Generally speaking, tantalum is a more cost-effective alternative option for marker bands.

Pro:

  1. Compared to precious metals such as Pt/Ir, tantalum marker bands have a lower cost.
  2. Tantalum has good biocompatibility and low solubility and toxicity. Therefore, it has been widely used in clinical diagnostic and implant applications [1].
  3. Compared to Pt/Ir, Tantalum has similar radiopacity [2-3].

Con:

Pt/Ir may have better manufacturability. However, with the invention of novel machining technology, tantalum manufacturability has been greatly improved. Our seamless tubing for radiopaque marker bands conforms to stringent dimension tolerances and high quality levels.

TRM can offer Tantalum, Platinum and Pt/Ir marker bands. The outer diameter can be 0.008”-0.3” with +/-0.008” tolerance. Contact us for a quote at sales@trmaterial.com.

For more details please check the product page: https://trmaterial.com/all_products/marker-band/

References:

  1. Jonathan Black. Biologic performance of tantalum. Clinical Materials 1994; 16(3): 167-173;
  2. Jin-Seok Park, Kang Hyuck Yim, Seok Jeong, Don Haeng Lee, Dong Gon Kim. A Novel High-Visibility Radiopaque Tantalum Marker for Biliary Self-Expandable Metal Stents.  Gut and Liver 2019; 13(3): 366-372;
  3. Péter Nagy. X-ray Analysis of Stents and Their Markers. Periodica Polytechnica Mechanical Engineering 2015. 59(1): 30-34.