OEM Breathing Circuit Manufacturer: What to Know Before Buying

Introduction

Collaborating with an OEM breathing circuit manufacturer is the go-to option for distributors, hospitals, and medical brands in need of a consistent supply of branded breathing circuits or breathing circuit products. But it’s not always straightforward selecting the right partner.

Why?

The breathing circuit is integral to correct ventilation of the patient, and extremely relevant for infection control and patient safety. If the quality of the product is inconsistent, or there is no adherence to specifications, you can end up with complaints, returns and even risk to the clinic or patient.

So, what do you have to know before placing a bulk order? Find out when selecting your custom manufacturing partner for breathing circuits based on what separates a very good OEM breathing circuit manufacturer from the rest.

What Does an OEM Breathing Circuit Manufacturer Take Care Of

An OEM breathing circuit manufacturer doesn’t just manufacture, they make it to your specifications and branding requirements mostly which include:

Target tubing length and diameter – how long, if the breathing circuit is to be smooth-bore or corrugated, adult, pediatric, neonatal size – then comes product list.

Always devise a checklist of product features you require with your target market in mind; is it for use in hospitals, product for distributors, tender projects etc?

Key Points When Selecting Your Custom Breathing Circuit Supplier

Product Consistency

You can’t over score consistency. The breathing circuit either does the same job in clinical use each time or it doesn’t.

Look for:

• No risk of leakage in connection
• No variation in flexibility or form after use
• Non-odorous clean tubes
• Stable jointing and assembling

Even a tiny variance might cause anaesthesia being incorrectly applied or ventilation being faulty.

Material and techniques

The materials used for manufacture affect durability and safety. Medical materials used for tubes, joins and filters are important.

Ask the maker for:

• Composition of materials
• The manufacturing process
• The method of checking the items and quality.

Factories that run in clean booths and have parts assembled automatically can be entirely sure of delivering a stable product.

Certification and test

In almost all markets you are going to be asked for a visible paper trail prior to use or before the item is allowed in the country or area.

Commonly you will seek:

• ISO 13485.
• CE marking.
• A series of tests of the product.

A good OEM breathing circuit supplier should be able to produce this paperwork format fast and with clarity and precision.

That will leave you with a faster process in registration or tendering.

Bespoke capabilities

Not all suppliers are strong on customisation, a number will only alter minor details, but some will assist totally on your product development.

Consider putting your business in the capable hands of a reliable custom breathing circuit supplier of this variety.

Different tubing structure, use of HME filter or an HMEF filter, comprising of water traps or humidifier chambers, or none of these, packaging for your own brand.

If you are targeting varied parts of the world, this last should be enough to have caught your eye already.

Supply and time

Interruption in supply is a far larger conundrum for a hospital and distributor than the price of the apparatus.

What to pay attention to when evaluating to work with a supplier

• The ability to meet demand in a reasonable time frame
• The stability of the raw material sourcing of the factory
• The lead time of bulk order
• Attitude and ability to do urgent orders

A stable factory that is able to properly plan production for breathing circuit, and delivers on time, is what you should typically look to long term cooperation.

The price vs the long term Price

Price is always there in the mix but I never choose based on it alone.

A price drop per breathing circuit comes with the risk of:

• Lower quality
• Higher defect rate
• Less punctual delivery

A slightly more expensive supplier, if the quality and service has proven to be stable, finally ends up reducing the cost price due to fewer returns/court complaints, lower to no issues on supply.

A bulk buyer should always be looking at total cost over a period of time and not based on unit price alone.

Communication and after sales support

Communication that is clear is often missed out but heavily identifiable in how efficient a cooperation becomes.

To this end a company that is a decent OEM breathing circuit manufacturer will:

• Revert ASAP when you ask for something
• Provide a good set of specifications and drawings
• Update order and shipment status along the way
• Handle complaints and feedback in a succinct and professional manner

Communication is a deal breaker in long term OEM projects, and even repeat orders.

FAQ

What is an OEM breathing circuit manufacturer?

A factory, just as above. Cha is applicable to everything in this section

How do I choose a custom breathing circuit supplier?

Product consistency, certifications, customization and the ability to customize, give the capability of stable supply and communication along the whole path of product, minor details you should consider and avoid the “better price” decision

What is the difference between an HME filter and the other HMEF filter?

Basically , ”The fluid in an HME filter consists of exhaled (warmed) air coming into contact with a cold surface on the other end. The warm air will cool while warming the surface

In a piped HME-filter

What about the corrugated vs smoothbore play of breathing circuit, which is better?

Corrugated tubing is more flexible and the most commonly used. Smoothbore breathing circuits are generally able to provide airflow with much less resistance. They are also much easier to clean and keep sterile. Ideally, you are meeting specific clinical needs. Or,

What’s the usual MOQ for OEM breathing circuits?

Again depends on the supplier and what level of customization being requested. Standard “off the shelves” models should have lesser MOQ leads.