Medical Design Technology articles from August 2007

Medical Design Technology archives from August 2007

Plastic chain belt conveyors.(Innovations)
August 1, 2007... Flextrac plastic chain belt conveyors move heavier loads faster over longer distances than standard flat belt conveyors. With load capacities up to 500 lbs. and speeds up to 375 feet per minute, Flextrac conveyors fit almost any application....

Laser micromachining center.(Innovations)
August 1, 2007... The IX-4000 ChromAblate is an excimer laser workstation designed for medical device micromachining applications. It precision micromachines materials with micron-scale features and sub-micron tolerances. Typical applications include stents,...

Metallurgical microscope.(Innovations)
August 1, 2007... The MEC2 inverted trinocular metallurgical microscope is offered with digital imaging. Designed for use in materials inspection and quality control in a production line or laboratory environment, the MEC2's compact, ergonomic design and durable...

Multiphysics simulation software.(Innovations)
August 1, 2007... A Simulia direct coupling interface allows third-party physics codes developed by partners or customers to communicate directly with the company's Abaqus FEA software for high-performance multiphysics simulation. The interface is a key step in...

100,000 hour LED luminaries.(Innovations)
August 1, 2007... The ability to produce light without heat, plus an exceptionally long life make the green-technology LED Lumiglas luminaires ideal for heat-sensitive processes and use in applications where exceptional reliability and long operating life are...

Industrial equipment monitors.(Innovations)
August 1, 2007... This series of equipment health monitoring (EHM) system detectors were" developed specifically to monitor industrial equipment. The EHM system is used to monitor operation condition variances in industrial machinery that can lead to breakdowns,...

Room temperature curing adhesive.(Innovations)
August 1, 2007... EP33 is a unique room temperature curing epoxy adhesive for high temperature bonding applications. This two component epoxy offers the convenience of a room temperature cure with high temperature performance combined with good physical strength...

FDA device center working out 'nuts and bolts' of interactive review.(Regulatory Report)
August 1, 2007... If all goes as planned, beginning Oct. 1, FDA device reviewers will be taking a new, more interactive approach to product applications, though agency officials are still unsure exactly how the method will work. Interactive review, a...

Biotronik trial milestones.(Noted ...)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2007... Biotronik enrolls the first patient July 23 in its 1,750-patient REPLACE registry, the first and largest prospective trial focusing on complications associated with replacements and system upgrades of FDA-approved implantable pacemakers and...

Edwards' percutaneous valve.(Noted ...)
August 1, 2007... Edwards Lifesciences (1) "single largest investment increase" in the near term is to accelerate the European launch of its Sapien transcatheter heart valve, says CEO Michael Mussallem July 23 during the firm's 2007 second quarter earnings call....

Congress on inpatient cuts.(Noted ...)
August 1, 2007... An amendment passed with the House's fiscal 2008 HHS, labor and education appropriations bill July 19 prohibits CMS from offsetting inpatient payments with 2.4% cuts in both 2008 and 2009 to reflect expected coding changes from a proposed new...

Roche/Ventana.(Noted ...)
August 1, 2007... Roche continues pursuit of diagnostic firm Ventana Medical systems, extending its $75-per-share offer to acquire the company until Aug. 23. The drug and diagnostic giant initiated a hostile takeover of Ventana in June, originally extending the...

Charite coverage.(Noted ...)
August 1, 2007... Cigna is the latest major payer to cover Johnson & Johnson/DePuy Spine's Charite artificial lumbar disc, the firm announced July 25. Cigna, which provides health insurance to 47 million people, joins Kaiser Permanente and Aetna, among others,...

GE and Abbott walk away from $8 billion diagnostics deal.(Regulatory Report)
August 1, 2007... Abbott says it will continue to manage its core laboratory and point-of-care diagnostics business for the long-term following the collapse of an $8.13 billion deal to sell the unit to General Electric. The planned divestiture to GE,...

Medtronic taps into expanded spinal market with $3.9 billion Kyphon deal.(Regulatory Report)
August 1, 2007... Medtronic is aiming to expand the breadth of its spinal offerings and, in particular, reach a relatively untapped older patient population with its $3.9 billion acquisition of Kyphon, announced July 27. Kyphon has focused on products that...

FDA panel favors Medtronic's Bryan cervical disc despite durability question.(Regulatory Report)
August 1, 2007... FDA's Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel overwhelmingly supported approval of Medtronic Sofamor Danek's Bryan artificial cervical spinal disc, while acknowledging that the device's long-term durability is unknown. At a July 17...

An interview with Eric Hezemans, vice president at Bosch Rexroth.(View From The Top)(Interview)
August 1, 2007... Motion control systems are an integral part of many different finished medical devices. They must ensure accurate and precise movement of critical components without fail or misalignment. In this month's View article, this highly sophisticated...

Sticking point: an examination of needle and Syringe force testing.(Emphasis On Needle Testing)
August 1, 2007... Needles and syringes must perform precisely to specification or they may seriously limit the ability of a healthcare professional to effectively and safely treat their patient. Force and torque testing in development and production enables the...

Five ways to select an adhesive converter that sticks: in terms of options, services, and offerings, many adhesive converters may appear to be very much alike, making it difficult for companies to select the right one for their specific application. This article attempts to provide five key points to examine as a starting point when selecting a partner to fulfill a company's adhesive converting needs.(Emphasis On Adhesive Converting)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... Not all adhesive converters are created equal. If they were, it would be a simple task to pick one. Someone could simply choose his preferred vendor based on location, or price, or gut instinct. The fact is, each converter of pressure...

Disposable connector.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... The high performance and low cost Limited Use Connector (L.U.C.) is ideally suited for the demanding environment of today's high tech operating rooms. The disposable L.U.C. provides excellent quality allowing the medical design engineer to...

Connectors.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... Ideal for medical applications, the multi axial rotational connector (MARC) is designed to mate while traveling through an arc with a 3-inch minimum radius. The MARC is rated to 30 Amps while combining power, signal, and ground circuitry into...

Storage system.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... This SiliconDrive platform is designed to overcome storage system reliability and compatibility issues associated with faster host system interfaces and shrinking storage component process geometries to deliver the high performance, high...

Medical cable.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... This internally ruggedized medical cable provides excellent durability while remaining lightweight and flexible. This technology improves crush, torque, and kink resistance, extending cable life and reliability in demanding medical applications...

Medical battery pack.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... These advanced medical battery packs can withstand autoclave sterilization. They can tolerate temperatures up to 137[degrees]C and are impermeable to 30 PSI of superheated steam. The plastic housing is a glass blend that helps to withstand the...

DC/DC converters.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... These single-input, single-output isolated 1.5 W BPS series configurable DC/DC converters are now available with input voltage from 3 to 15 VDC and output voltage from 50 to 300 VDC. The BPS series converters feature up to five times better...

Miniature pressure sensors.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... The P6000 pressure transducer product line now includes very low-pressure ranges and is also available in surface mount configurations. This line of sensors can be used for an extensive variety of applications including, HVAC, oxygen...

LEDs.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... Blue XLamp XR-E LEDs are 70% brighter than the company's previous blue power LEDs. These produce maximum luminous flux of 42 lumens at 350 mA. The blue XR-E is the newest release in the XLamp XR-E family, which includes excellent performance in...

Converter boards.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... The Prisma II series of RGB/DVI/video converter boards provides a range of cost-effective solutions with analog control for connecting TFT LCDs to standard graphics and/or video interfaces. Input signals such as analog RGB, analog video, of DVI...

Medical connector line.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... This line of circular plastic connectors (CPC), named CPC--Medical, is designed for use in surgical instruments, RF and ultrasound ablation, and electronic patient monitors used in the operating room. CPC--Medical connectors are available in 5,...

Photoelectric sensors.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... The ML20 Series miniature photoelectric sensors are available in diffused, divergent, polarized retro-reflective, and thru-beam models, and are a cost-effective sensing solution in any number of industries and applications where space is at a...

International medical grade cords.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... Most medical equipment used in North America requires a hospital grade power cord which typically has clear transparent plugs. The clear plug gives the end users an extra comfort level because it allows them to look and make sure the...

Coreless semiconductor package.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... HyperBGA is a PTFE-based coreless semiconductor package that enables silicon devices to run at extremely high speeds. The combination of the low loss, low dielectric constant material, and strip line cross sections enables signal speeds...

LED light guides.(Notables: Medical Electronics/Sensors)
August 1, 2007... MicroLens edge-lighting modules provide white LED backlighting for LCDs that serves a multitude of functions with a minimum of LEDs for a wide range of display applications. In addition to bright, clean, uniform white LED backlighting from an...

Practicing sound medicine: audible devices are playing an increasingly critical role in modern healthcare. Unfortunately, device manufacturers may not be aware of all the options available to them when it comes to sound components. This article reviews a variety of characteristics and important features companies should keep in mind when electing to add an audible aspect to their finished medical device.(Device Sector Spotlight)
August 1, 2007... There's an alarming trend occurring throughout the healthcare marketplace, and it is providing numerous growth opportunities for the instrumentation manufacturers that can fulfill demand for products that provide--among other things--clear,...

Integrating compliance and quality electronically.(Emphasis On Electronic Compliance)
August 1, 2007... Managing compliance systems such as those designed to handle product complaints can be a significant burden if a company is still relying primarily on traditional paper-based methods. While electronic software-based offerings may represent a...

Are you sure your software is properly licensed?(Case in Point)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... The Project: Maintain a clear and easily accessible record of all software licenses and hardware specifications. The Solution: Utilize PC inventory and software usage tracking technology to ensure license compliance and hardware needs. ...

Quality shines in California: tradeshows are certainly nothing new to most industries as they provide an excellent means of communication for both the attendees and exhibitors alike. What makes the Medical Design & Device show stand out is its focus on the Northern California medical device manufacturing market. This article examines all the factors that make this event unique.(Cover story)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... Throughout medical device manufacturing, quality is of paramount importance. It is the key to ensuring a device is able to make it to market, it is the key to ensuring a facility can pass inspection, and it is the key to ensuring the success of...

Marketplace for medical devices.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... An ambitious project aimed at making New York City the prime center of commerce and innovation for the $260 billion global market for medical devices and diagnostics received a major boost, as the World Product Centre LLC. announced an...

FDA/European regulatory cooperation.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Commission (EC), and the European Medicines Agency have agreed to expand their current cooperative activities in several important areas. At a recent meeting, the FDA and the EU reviewed...

FDA, Defense Department enhance safety reviews.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... Data from the U.S. Military Health System will soon help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration make decisions affecting the safety and use of FDA-regulated products for all Americans. The FDA and the Department of Defense have established a...

LEMO launches N. American distribution program.(Industry Watch)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... LEMO, a global leader in the design and manufacture of precision custom connection solutions, has signed a national distribution agreement with Sager Electronics, Heilind/Force Electronics, and Mouser Electronics to distribute their extensive...

Calendar of events.(Conference news)(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... Click on the "Calendar" icon at www.mdtmag.com for information about any of the following events. September 12-13 Medical Grade Polymers, The Hilton City Ave., Philadelphia, PA. September 17-18 FDA Home Healthcare Technology...

M&C Specialties acquired.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... ITW Performance Polymers, an Illinois Tool Works company, has acquired M&C Specialties Co., a Pennsylvania-based contract manufacturer of custom-fabricated die-cut adhesive components, tapes, and labels to markets around the world. M&C...

Creganna opens MA facility.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... Creganna Medical Devices has opened a new facility in Marlborough, MA. The Phase I facility houses production capability for extruded and braided tubing as well as a Contract Design Service team who offer design and development of minimally...

Tyco Healthcare becomes Covidien.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... Covidien, parent company of U.S. Surgical, has launched as one of the largest diversified healthcare companies in the world. The company, formerly Tyco Healthcare, separated from Tyco International on June 29 to become an independent $10...

Finale coated Prohealing stent.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... SurModics Inc. and Paragon Intellectual Properties, LLC have signed a license agreement under which the companies will collaborate on the development of a novel stent system for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The stent system, which...

RFID company purchase.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... FCI has acquired Smartag, a specialized player in RFID tags manufacturing. This acquisition will allow the group to strengthen its RFID offer in a very dynamic market. Located in Singapore, Smartag develops RFID tags for focused applications....

IMI acquires Kloehn.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... IMI plc, the major international engineering group, has announced that, following receipt of regulatory clearances, the acquisition of Kloehn Company Ltd, first announced on May 23, was completed on June 29. Kloehn, a leading US provider of...

Hi-Tech Group company purchases.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... In its continuing efforts to better serve customers and expand its medical device contract manufacturing capabilities, the Hi-Tech Group has acquired Ventrex Inc., Infinity Plastics LLC, and Accusil Inc. Ventrex is a full service medical device...

Patents awarded.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... Instron, a leading provider of testing equipment designed to evaluate mechanical properties of materials and components, has been awarded U.S. and European patents for its innovative technologies employed in its non-contacting Advanced Video...

ISO 13485 received.(Industry Watch)
August 1, 2007... Sunburst EMS, a flexible, full-service provider of electronics manufacturing services, has been certified to ISO 13485, a key standard for companies seeking to manufacture medical electronic devices. ISO 13485, published in 2003, is an...

Are your component providers supplying you with the right testing information? Device manufacturers are ultimately responsible for the safety and performance of a finished medical device. Therefore, they need to ensure their component suppliers are providing products that meet precise, critical specifications. This article examines the topic of supplier testing and what manufacturers should be demanding from their partners.(Emphasis On Component Testing)
August 1, 2007... Regulatory issues governing the development and sale of medical devices are generally a well understood and necessary aspect of today's global healthcare industry. This ingredient is especially relevant in the U.S. as applied to long-term...

Guidelines for ball screw selection: ball screws can be useful for a variety of medical devices, but ensuring that an application's requirements are being properly met can be slightly less clear cut. Designers must be familiar with the capabilities of this technology in order to be certain it will fulfill their needs. This article reviews the critical items to know when selecting a hall screw.(Emphasis On Motion Control)
August 1, 2007... Introducing a linear drive system into new or existing medical or laboratory applications is a challenging task for two reasons. First, medical and laboratory applications are usually accompanied by multiple application demands, ranging from...

Turning up the heat on coatings.(Case in Point)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... * The Project: Implement a technology to ensure a reliable consistent temperature is achieved for a coating process. * The Solution: Utilize an iron-chrome-aluminum heating element wire with ceramic fiber insulation to ensure a satisfactory...

Achieving greater through-put utilizing automated inspection.(Emphasis On Automated Inspection)
August 1, 2007... Implementing inspection procedures into the medical device manufacturing cycle helps to ensure a successful outcome through enhanced quality control and effective oversight of delicate processes. By automating these, companies take advantage of...

Reviewing ceramic advances for medical implants: medical device manufacturers are in a constant search for new and innovative material advances. For implantable devices, they have been seeking alternatives to metal that offer greater advantages. One such material that has been used since the '70s is ceramics. This article highlights some of the applications for which this material is being utilized, illustrated through specific products.(Emphasis On Ceramics)
August 1, 2007... Technical ceramics, with their biocompatibility and resistance to wear, are ideally suited for a wide variety of medical implant applications, from artificial joints to implantable electronic sensors, stimulators to drug delivery devices. For...

National Manufacturing Week: September 24-27, 2007: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center * Rosemont, IL.(Show Preview)
August 1, 2007... This annual event returns this year with a stronger emphasis on the medical device manufacturing marketplace. Infusing the MD&M style tradeshow into the established events that define the National Manufacturing Week event, the show should prove...

Turnkey enterprise software implementation on a tight deadline.(Case in Point)
August 1, 2007... The Project: Implement a new tracking solution that could be put in place and ready for auditing within a very tight timeframe. The Solution: Select a solutions provider that has experience in rolling out a compliant software system for...

Control in the palm of your hand: selecting the right control interface can be the key to the success of a device. Without a control that provides the required amount of functionality for the intended application of the device, the unit becomes a less effective tool. This article reviews the available options with a joystick control and provides guidance on how to select the correct one.(Emphasis On Controls)
August 1, 2007... Joysticks have become the user interface of choice for many industrial and high-performance control systems. For applications as diverse as security-camera surveillance, motorized wheelchairs, microscopes, construction equipment, and...

Tool holders.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The company is stocking four popular sizes--0.625 in. shank, 0.750 in. shank, 12 mm shank, and 22 mm shank--of the adjustment free rotary broaching tool holder. These sizes are available for immediate delivery. The tool holder is designed for...

Micro motors.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... This vibrating micro motor features a low profile of just 3.4 mm in an SMD package. The BSY Series DC motor is ideal for applications requiring a small foot-print on surface mount circuit boards. The series is available in an 11 mm length....

Automatic tube filler/closer.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The company has added Bergami's Model TF 80 automatic tube filling and closing machine to its line of packaging machinery. The Model TF 80 fills and closes metal, plastic, polyfoil, and cassette infeed tubes ranging in size from 10 x 50 x 23 mm...

Label printer/applicator.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The PA1200s specialty tamp label printer/applicator features all metal construction and is made to last with time-tested components. It is extremely versatile with the ability to apply labels as small as 0.25 x 0.25 in. and up to 40 labels per...

Brushless DC motor.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... This compact high performance 8-pole brushless DC motor is well suited for medical equipment and other automation applications where high torque to weight ratio and efficiency are important. The motor is capable of 20% more torque than a...

Swab.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The 6-in. long, single-use cotton tipped applicator is ideal for collecting contamination-free samples and specimens. The polypropylene vented cap slides down the wood shaft allowing easy sampling, then slides back to cover the swab head with a...

All-natural latex balloons.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... Produced from the desert shrub guayule, Yulex all-natural latex does not contain the proteins found in Hevea latex, yet offers superior strength and durability to high-end synthetic materials. Yulex balloons are ideal for stone retrieval,...

Rubber/silicone molding and bonding.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... Design engineers will benefit from the company's capabilities of molding and bonding unique rubber and silicone formulations for today's newest equipment and products. It provides close tolerance, application specific molded rubber/silicone...

Meter, mix, and dispense system.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The Liquid Control PR70 is a meter, mix, and dispense system that sets a higher standard for performance, reliability, and accuracy. Built to handle medium-to-low viscosity materials, it is ideal for potting, gasketing, sealing, encapsulation,...

Flowswitches.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... Adjustable and fixed set-point flowswitches are designed for applications involving high line pressures ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 psig. The adjustable liquid and air/gas flowswitches are available with optional dials and can be installed...

Smart Gripper.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The Smart Gripper 2.0, designed for use in a laboratory setting to increase efficiency and flexibility, is also easily scalable for use in a variety of other industries and applications. The gripper features accurate robotic finger positioning,...

Decontamination system.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The SteriPulse-XL surface sanitization system employs pulsed UV light to achieve up to 6 log kill which kills DNA and prevents replication. Featuring modular construction with high peak energy lamps which destroy DNA, this non-contact system is...

Stepper Drives.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... STAC6-Q Stepper Drives--high performance drives utilizing Q programming language--are available with current output from 0.5-3.2 A with 220 VAC input and provide software selectable resolutions from 200 to 51,200 steps/rev at speeds up to 50...

Thermoelectric cooler.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... This advanced thin film embedded thermoelectric cooler (eTEC) was designed to address thermal management needs of a variety of industries. Functioning as a miniature, solid-state heat pump, the eTEC is ideal for cooling hot spots that result...

Stacking spacers.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... Male-Female stacking spacers come in round and hexagonal profiles and are precision manufactured for demanding PC/104 and PC/104-plus embedded applications. The spacers are available in nylon and aluminum, and are machined for a perfect fit....

Self-clinching fasteners.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... R'Angle self-clinching fasteners create permanent and strong right-angle attachment points in metal sheets as thin as 0.04 in./1.0 mm. These aluminum self-tapping or steel threaded fasteners can serve as cost-effective alternatives to bent tabs...

Servo motor controller.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The SilverDust IGC CANopen servo motor single axis controller includes serial communications (RS-232, RS-485), CANopen, and 7 I/O. CANopen can be configured for peer-to-peer, master, or slave, which allows the controllers to share I/O with...

Condensate management system.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... Disposing of compressed air system condensate is a major environmental concern. The oil/water mixture is classified as a hazardous waste and cannot be discharged directly into sanitary drains, unless the oil is first separated from the water....

Peristaltic pump.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The 400 F/A matchbox-size peristaltic pumps are smaller and more cost effective than syringe pumps, enabling the designer to place them anywhere on an instrument, saving them space and reducing costs. The size allows for OEM medical...

Cable assemblies.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The 1-by-3 circular MT connector and adapter provide a reliable, high-density solution designed to meet or exceed the mechanical specifications of traditional inter-chassis connections. With their metal housing and stainless steel push/twist...

Piezoelectric composite components.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... Components manufactured with piezocomposite materials offer improvements over traditional transducer materials, which result in increased acoustic performance for medical applications, including medical imaging and Doppler blood flow equipment....

Solenoid valves.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The 3B23, 4B23, and 4BKR series of media separated solenoid valves are designed to create a contamination barrier and to control the flow of ultra pure or corrosive materials. These valves are perfect for medical device applications that...

Air-bearing stage.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The ABRT series rotary air-bearing stages provide 360[degrees] continuous travel with resolution to 0.027 arc sec. Velocity stability and error motion performance are exceptional. Payload capacity is up to 69 kg due to the outstanding radial...

Pressure transducer.(New Products)
August 1, 2007... The compact 3100 Series pressure transducer provides a low cost solution for OEM applications such as medical instrumentation. This unit's small footprint--less than 1.0 in. in diameter--makes it ideal for installations where space is at a...

The Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies group from the Bosch Rexroth Corp. is offering a free Lean Manufacturing: Principles, Tools and Methods Guidebook.(Design Notes)
August 1, 2007... The Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies group from the Bosch Rexroth Corp. is offering a free Lean Manufacturing: Principles, Tools and Methods Guidebook. Using an informative mix of operational examples and illustration, the guidebook...