Connecting with the engineers and innovators driving the next generation of minimally invasive devices
Every year, the medical device industry converges on Anaheim for MD&M West, the largest medtech manufacturing event on the West Coast. This year’s show, held February 3 through 5 at the Anaheim Convention Center, brought together more than 1,700 exhibitors and thousands of attendees from across medtech, advanced manufacturing, and design engineering. For the Microcatheter Components team, it was three days of meaningful conversations with the device engineers and R&D leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what micro extrusion can do.
The energy on the show floor was unmistakable. From the moment the doors opened, our team was in discussions with engineers working on some of the most demanding catheter-based applications in the industry.
A few themes kept coming up across nearly every conversation:
Tighter tolerances for increasingly complex procedures: As minimally invasive procedures continue to advance, device engineers need tubing that can navigate smaller, more tortuous anatomy with greater precision. We heard from multiple teams that their current suppliers are struggling to hold the wall thickness and concentricity specs required for next-generation neurovascular and cardiovascular devices. That is exactly where Microcatheter Components excels, with inside diameter and wall thickness tolerances as tight as 0.0005 inches.
Multi-layer extrusions that perform under pressure: Several conversations centered on the growing need for dual- and tri-layer extrusions with distinct mechanical properties at each layer. Engineers are designing catheters that need to be flexible at the distal tip, reinforced in the shaft, and lubricious on the inner layer, all without increasing the overall profile. Our custom single-, double-, and triple-layer precision tubing capabilities were a direct match for these requirements.
The search for a true manufacturing partner: Engineers told us they are not just looking for a vendor who can take an order and ship parts. They want a partner who understands the relationship between raw material properties and device performance, who can collaborate on design iterations, and who is available when a critical launch timeline moves up. That is the kind of partnership we have built our company around: bridging the gap between raw material and device engineer, every step of the way.
What We Are Hearing About Soft Materials
One of the most exciting topics at this year’s show was the growing demand for softer, more flexible tubing options. As catheter-based therapies expand into increasingly tortuous and anatomically challenging clinical applications, engineers need materials that optimize pushability, trackability, and deliverability for innovative therapies.
At the booth, we had several in-depth conversations about expanded material options, including softer durometer ranges and multiple polymer configurations that were not widely available even a year ago. Device teams want more specificity when it comes to material selection, and they want a supplier who can deliver on those options at the quality level their devices demand.
We are excited about what is coming next in this space. Stay tuned for more details on our expanded soft material offerings in the weeks ahead.
Beyond our own conversations, MD&M West 2026 reinforced a few trends that are shaping the broader medtech landscape. Personalization and data-driven treatment planning are driving demand for more specialized, lower-profile catheter configurations. Automation and advanced manufacturing techniques are raising the bar for what “quality” means in micro extrusion. And the ongoing push toward less invasive procedures means the tubing precision at the core of these devices has never been more critical.
For Microcatheter Components, these trends are not abstract. They are the challenges our customers bring to us every day, and the reason we continue to invest in world-class extrusion equipment, integrated quality processes, and the kind of white-glove service that makes every customer feel like our only customer.
Looking Ahead
MD&M West 2026 was a reminder of why we do what we do. The devices our customers are building are saving lives and improving outcomes for patients in the most complex clinical scenarios imaginable. Being a part of that mission, even at the component level, is what drives our team.
If you connected with us at the show, we would love to continue the conversation. And if we missed you this time around, our door is always open.
Explore our capabilities and order samples at chamfr.com/sellers/microcatheter-components, or visit our newly updated website at microcathco.com to learn more about how we can support your next project.
