Harland Medical Systems presents a compact, versatile instrument specifically designed for measuring lubricious coating performance on medical devices such as catheters, guidewires, pacing leads and similar products. The FTS 6000 Friction Test System measures both surface friction and coating durability by drawing the test sample between two silicone rubber pads clamped at a programmable force. The FTS 6000 is an ideal surface property measurement tool for coating development, quality control and competitive product testing.

For years the “pinch test” method has been the standard for measuring the performance of lubricious coatings. The FTS 6000 Friction Test System is a versatile instrument that makes creating, running and analyzing these tests simple and fast. The FTS 6000 quickly leads you through setting up a test protocol, storing the protocol in memory, running the test sample and analyzing the results.

There’s no need to attach a separate PC. The FTS 6000 Friction Test System has its own 10.4 inch color touchscreen computer. And you can easily transfer the FTS –generated data to your desktop computer by either connecting to your local network via the FTS ethernet connection, or by simply inserting a USB flash drive.

Easy Setup

To run a test, simply fasten the sample in one of three available FTS sample holders, select or modify a test protocol and move the transport to the desired starting position. The microprocessor firmware in the FTS does the rest.

Versatile Software

The software built into the FTS6000 combined with its color touchscreen interface, makes it easy for the operator to create, modify and store new test protocols and run those stored protocols on test samples. Password protection assures that only authorized personnel can create or edit test protocols.

Programmable test parameters include:

• Number of test cycles
• Clamping force
• Vertical transport velocity
• Vertical transport acceleration and deceleration time
• Programmed pauses in test

Display of Results

As the test runs, the display shows the test results in both tabular and graphic form. An information bar at the bottom of the screen displays the name of the protocol you are running, the clamping force and the measured pull force. After the test is complete, the result summary can be viewed on the touchscreen or sent to an external printer. Or the raw data can be exported to another computer via your network or with a USB flash drive.

Calibration

The FTS6000 force gauge and clamp can be easily calibrated in just a few minutes using only a set of standard free weights.