Medical Design Technology articles from July 2006

Medical Design Technology archives from July 2006

Brush DC motor.(Innovations)
July 1, 2006... This compact high performance brush DC motor is well suited for medical and pharmaceutical equipment. The motor has the ability to accelerate rapidly with limited impact to the system. It features internal, long-life brushes and neodymium...

Ultra-high speed bearings.(Innovations)
July 1, 2006... Ultra-high speed bearings with anti-bacterial properties are available. Ball bearings are an integral part of all rotational cutting tools used in surgical practice, and medical and dental offices. The antimicrobial properties of the element...

Rapid laser prototyping.(Innovations)
July 1, 2006... Believing that the product development stage is the most critical for its customers, rapid laser prototyping will save this company's customers time and money, allowing them to get to market taster. With a completed CAD drawing, turnaround time...

Miniature medical connectors.(Innovations)
July 1, 2006... Medical connectors need to be small, lightweight, and comfortable in use, but built for rugged handling and extended performance and reliability. Standard and custom interconnect designs and shapes have been applied to catheters, probes, and...

Ceramic heaters.(Innovations)
July 1, 2006... The high thermal conductivity aluminum nitride ceramic composition is paired with a proprietary, thermally matched, heating element in the Ultramic 600 advanced ceramic heater to enable a fast responding heater configured in a low mass package....

EMI connector-seal gasket.(Innovations)
July 1, 2006... This connector-seal gasket is available with EMI and environmental protection using a patent-pending design. The unique design includes a rigid layer between either silicone or fluorosilicone elastomeric sealing and includes a patented spiral...

Epoxy.(Innovations)
July 1, 2006... The EP37-3FLSP polymer system is an optically clear, flexible, low viscosity two-part epoxy system for large volume castings. It features a long working life, low exotherm during cure, and very low shrinkage, as well as excellent dimensional...

Guidance set FDA deadlines for PMA preapproval factory inspections.(Regulatory Report)
July 1, 2006... FDA gives itself 140 days to review a PMA manufacturing section and inspect the firm's manufacturing operations under a draft guidance issued June 19. For expedited PMAs, the tasks would be completed within 120 days. The due dates assume...

Drug eluting stents vs. bare metal.(Noted ...)
July 1, 2006... Enthusiasm for drug-eluting stents "may be exceeding the evidence" supporting their use, leading to placement in patients and lesion types beyond those evaluated in randomized trials, as well as an underestimation of the risk of late stent...

Von Eschenbach in '07?(Noted ...)
July 1, 2006... Senate HELP Committee staffer says it is "highly unlikely" that Acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, will be confirmed as permanent commissioner this year. The confirmation hold initiated by Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and...

Zimmer draws second subpoena.(Noted ...)
July 1, 2006... Firm discloses on June 23 a subpoena received from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division requesting documents dating back to January 2001, relating to the manufacture and sale of orthopedic devices. The action follows a probe by the...

Cypher select plus in Europe.(Noted ...)
July 1, 2006... Johnson & Johnson is gearing up for a September launch of its third-generation stent in Europe following the receipt of a CE Mark, J&J/Cordis announced June 22. Cypher Select Plus boasts an enhanced delivery system with a short tip and flexible...

New physician-fee math could cut payments for cancer tech.(Regulatory Report)
July 1, 2006... Certain cancer screening and treatment procedures could see significant cuts in 2007 under the Medicare physician fee schedule's proposed new calculations. A CMS rule released June 21 proposes a new "bottom-up" calculation method for physician...

State drug advertising laws foreshadow future device regulation.(Regulatory Report)
July 1, 2006... Device manufacturers should begin tracking gifts given to physicians in anticipation of increased state regulation of marketing and promotional activities, according to Kyphon Chief Compliance Officer Bert Johnson. During a June 21...

An interview with Pat Nolan, COO of DDL: as medical device manufacturers face increasingly tougher scrutiny from regulatory agencies, they must do what they can to prevent possible causes for a rejection. This means ensuring the approval of every aspect of the submission, including the packaging. This month's 'View From The Top' speaks with an expert on package testing and validation.(View From The Top)(Interview)
July 1, 2006... The testing of a product's performance is an important part of its development lifecycle. If it cannot pass inspection tests, it is not going to be sent to market, resulting in lost revenue. The same is true of the packaging that houses a...

Visual sensor provides a breath of fresh air for medical ventilation.(Case in Point)
July 1, 2006... * The Project: Create a mechanism that dramatically improves the rate of successful intubation of patients, * The Solution: Use the existing form factor--an intubation tube--and embed a high-quality camera to assist in intubating patients...

Automated IMM.(Notables: Molding)
July 1, 2006... This fully automated standard injection molding cell for small parts is the result of the cooperation between three highly specialized companies. Injection molding machine manufacturer BOY, robot supplier Staubli Robotics, and plant...

Electric injection molding.(Notables: Molding)
July 1, 2006... The MEtII series all-electric injection molding machine further responds to demands for high precision, high cycle molding. As in its predecessor, the MEt, a variety of durable construction features enhance the precision of the MEtII Series....

Vertical-vertical injection machines.(Notables: Molding)
July 1, 2006... Magna V vertical-insert injection molding machines are offered in a vertical-vertical configuration for process-specific situations, resulting in significant increases in productivity. The unit combines digital positioning and "overlapping...

Silicone-to-plastic molding.(Notables: Molding)
July 1, 2006... Select-Hesive LIMS are offered for silicone-to-plastic molding and eliminate costly assembly steps by allowing molders to utilize 2-shot or insert overmolding processes. The results are improved part quality and consistency, which allows for...

Liquid silicone.(Notables: Molding)
July 1, 2006... Company continues to create customized liquid silicone solutions for the healthcare industry. Two liquid silicone products developed for molded applications where x-ray detection of materials is desirable includes LIM6041--a barium-sulfate...

Pulse of innovation: when developing critical devices such as those designed to be used for the treatment of problems with the cardiovascular system, companies are relying more on the expertise of component and service providers who offer complete solutions. This article looks at several examples that illustrate a successful end product as a result of these collaborations.(Innovations Series Presents)(Cover story)
July 1, 2006... The practice of buying products for use in the manufacture of a medical device is quickly moving away from seeking an off-the-shelf solution to discovering a complete product solution provider. Enhanced service, flexibility in approach, and...

Are you willing to champion an automation project?(Emphasis On Automation)
July 1, 2006... As companies look at outsourcing as a way to save on costs associated with the manufacturing process, many are also considering automation solutions as another alternative. However, before any automation project can be successful, it needs one...

Gas plasma: a green alternative for surface engineering.(Emphasis On Surface Treatment)
July 1, 2006... There are many methods with which to affect the surface of a material or device to achieve a desired effect. Therefore, factors related to the process such as environmental considerations or temperature concerns will reduce the number of...

J&J makes acquisition.(Industry Watch)
July 1, 2006... Johnson & Johnson has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pfizer Consumer Healthcare for $16.6 billion in cash. The J&J Board of Directors has given approval to the transaction. Closing is subject to customary clearances, including...

Philips expands MRI capabilities.(Industry Watch)
July 1, 2006... Royal Philips Electronics has signed a definitive agreement with Intermagnetics General Corp. under which Philips will acquire Intermagnetics for $27.50 per share or a total equity value of approximately $1.3 billion to be paid in cash upon...

Cardinal Health completes purchase.(Industry Watch)
July 1, 2006... Cardinal Health Inc., a leading provider of products and services supporting the healthcare industry, has completed the acquisition of Denver Biomedical Inc., a designer and manufacturer of specialized medical products for chronic fluid...

CMS reverses proposal.(Industry Watch)
July 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that they will reverse its proposed non-coverage determination for the Charite Artificial Disc and now allow for coverage at the discretion of the local Medicare medical directors...

FDA/Biophan target MRI concerns.(Industry Watch)
July 1, 2006... Biophan Technologies Inc., a developer of next-generation medical technology, has entered into a research partnership with the FDA to help improve patient safety in MRI environments. Under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2006... Click on the "Calendar" icon at www.mdtmag.com for information about any of the following events. July 17-21 FDA & ISO Training Seminars, Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA. July 19-21 5th National Conference: Adding, Updating, and...

Guidewire tubing.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... A unique two-layer extruded medical grade tubing has been developed that allows guidewires used in vascular procedures to be inserted into the tubing faster and more efficiently, thereby reducing labor cost. Called PEXglide, the tubing consists...

Hydrophobic coating.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... A hydrophobic coating for plastics was designed to compliment the company's proprietary diagnostic adhesive, GL-187. The coating can be successfully applied to polyester, polystyrene, vinyl, and other plastics for IVD and a variety of other...

Reciprocating platform.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... This reciprocating linear motion platform is driven by a rolling ring drive which reciprocates automatically without requiring motor reversal. Using a control knob on the assembly, adjustments to linear speed are also possible...

FireWire cable.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... This high-flex 1394b firewire 800 cable is offered for the industrial vision systems market. The company developed the product--DataCELL MVC-800--to meet the requirements of camera installations in the more demanding factory environments....

Dispensing valve.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... The VMP30H is a multipurpose, mini-poppet pneumatic valve designed for controlled dispensing of low to high viscosity materials, such as silicones, RTV, epoxy, rubber adhesives, greases, and filled materials. The poppet design minimizes surface...

Custom tubes/rods.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... Custom manufactured surgical tubes and rods with burr-free custom slots, notches, cross-holes, multiple angles, and other complex features are available. Using high precision wire EDM processes, surgical tool components can be created for...

Brushless DC gear motor.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... The 1307 BH brushless gear motor has a diameter of 13 mm, length of 7 mm, and can achieve a continuous torque of 5 mNm with speeds up to 1,639 RPM. The 1309 BH brushless gear motor has a diameter of 13 mm, length of 9 mm, and can achieve a...

Electrical safety analyzer.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... The Rigel 266 plus is a highly compact, easy-to-use medical electrical safety analyzer designed to test in accordance with IEC/EN 60601-1, MDA DB9801, and AS/NZ 3200. Providing for both semiautomatic and fully manual medical test routines, the...

UV-C detector.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... The low drift solid-state ROD-360-UV18 detector has been developed specifically for the measurement of effective ultraviolet germicidal irradiance applied in air and water sterilization applications employing low and medium pressure Hg or...

Membrane switch solutions.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... Custom-built membrane-switch solutions with illuminated controls and a superior tactile response are offered to meet the needs of medical device manufacturers. The company can design and build complete operator interfaces using its PCB-mounted...

Parts feeder.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... The compact DS1100 uses an over/under conveyor design to feed parts in trays to conveyor-fed automated workstations. This tray indexing design reduces the machine's footprint so it takes less floor space, while improving workflow. Eliminating...

Power cords.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... The Swiss 16A power cords and cordsets are for equipment rated up to 16A with service at 250 VAC. They are approved to SEV, Electrosuisse SEV 1011:98, CH-Type 23, Standard-Sheet SEV 5934-2. The power cords and cordsets are available from stock...

NPE365 is a powerful new internet search engine that employs the latest technology for two-way, personal searches that filter and produce customized results for the plastics industry.(Online Tools)
July 1, 2006... NPE365 is a powerful new internet search engine that employs the latest technology for two-way, personal searches that filter and produce customized results for the plastics industry. Representing the next generation of Internet search, NPE365...

For FDA-regulated and ISO-certified companies, effective handling of customer complaints is not just a matter of good business practice, it is a requirement for compliance.(Online Tools)
July 1, 2006... For FDA-regulated and ISO-certified companies, effective handling of customer complaints is not just a matter of good business practice, it is a requirement for compliance. This white paper prepared by MasterControl entitled, "Complaint...

Accelerated aging testing of plastics used in medical packaging applications is a process that must be exact and accurate.(Online Tools)
July 1, 2006... Accelerated aging testing of plastics used in medical packaging applications is a process that must be exact and accurate. Eastman Chemical Company has developed a technical tip that is now available on the company's Web site that provides...

The PVC-Polyurethane Comparison Chart from NewAge Industries Inc. shows the similarities and differences between these two popular plastics as they relate to tubing and hose manufactured by the company.(Free Offer)
July 1, 2006... The PVC-Polyurethane Comparison Chart from NewAge Industries Inc. shows the similarities and differences between these two popular plastics as they relate to tubing and hose manufactured by the company. The chart was recently updated to include...

Samtec's ability to provide "Signal Integrity at any Distance" is detailed in this Interconnect Design and Signal Integrity Services Guide.(Literature)
July 1, 2006... Samtec's ability to provide "Signal Integrity at any Distance" is detailed in this Interconnect Design and Signal Integrity Services Guide. It includes end to-end solutions for panel-to-panel, panel-to-board, cable-to-board and board-to-board...

The Xenon Pulsed UV Light Brochure describes the advantages of using this technology which generates ultra-high peak power UV pulses that produce rapid and complete cures at low temperatures.(Literature)
July 1, 2006... The Xenon Pulsed UV Light Brochure describes the advantages of using this technology which generates ultra-high peak power UV pulses that produce rapid and complete cures at low temperatures. The primary benefits of pulsed UV light include:...

Qosina's latest catalog is the company's largest ever--568 pages featuring thou sands of OEM disposable components.(Literature)
July 1, 2006... Qosina's latest catalog is the company's largest ever--568 pages featuring thou sands of OEM disposable components. The 2007 edition contains full-size color photos of all Qosina products, including over 550 new parts, on a handy one-centimeter...

COC-based blister film solution for tooth-whitening sponge package.(Design Notes)
July 1, 2006... When Remedent Inc. packaged the peroxide-laden foam strips that form the basis of its tooth whitening products, it used a blister film from Tekni-Plex based on Topas COC (cyclic olefin copolymer). Polypropylene layers in the film provided...

Complete radiology solution results from partnership.(Design Notes)
July 1, 2006... At the Society for Computer Applications in Radiology's (SCAR) annual meeting, Royal Philips Electronics announced that it has entered a strategic partnership with EDDA Technology to provide advanced digital radiography solutions to assist in...