Medical Design Technology articles from January 2005

Medical Design Technology archives from January 2005

Touchscreen TFT displays.(Innovations)
January 1, 2005... Hercules Medical Monitor series displays are high performance medical TFT monitors, featuring a fanless, custom-designed aluminum housing that provides completely sealed IP65 protection. This water-tight construction means the display can be...

Non-inductive resistors.(Innovations)
January 1, 2005... Providing design engineers with a non-inductive power resistor capable of withstanding repetitive high energy pulses, IRC has developed its NT Series wirewound resistors fin high energy circuits in defibrillators and other medical electronics...

Silicone cable jackets.(Innovations)
January 1, 2005... STERILENE silicone cable jackets can be specified on precision interconnect cable assemblies such as BASIS cable assemblies as well as custom cable assemblies. With STERILENE silicone cable jackets, a desirable smooth feel, as well as...

Polymer-metal composites.(Innovations)
January 1, 2005... Gravi-Tech polymer-metal composites are a high-performance thermoplastic-based alternative to lead and other traditional metals. Gravi-Tech compounds use a variety of metallic fillers to deliver similar densities to traditional metals, while...

Machine vision system.(Innovations)
January 1, 2005... The Checker 101--the first member of the new Checker family of vision sensors--is a simple-to-use and inexpensive sensor that can visually detect the presence of items during the manufacturing process. Unlike multi-purpose vision systems that...

Step motor.(Innovations)
January 1, 2005... This 2-phase hybrid stepper, the 208, is a 1.8 degree bipolar NEMA 8 miniature step motor, intended for applications where space is limited. The motor measures only 0.79 in. square and is available in two stack sizes--1.30 in. and 1.69 in. in...

J&J claims Guidant for $23.9 billion, forms CV device group under Valeriani.(Regulatory Report)
January 1, 2005... Johnson & Johnson's willingness to pay almost $24 billion (6.5-times revenue) for Guidant validates the longstanding claim of ICD manufacturers that the cardiac rhythm management market is largely underserved, reports The Gray Sheet. ...

Smiths Medical purchases Medex.(Noted ...)
January 1, 2005... Smiths Medical gains intravenous catheters absent from its existing safety-engineered devices line-up via the purchase of privately held Medex for $925 million in cash and debt, according to The Gray Sheet. "The catheters were missing from the...

Gore's Viatorr cleared by FDA.(Noted ...)
January 1, 2005... The Gray Sheet reports that the FDA has cleared implantable nitinol and ePTFE endoprosthesis to treat portal hypertension in de novo and revision transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedures. W.L. Gore made the announcement...

FDA rejects association's request.(Noted ...)
January 1, 2005... The Gray Sheet reports that the FDA has rejected the Gastroparesis & Dysmotilities Association's request that the agency convene its Gastroenterology & Urology Devices Panel to consider transferring approval of Medtronic's Enterra therapy from...

FDA refines premarket, GMP paths.(Noted ...)
January 1, 2005... According to The Silver Sheet, combination products are the focus of intense activity at the FDA as the Office of Combination Products strives to finalize new regulations and guidances clarifying policies for premarket review and manufacturing...

An interview with Jeff Binder, president, Spinal Concepts: seeking to enter another high-growth sector, Abbott Laboratories purchased Spinal Concepts and made an impact on the spinal implant marketplace. This month's "View From The Top" interview offers insight into this impressive division.(View From The Top)
January 1, 2005... Abbott Laboratories certainly raised eyebrows when it acquired Spinal Concepts, a rapidly growing provider of spinal implant products, in 2003 for $170 million. No one had been aware of Abbott's interest in the spinal marketplace, including...

Technology transfer programs for small medical device companies: two federal initiatives are helping small medical device manufacturing companies bring new technology to the marketplace. Called SBIRs and STTRs, they provide small businesses with an R&D budget. The following article examines the benefits being seen in the laser machining arena.(Emphasis On Laser Machining)
January 1, 2005... Medical device manufacturers spend a significant amount of time and money on the research and development of products. The federal government also spends considerable time and money on R&D. Two federal initiatives that are helping small medical...

Cyclic olefin copolymer finds growing use in medical design.(Case In Point)
January 1, 2005... The Project: Specify a polymer for high performance in a range of devices, diagnostic equipment, and packaging. The Solution: Use COC in products for hospitals, medical laboratories, and other critical settings. Medical designers are...

Tackling compliance reviews: pressed for time, tight on resources, and eager to reach their target market wherever in the world it is, medical device manufacturers are embracing third-party compliance reviews. This exclusive report examines how several companies met their goals with a new program from Underwriters Laboratories.(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... AT A GLANCE * UL program defined * Fujifilm terminals * Philips Medical Systems imaging machines * AccuTech cholesterol tests * NeoMedix electrosurgical devices Here's an idea: At a time when product life cycles are...

What's ahead for medical device companies: while prospects look promising, tough issues must be resolved to ensure that patients and caregivers have access to innovative technologies. Failure to address the anticompetitive practices of certain GPOs or to modify MDUFMA will result in long-term problems for the industry.(Emphasis On 2005)
January 1, 2005... At A Glance * GPOs defined * Legislation review * MDUFMA's sunset provision * Rising PMA fees Whether it is getting a device cleared or approved by' the FDA, receiving adequate reimbursement by Medicare and private...

Mission-critical design for medical switches: using high-performance rotary switches, coded switches, and encoders made from quality materials and featuring long rotational life, great tactile feedback, and robust mechanical construction is an absolute must for mission-critical applications.(Material & Component Review)
January 1, 2005... AT A GLANCE * Criteria for switch selection * Overview of parts * Worst-case scenario * Specification advice Rotary switches, coded switches, and encoders are commonly used in various types of medical devices and...

FDA clears surgical marker; RFID used to protect patients.(Industry Watch)
January 1, 2005... The FDA has cleared for marketing an external surgical marker tag intended to minimize the likelihood of wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient surgeries. The device is the first such surgical marker to utilize radio frequency...

Sterigenics expansion.(Industry Watch)
January 1, 2005... In order to meet demand for its Raprex line of irradiated PE resins, Sterigenics International Inc. has announced a major expansion of its Gaithersburg, MD facility. Sterigenics is a service provider of electron beam, gamma radiation, X-Ray,...

Medical animation.(Industry Watch)
January 1, 2005... Animation Dynamics, Portland, OR, has completed a detailed medical animation to help surgeons better understand and use the Acumed Acu-Loc Distal Radius Plate, a surgical implant that helps mend a break in the wrist end of the radius. The...

Testing news.(Industry Watch)
January 1, 2005... D.L.S. Conformity Assessment Inc. has attained the status of a fully qualified agent of CSA International. This means D.L.S. now provides product safety testing at its Wheeling, IL, facilities for both U.S. and Canadian requirements to CSA, UL,...

Innovation award.(Industry Watch)
January 1, 2005... Trumpf Inc., Farmington, CT. has received a Connecticut Quality improvement Award gold level Innovation Prize. The award recognizes the results of Trumpf's TCF 1 diffusion-cooled CO2 laser based on coaxial electrode geometry. Information:...

SCS in China.(Industry Watch)
January 1, 2005... Specialty Coating Systems, Indianapolis, has opened a full-service Parylene conformal coating facility in Shanghai. The facility is DIN EN ISO9001:2000 certified. SCS Shanghai joins SCS Singapore, Parylene Japan K.K., and Parylene Korea in...

Calendar of events.(Industry Watch)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... Click on the "Calendar" icon at www.mdtmag.com for information about any of the following events. * February 3-4: INTERPHEX Puerto Rico, conference and expo, Caribe Hilton Hotel & Resort, San Juan, Puerto Rico. * February 7-8: Medical...

Nservo complements the Automation 3200 "soft" controller's network digital drives (Ndrive, NLdrive, NCdrive, and Npaq), allowing any industry standard analog transconductance amplifier to interface to Aerotech's digital drive network.(At the Show ...)
January 1, 2005... Nservo complements the Automation 3200 "soft" controller's network digital drives (Ndrive, NLdrive, NCdrive, and Npaq), allowing any industry standard analog transconductance amplifier to interface to Aerotech's digital drive network. Visit...

Diaphragm solenoid valve.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Liquid X is a 12 mm isolated diaphragm solenoid valve that offers the flexibility, reliability, and application-specific performance required by today's medical, bioanalytical, and clinical chemistry OEMs. Designed in collaboration with several...

Brushless DC motor.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... This extremely responsive compact brushless DC motor features a high torque to size ratio. Its mechanical time constant is 1.43 milliseconds, and its electrical time constant is 0.15 milliseconds, making it ideal for systems that require quick...

Miniature guideways.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The MINIRAIL line of precision linear guideways--available in four standard sizes: 7, 9, 12, and 15--is now available in four additional sizes of 14. 18, 24, and 42 in a wide version. * Stainless steel * Ideal for compact environments...

This high intensity product series is designed for medical UV curing.(AT the Show ...)
January 1, 2005... This high intensity product series is designed for medical UV curing. The SuperSpot MAX HP has been coupled with the company's proprietary extreme intensity FibreFire UV fiber delivery products to create a line of matched precision UV cure...

Fluoropolymer bags.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Lay-flat fluoropolymer bags are chemically inert, non-wettable, non-contaminating; are able to withstand extreme temperatures; and are impact- and tear-resistant. These features make the bags extremely attractive to applications requiring...

Testing controller.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Based on the latest touch-screen technology, the TouchPanel controller--designed for the 3300 Series Electromechanical Instruments--is ideal for simple tension or compression tests, as well as routine, established quality control screenings of...

Quick disconnect system.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... This quick mating multi-coupling connector system is offered with backwards compatibility with the M12 threaded coupler for 4-pin Ethernet based applications. The Pulse Plus is capable of hosting multiple coupling interlaces in the same space...

Flow control valves.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The JFC-4 and JFC-5 combination needle and check valve flow controls are typically used to control air flow from air cylinders, thereby controlling the speed at which the piston strokes, either while extending or retracting, depending on their...

Tube shrinking.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The Thermal Traverser AC-480 is the first of a line of products designed to assist catheter manufacturers by enhancing catheter tube manufacturing and production. The unit, which retrofits to existing Beahm Hot Boxes, specifically addresses...

Similar to the company's four larger ServoPress assembly systems that feature 100% in-process control and monitoring, Model 405/4000 offers 180 lbs. peak load, up to 5.9 inches of ram stroke, and maximum ram speed of 11.8 inch/second.(At the Show ...)
January 1, 2005... Similar to the company's four larger ServoPress assembly systems that feature 100% in-process control and monitoring, Model 405/4000 offers 180 lbs. peak load, up to 5.9 inches of ram stroke, and maximum ram speed of 11.8 inch/second. SCHMIDT...

Surface/contour measuring.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The SURFCOM 1900SD/DX surface/contour measuring instrument features the latest "linear motor" technology for highly accurate measurements. It offers the highest level of measuring speed and the lowest vibration, which allows for consistent high...

Free catalogs and CD-ROM.(Engineer's Toolkit)
January 1, 2005... * Henkel Corp., Rocky Hill, CT, has updated "Solutions That Cure: Adhesives for Medical Device Assembly, a brochure that reviews Loctite medical device adhesive technology, products, and applications. It also provides information on a line of...

Downloads worth checking.(Engineer's Toolkit)
January 1, 2005... * Bosch Rexroth's Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies business unit in Charlotte, NC, is offering a brochure detailing its linear modules and Cartesian robots lot precision motion solutions. Download: www.boschrexroth-us.com. * Copley...

Plastics and rubber directory.(Engineer's Toolkit)
January 1, 2005... * The "European Plastics and Rubber Directory" is designed for companies that want to stay current with the European plastics and rubber industries across the whole of Europe. It can serve as a buyer's guide, allowing readers to source the...

Materials behind high-tech earplugs.(Engineer's Toolkit)
January 1, 2005... It's estimated that noise-induced hearing loss causes as much as one-third of all hearing loss in North America despite the use of noise protectors. Sonomax Hearing Healthcare Inc. is attacking noise-induced hearing loss with help from Bayer...