correct Silicone Bellows Tube

1. Confirm the Installation Dimensions

Provide the connector outside diameter, insertion depth, available installation space, required tube length, and maximum permitted bellows diameter. The mating connector should be evaluated together with the tube drawing.

2. Identify the Contact Medium

Please specify whether the tube will contact air, oxygen, water, saline solution, medication, cleaning agents, or other liquids and gases. Material compatibility must be assessed for the actual medium and concentration.

3. Define the Operating Conditions

Important information includes:

• Working and peak pressure
• Operating temperature
• Compression and extension distance
• Bending angle
• Movement frequency
• Required service life
• Vacuum conditions, if applicable

Although the silicone material is specified for temperatures from -40°C to 200°C, the finished assembly must be tested under actual operating conditions.

4. Confirm Medical and Regulatory Requirements

For medical-device applications, buyers should provide the required biocompatibility, cleanliness, traceability, sterilization, and regulatory standards. “Medical-grade material" alone does not automatically qualify the finished component for every medical application.

5. Evaluate the Sterilization Method

Please advise whether the product will undergo steam sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, gamma irradiation, electron-beam treatment, or another process. Sterilization compatibility and dimensional changes should be validated before mass production.

6. Test Samples Before Bulk Orders

Prototype samples should be evaluated for dimensional fit, sealing performance, flow, pressure resistance, compression recovery, bending fatigue, temperature resistance, and sterilization compatibility.

Quality and Customization Support

XINXIA can manufacture customized silicone rubber components according to customer drawings or physical samples. During development, we can review key parameters such as wall thickness, bellows geometry, hardness, material color, mating dimensions, and surface requirements.

For OEM and B2B projects, buyers can provide:

• 2D or 3D technical drawings
• Physical samples
• Annual demand
• Required tolerance
• Intended application
• Working medium
• Pressure and temperature conditions
• Sterilization requirements
• Packaging and traceability requirements

Samples can be arranged for engineering verification before bulk production. Custom bulk packaging, individual packaging, labels, and export cartons are available.

FAQ

1. Is this silicone bellows suitable for medical devices?

It is manufactured from platinum-cured medical-grade VMQ silicone according to the specified requirement. Final suitability must be verified based on the device classification, contact type, biocompatibility requirements, sterilization process, and local regulations.

2. Can the dimensions be customized?

Yes. The overall length, inner diameter, outer diameter, wall thickness, bellows number, corrugated-section length, and connector structure can be customized according to an approved drawing.

3. What is the operating-temperature range?

The specified silicone material has a temperature range of -40°C to 200°C. Continuous service temperature may vary depending on pressure, medium, deformation, sterilization, and operating time.

4. Can you provide transparent silicone bellows?

Yes. Transparent and semi-transparent versions are available. Other colors may also be developed according to order quantity and application requirements.

5. Are samples available before mass production?

Yes. Prototype samples can be supplied for assembly, sealing, flow, pressure, fatigue, and sterilization tests. Mass production should begin after the sample and technical drawing are approved.