Medical Design Technology articles from March 2007

Medical Design Technology archives from March 2007

Axial compression bonder.(Innovations)
March 1, 2007... Designed to eliminate operator dependency and for the demands of precise tube-to-tube welds, the axial compression bonder enables even stronger tube bonds. This bonder features Micro-Automation, the latest advancement in precision bonding...

Membrane resin dryer.(Innovations)
March 1, 2007... A membrane resin dryer is available in models designed especially for injection molders of micro and precision components for medical devices. The Company's NovaDrier system dries virtually any type of resin. Throughput capacities of 7 to 150...

Peristaltic pump.(MDT Exclusive)
March 1, 2007... Microflex is a line of extremely compact and durable peristaltic pumping systems designed for installation in small instrumentation. such as in OEM clinical. diagnostic, laboratory dispensing, sampling, and analyzing. The pumps provide for...

Laser marking system.(Innovations)
March 1, 2007... Benefiting from over 20 years experience in applying laser technology to marking applications, the Gen4 printed circuit board laser marker achieves excellent PCB marking performance. It is designed to mark and verify ECC200 data matrix...

Aluminium tapes.(Innovations)
March 1, 2007... The 3M 427 and 439 aluminum tapes are offered for a variety of microplate sealing applications in the healthcare industry. These tapes offer a combination of performance and value and are a great alternative to more expensive tapes. They...

Composite materials.(Innovations)
March 1, 2007... PolyMed composite materials are offered for a variety of medical applications, including laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. PolyMed combines features of traditional metallics and thermoplastic materials. It is extremely...

Bush's 2008 budget: more for FDA device center.(Regulatory Report)
March 1, 2007... President Bush's fiscal year 2008 budget request, submitted to Congress Feb. 5, includes nearly $7.2 million in new funds and three new staff positions for FDA medical device activities. The agency said the money and staff would be used for...

Edwards Lifesciences warning letter.(Noted ...)
March 1, 2007... FDA cites quality system deviations, including complaint handling, documentation, and training issues, in a warning letter to Edwards Lifesciences, announced Feb. 20. The warning, which stems from an inspection of the firm's Irvine, CA...

Infusion System Alliance.(Noted ...)
March 1, 2007... Infusion pump maker Hospira is collaborating with hospital information technology providers to improve interoperability, communication, and security of infusion pump services to help prevent medication delivery errors, the firm announced Feb....

CMS projects healthcare spending growth.(Noted ...)
March 1, 2007... Healthcare spending is expected to grow an average of 6.9% over the next decade, according to projections from CMS' National Health Statistics Group posted on the Health Affairs website Feb. 21. While the estimate is less than last year's...

St. Jude Venture catheter.(Noted ...)
March 1, 2007... Firm gains 510(k) clearance for its Venture wire control catheter for use with a rapid exchange delivery platform. The rapid exchange delivery method accommodates shorter guidewires, which may result in quicker, easier coronary procedures, the...

Opening the "Black Box" of Japanese medical device review: an interview with Kaye Suzuki.(Regulatory Report)(Interview)
March 1, 2007... Europe, United States, Japan: For medical device companies seeking an international market, this is a well-trod path. The familiar sequence of market introduction in these global locales is primarily a result of regional variations in...

Developing medical components utilizing early supplier involvement: developing complex plastic medical components for high volume assembly can be greatly enhanced by taking advantage of early supplier involvement. This article reviews steps medical device manufacturers should consider prior to the start of their efforts on a new product and what they should expect from, as well as ask of, their supplier partners.(Emphasis On Component Fabrication)
March 1, 2007... Bringing a new medical device to market can be a daunting task, but iIt can be especially so when it involves complex, precision plastic components that need to be manufactured cost-effectively in high volumes. That's why it's critical to...

Expanded coverage of CAS proposed.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2007... Expanded Coverage of CAS Proposed The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed to expand its coverage policy for carotid artery stenting (CAS). In the high-risk patient population, CMS is proposing expanded coverage for:...

Drug-eluting stent trial in women.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2007... Drug-Eluting Stent Trial in Women Abbott plans to initiate the world's first drug-eluting stent clinical trial solely in women. The Spirit Women trial will aim to increase understanding of how heart disease affects women, and will assess the...

Company alliance formed.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2007... Company Alliance Formed Solectron Corp., a leading provider of electronics manufacturing and integrated supply chain services, has formed the Solectron Medical Alliance Program (S-MAP). Anchored by Solectron, S-MAP initially includes ATEK...

India-based thermoplastics company purchased.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2007... India-Based Thermoplastics Company Purchased SMC Ltd.--a fully integrated design, precision injection molder, and contract manufacturer of medical devices--has acquired Laxmi Electronics, a Bangalore, India based manufacturer with similar...

Calendar of events.(Industry Watch)(Calendar)
March 1, 2007... Click on the "Calendar" icon at www.mdtmag.com for information about any of the following events. March 26-28 Fatigue 2007: The 6th Engineering Integrity Society International Conference on Durability and Fatigue, Queens' College,...

Charging-up surgical devices: electrosurgical devices require an energy platform to generate the power necessary to function properly. Working closely with surgeons on the design, a device maker has introduced a unit to provide exactly the type of control and power needed for these surgical tools. This article reviews the benefits of this new offering.(Device Sector Spotlight)
March 1, 2007... In November 2006, Valleylab, a division of Tyco Healthcare Group LP and the market leader in advanced energy-based surgical systems, announced the launch of the ForceTriad, a new, integrated energy platform for electrosurgery (a mode of surgery...

Line leakage tester.(Notables: Testing/Inspection Equipment)
March 1, 2007... The 620L is a fully automated line leakage tester that is able to perform eight of the most commonly required line leakage tests with the common measuring devices already incorporated into the instrument. When configured with an optional Run...

Test socket.(Notables: Testing/Inspection Equipment)
March 1, 2007... The CSP test socket is designed for devices from 28 to 40 [mm.sup.2]. The socket is ideal for manual testing of devices with pitches down to 0.4 mm, such as CSP, MicroBGA, DSP, LGA, SRAM, DRAM, and Flash devices. The socket provides minimal...

Camera.(Notables: Testing/Inspection Equipment)
March 1, 2007... The IK-TU51 3CCD remote head camera is available with either 1/3 in. and/or 1/2 in. image sensors. High sensitivity (800-line resolution) plus interchangeable heads combine to make this video camera ideal for a variety of applications. The...

Laser-scanning sensor.(Notables: Testing/Inspection Equipment)
March 1, 2007... The ScanWorks V5 sensor is a hand-held 3D laser scanner. Its design offers excellent accuracy, speed, and flexibility to users tackling the most challenging reverse engineering and inspection tasks. A scanning rate of up to 458,000 points per...

Shedding some light on adhesive curing: adhesives are a key component in the assembly of a variety of medical devices. Unfortunately, specific curing requirements of certain types have caused difficulties for manufacturers using traditional adhesive options. Visible light curing adhesives, however, enable the use of equipment that costs less, offers a safer solution, and enables greater flexibility in the design of the product.(Cover story)
March 1, 2007... Adhesives are playing an increasingly prominent role in the design and assembly of highly effective medical devices used for diagnostic, treatment, and prevention purposes. Adhesives make it possible to deliver smaller, less invasive, more...

New treatment, new hope, new design: how does one redesign an 18,000 pound, 12 MeV electron linear accelerator that typically requires at least 100 tons of shielding for radiation protection so that it is mobile and can be used in a standard operating room without having to add any radiation shielding? The following article illustrates how one company approached this complicated challenge.(Device Sector Spotlight)
March 1, 2007... Mobetron, from IntraOp Medical, is a mobile electron linear accelerator designed to deliver intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT) during surgery for cancer in a standard operating room (OR). IOERT is the application of electron beam...

Label printer/applicator.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... The PA1200fa front apply label printer/applicator can print and apply labels to the leading side of a product moving down a conveyor. It is currently available using the H-Series thermal/thermal transfer printers with print resolutions of 203...

Socket assemblies.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... These IP 65 rated sockets include Australian, Continental European, Danish, French/Belgium, Italian, Swiss; United Kingdom, and North America. Each is designed with the same mounting hole cut out and is IP 65 and NEMA 12/4 rated when used with...

Neuroleads.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... Neuroleads with disc electrodes are designed for non-invasive cutaneous neurological assessment with active and reference electromyography, electroencephalograph, and evoked potential monitoring and recording equipment. The tangle-resistant,...

Connector system.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... Designed for cabling applications in equipment with high power demands, the Pwr TwinBlade connector system provides current-carrying capacity of up to 50 A per contact. The system features a "touch-proof" design and is polarized to assure...

Gearhead.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... The Series 08/3 zero backlash spur gearhead is ideal for applications requiring precision positioning with high resolution and low torque requirements. The gearhead weighs 4.5 to 5.7 grams while providing a maximum continuous torque of 15 mNm...

Solenoid valves.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... The 310/410 series valves are versatile, reliable, and compact 1/8-in. ported 3-way and 4-way direct acting solenoid valves designed to meet a variety of pneumatic applications. Valves of the same series can be mounted in-line or on a subbase...

Driver.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... Thermal protection (TP) is a motor protection circuit within the AB5 driver that is designed to minimize damage to the motor due to overheating. Based on a microcontroller, the TP option is an EOP (envelope of performance) computing algorithm...

Custom silicone overmolding.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... Medical product designers have a new option available to them with silicone overmolding processes. Using unique silicone formulations, surface finishes can be designed specifically for the medical application requirement, from extremely...

Power entry modules.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... Series DD21 and DD22 power entry modules have been conceptually designed for PCB mounting. The DD21 product is equipped with multiple functions including inlet connector, switching, and fusing. In addition, the DD22 series offers standard or...

Encoder display.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... This straightforward digital counter accepts quadrature encoder outputs and displays either rotational or linear position on a bright, easy-to-read numeric display. Fully operational right out of the box, the SA100 does not require optional...

Engineered purging compounds.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... One of 10 engineered purging compounds in the complete line of Dyna-Purge products, the enhanced formulation of Dyna-Purge M provides dual-scrubbing action to purge faster and clean more effectively than other types of commercial purging...

Fiber optic illumination.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... These lighting technologies are an extension of the company's patented ultra-thin, flexible, and extremely versatile UniGlo technology, which uses optical fiber mounted on a back reflector to create lighting panels as thin as 0.013 in. A...

Stepper drives.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... STAC6 high performance stepper drives are available in 220 VAC models. These drives offer advanced features to provide maximum performance benefits from a stepper motor, and provide software selectable resolutions from 200 to 51,200 steps/rev...

Shaft grounding ring.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... The Aegis SGR Conductive MicroFiber shaft grounding ring is ideal for predictive and preventive maintenance programs on VFD-controlled AC motors and large DC motors. By protecting bearings from electrical damage, the SGR dramatically extends...

Optically clear epoxy.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... EP30HT--a transparent, highly versatile epoxy--is offered for general purpose bonding, casting, coating, and potting. It combines excellent physical strength, resistance to elevated temperatures and humidity, and chemical resistance properties...

Capacitive proximity switches.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... This line of capacitive proximity switches is offered for monitoring the levels of liquids, pastes, and bulk material in machines even through nonmetallic dividing walls. In addition, these capacitive proximity switches are suitable as limit...

Polyethylene tubing.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... Two types of polyethylene tubing--one linear low density formula and the other, a style co-extruded with EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate)--are offered. While both are made from non-toxic ingredients conforming to FDA standards, they offer different...

Rubber-to-metal bonding.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... Sealing, gripping, and motion control are typical performance features of custom rubber moldings bonded to metal components. The company provides these performance features in prototype through large volume quantities using injection, transfer,...

Electropolishing service.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... This company's electropolishing service employs electrical current and chemicals in a highly controlled electrolytic bath to remove burrs with 0.0001 in. precision and produce a bright, high-luster finish on exterior and interior surfaces....

CNC honing system.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... The SV-1005 series vertical CNC honing system is available with an integrated air gaging system to provide closed-loop control of tool size, along with downloadable SPC data. Matched with the company's diamond-plated CGT Krossgrinding tools or...

Self-centering vise.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... These self-centering vises position and clamp workpieces exactly on a defined symmetrical axis. They are ideal for quickly and easily aligning a series of these vises on a machine worktable. They have a unique jaw adjustment feature for quickly...

Conveyor.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... For companies and products requiring an ,additional standard of sanitation during the manufacturing and packaging levels of processing, the AquaPruf 7600 Ultimate Conveyor Series offers a solution. It comes with a positive-driven Mol Industries...

NKK Switches, an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of electromechanical switches, has launched a renewed SmartSwitch website that has a brand new look and features a more user-friendly interface and navigation features to aid customers in selecting the right SmartSwitch from the extensive product line.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... NKK Switches, an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of electromechanical switches, has launched a renewed SmartSwitch website that has a brand new look and features a more user-friendly interface and navigation features to aid...

The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium's (ITC) newly designed website brings together ITC's clearer focus on providing greater service to its members and potential members, as well as incorporating more historical information about the organization.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium's (ITC) newly designed website brings together ITC's clearer focus on providing greater service to its members and potential members, as well as incorporating more historical information about the...

Catalog Data Solutions, a leading provider of online product selection tools for industrial suppliers and distributors, offers a whitepaper entitled "Next Generation CAD Configurators Save Time and Money.".(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... Catalog Data Solutions, a leading provider of online product selection tools for industrial suppliers and distributors, offers a whitepaper entitled "Next Generation CAD Configurators Save Time and Money? The whitepaper details five key trends...

LCD specialist Apollo Display Technologies' new web site makes it easier for LCD users to locate and order the components, value-added enhancements, and kit solutions they need for their display applications.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... LCD specialist Apollo Display Technologies' new web site makes it easier for LCD users to locate and order the components, value-added enhancements, and kit solutions they need for their display applications. Apollo is a unique manufacturer and...

The Internet has become a daily tool box for many engineers to help them find, specify, and procure equipment.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... The Internet has become a daily tool box for many engineers to help them find, specify, and procure equipment. A myriad of sites offer a variety of functions associated with the specifying and purchasing process. However, RTD Co.'s site offers...

Lattice Technology Inc., developers of leading 3D publishing applications that use the ultra-compressed XVL 3D format have released a free trial of XVL Studio.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... Lattice Technology Inc., developers of leading 3D publishing applications that use the ultra-compressed XVL 3D format have released a free trial of XVL Studio. XVL Studio drives innovation, collaboration, and communication with 3D viewing,...

In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Edmund Optics (EO) has released its first-edition EO Master Source Book.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Edmund Optics (EO) has released its first-edition EO Master Source Book. More than a catalog, the Master Source Book combines product listings, volume pricing, technical articles, and application guides...

Bodine Electric Company has released its new and expanded 2007 Standard Products catalog, featuring over 1,000 AC, DC, and brushless DC fractional horsepower motors, gearmotors, and controls.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... Bodine Electric Company has released its new and expanded 2007 Standard Products catalog, featuring over 1,000 AC, DC, and brushless DC fractional horsepower motors, gearmotors, and controls. The catalog features over 100 new standard products,...

Extensive materials database.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2007... ASM International and Granta Design have unveiled a materials database created specifically to support medical device design. At stake is the ability to radically reduce many aspects of R&D expenses and to accelerate the development of new...