Medical Design Technology articles from March 2008

Medical Design Technology archives from March 2008

Sterilizable active RFID tag.(Innovations)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The T2S asset tag is tested to endure standard autoclave cycles at temperatures up to 135[degrees]C, as well as immersion in the most common liquid sterilization methods. This new enhancement will further allow...

Display enables powerful programmability capabilities.(Innovations)
March 1, 2008... This 2.7-inch LCD display provides an innovative solution for OEMs looking to speed and simplify new product development in small form factor products requiring graphical user interface (GUI). The ezLCD-001-EDK incorporates intelligent...

Injection molding and extrusion grade vinyl compounds.(Innovations)
March 1, 2008... The Geon HC product line will feature flexible injection molding and extrusion grade vinyl compounds with a wide range of durometers. These compounds are available from as low as 60 Shore A through nearly-rigid grades, and many have USP Class 6...

Digital microscope with large depth-of-field.(Innovations)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The VHX-600 digital microscope offers an extraordinarily large depth-of-field that is at least 20 times greater than conventional microscopes. A 54 mega-pixel, 3 CCD mode camera and a wide selection of...

Tubing connector prevents misconnections.(Innovations)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SRC connector provides medical personnel with an alternative--a tubing connector that is designed to eliminate potential misconnections that can occur with luer fittings. In medical settings, accidental tubing...

Extrusion tooling for tiny medical tubing.(Innovations)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MediFlow system is capable of producing tubing finer than a single human hair--the next generation of medical tubing extrusion technology--with minimum tolerances of just 0.002". The head and inline dies of the...

Leak and seal strength package test system.(Innovations)
March 1, 2008... The feature-rich Lippke 4000 Series is designed to perform a variety of leak and seal strength tests on flexible, rigid, and porous materials. The Model 4000 is standalone and the Model 4500 is a PC-operated, bench-top unit. These units are the...

In victory for device industry, Supreme Court favors PMA pre-emption.(Regulatory Report)
March 1, 2008... In a ruling that is expected to shave the volume of lawsuits against device manufacturers, the Supreme Court held that FDA premarket approval should preclude patients from suing companies for personal injury in most cases. The court handed...

FDA on the lookout for potential recalls masked as service requests.(Regulatory Report)
March 1, 2008... CDRH's compliance office is advising device firms to scrutinize seemingly routine service or maintenance requests, which may in fact be masking product malfunctions or problems warranting a recall. FDA can review service requests during...

Industry looks to FDA's new combo products chief for answers.(Regulatory Report)
March 1, 2008... FDA's Office of Combination Products says it is getting back on track with new leadership in place after months of flux. Industry meanwhile is pushing the office to accelerate the release of rules and guidelines to help companies navigate the...

Pharmaceuticals charging through.(Device Sector Spotlight)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Transdermal drug delivery offers numerous advantages over other more commonly used techniques. However, the size of a pharmaceutical's molecules has traditionally been a limiting factor in terms of the type of drug...

TUV merger.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... TUV Rheinland Holding AG and TUV SUD AG plan to merge. The companies are currently reviewing the details of their combination. An internationally powerful technical services group with the core competencies testing, inspection, certification,...

Kaplan EduNeering and AdvaMed form alliance.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... Kaplan EduNeering, a leading provider of compliance and knowledge management solutions, has established a new multi-year partnership with AdvaMed, the world's largest medical technology trade association. Under the terms of the agreement,...

New Medical Systems Engineering Program.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... The University of California, Irvine Extension has announced plans to offer a Medical Systems Engineering Specialized Studies Program to begin this spring in order to meet the demand of the estimated 2,700 life science companies located in...

Clinical trial enrollment.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... Cook Medical has enrolled the first U.S. patient in the Stable global clinical trial designed to evaluate the Cook Zenith Dissection Endovascular System for the treatment of Type B thoracic aortic dissections. The system is the first device...

Microscopic needles in transdermal drug delivery.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... In what is believed to be the first peer-reviewed study of its kind involving human subjects, researchers at the University of Kentucky and the Georgia Institute of Technology have demonstrated that patches coated on one side with microscopic...

Calendar of events.(Industry Watch)(Conference news)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... Click on the "Calendar" icon at www.mdtmag.com for information about any of the following events. March 26-27 Advanced Manufacturing Expo, International Centre, Mississauga, Canada. March 26-28 PharmaMedDevice, Pennsylvania Convention...

Custom orthotics/reverse engineering system.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... Konica Minolta, the makers of the Vivid line of precision 3D laser scanners, and SensAble Technologies Inc., a leading developer of touch-enabled systems for 3D modeling applications, present a new offering that combines SensAble's FreeForm...

Antimicrobial materials.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... RTP Company, a specialty thermoplastics compounder, has entered into an exclusive sales and manufacturing agreement with Biosafe Inc. to use their silane-based antimicrobial technology in RTP Company's expanded line of antimicrobial products....

Ceramic businesses acquired.(Industry Watch)
March 1, 2008... Morgan Crucible, parent company to Morgan Technical Ceramics, has agreed to acquire two technical ceramics businesses, Certech and Carpenter Advanced Ceramics, from Carpenter Technology Corp. These businesses will be acquired on a cash and debt...

RTOS platform preserves proven IP and enables new features.(Case in Point)
March 1, 2008... * The Project: Preserve prior IP investments in long-lifecycle applications while also enabling new features to be introduced without compatibility issues. * The Solution: Use a hybrid Windows plus real-time operating system (RTOS)...

The piezo solution for vital signs monitoring.(Emphasis On Piezo Film)
March 1, 2008... The unique properties of piezo film as a dynamic strain sensor make it particularly well-suited to the detection of vital signs, whether mounted in direct contact with the skin or mechanically coupled through intervening layers. Some film...

Ultra-clean seal for pumps.(Notables: Pumps & Valves)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Turcon Variseal Ultra-Clean addresses the stringent cleanliness needs of the medical device community. Utilizing proprietary Turcon material that is compatible with virtually all chemical media, it also has...

RoHS approved liquid dispenser.(Notables: Pumps & Valves)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The JB 1113-LF now conforms to RoHS requirements. High volume manufacturing passes on significant cost savings to users. Features include timed pulse shot and continuous mode operation. Regulated air output controls...

Direct acting valve rated for mobile voltage operation.(Notables: Pumps & Valves)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The XM Series inline valve is offered for multiple industrial applications in a variety of pneumatic markets. XM Series direct acting valves are available in both 3-way and 4-way versions. The valve is a 1/8",...

Displacement metering pump for accurate dispensing.(Notables: Pumps & Valves)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The VMP electronic variable displacement metering pump is offered for accurate dispensing of UV sensitive fluids. Typical fluids that fall into this category are UV curable adhesives, UV coatings, and photo...

Dispense valve provides clean shut-off.(Notables: Pumps & Valves)
March 1, 2008... The 2600-041 Series Snuf-Bak dispense valve is designed for fast and clean shut-off of thixotropic and cohesive materials such as viscous silicones, epoxies, and urethanes. The design incorporates the company's trademark Snuf-Bak action of...

Latching valves provide positive positioning.(Notables: Pumps & Valves)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two latching valves, the model MI 210 2-way direct acting latching valve and the model PI 300 3-way direct acting latching valve, are offered to medical device manufacturers. Both valves are designed to provide...

Miniature ball valves in three configurations.(Notables: Pumps & Valves)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A series of miniature ball valves are available in standard shut-off (MBV-1010), 3-way diverting (MBVT-1010), and 3-way mixing diverting (MBVMD-1010) configurations. Designs offer compact size, light weight, and...

Sticky silicone: silicone gel pressure.(Cover story)
March 1, 2008... Silicone gel pressure sensitive adhesives are offering a revolutionary solution to applications such as medical device attachment and wound care. Exhibiting a variety of favorable properties for an adhesive that comes in contact with skin, the...

Adhesive online.
March 1, 2008... In June, the MDT Buyers Guide will arrive in the mail. For your convenience, however, the complete directory is also available online at the magazine's website, www.mdtmag.com, where it can be easily referenced from anywhere should the print...

Don't get stuck with the wrong adhesive supplier.(Emphasis On Adhesives)
March 1, 2008... Adhesive technology is critical to many aspects of medical device technology, from securing components within a finished device to adhering wound care products or electrical pads directly to a patient's skin. Therefore, it is of paramount...

Miniaturization.(PERSPECTIVES)
March 1, 2008... Making medical devices smaller is a regular challenge for manufacturers, as well as their supply and service partners. Enabling these products to do more while taking up less space is a task every member in the process is responsible for...

Biomedical engineering fuels innovation in combination product development.(Device Sector Spotlight)
March 1, 2008... The market for combination products is rapidly increasing in size and reaching across more medical sectors with each new advancement. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including biomedical engineering, these devices are offering...

Pharma MedDevice[TM] 2008: converging technologies transforming medicine.(Show Preview)
March 1, 2008... Logically co-located with INTERPHEX--an event that has served the pharmaceutical industry for many years--the PharmaMedDevice 2008 event takes place in a new city, but continues with the same motivation and objective: to provide a venue for the...

Maintain compliance and ensure safety through efficient label design.(Emphasis On Safety Labels)
March 1, 2008... Safety labels seem like a basic enough component of a product to not warrant serious consideration, but for medical device manufacturers, that type of thinking could lead to serious consequences. This article will provide a high-level overview...

Design a tourniquet, double time!(Case in Point)
March 1, 2008... * The Project: Design a tourniquet in a little over two weeks that needs to offer exceptional strength and durability, while also enabling ease of use. * The Solution: Use a rapid prototyping process and eliminate any possible fat in the...

Multi-sensor interface circuit uses low power.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The high-precision, low-power, low-voltage multi-channel ZMD21013 sensor signal interface circuit is an essential enabler for a myriad of medical products requiring multiple sensors. Sample devices benefiting from...

Yellow laser offers higher power and low noise.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Compass 561 laser delivers 50 mW at 561 nm, while still offering substantially lower noise than any other solid state yellow laser currently available. Specifically, this frequency doubled, diode-pumped solid...

High density switcher supplies 160 W in compact package.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The VMS-160 series of high density, medically approved open frame switching power supplies outputs 160 W with 200 LFM forced air cooling or 100 W under convection-cooled conditions. This translates to a power density...

Laser sensor for hostile environments.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An M12 laser sensor with a body length of only 50 mm and an operating range of 50 m has been developed for use in hostile environments that prohibit the use of photoelectric and fiber optic sensors and where even...

Knobs in many configurations, styles, sizes.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Manufactured in an assortment of configurations, styles, and sizes, all meeting the highest quality levels, these knobs are made of ABS or aluminum with nickel-plated brass bushings and reinforced shaft holes to suit...

Open frame AC-DC power supplies.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ZWX-series are open frame AC-DC power supplies provide voltages including +3.3 V, +5 V, +12 V, -12 V, and +5 V (standby), and are 1 U rack/enclosure mountable. The ZWX300 includes a sixth output (a second +12 V)....

HCMOS oscillator offers tight frequency stability.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The XO125 is a 5 V voltage controlled oven compensated controlled crystal oscillator with an HCMOS output. The XO125 is designed for Stratum 3E applications requiring a very low aging rate and very tight frequency...

Custom coil cords provide reliability.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Custom coil cords are manufactured exclusively in the U.S. using the company's lot size of one and Six Sigma manufacturing process, which equates to excellent turn-around times and near-zero defects. Some companies...

Portable UV curing system for 3D surfaces.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... The Multicure UV curing system features a hand-held quartz lamp which produces a narrow band 365 nm output (other spectrums available) for curing three-dimensional surfaces coated with UV-curable coatings or adhesives. Simple to operate, just...

Quick disconnects connect without spray or leakage.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The dry break quick disconnect connects without any fluid spray or leakage and disconnects with minimal dead volume. The assembly is constructed of stainless steel throughout and weighs only 15 grams. Both internal...

Multiport serial card lines certified for Vista.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The "Certified for Windows Vista" logo identifies the Comtrol Rocketport Express and Rocketport Infinity product lines as fully designed and tested for the latest 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft operating system. Meeting...

Anti-backlash assembly eliminates drag and wear.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The VHD series eliminates drag and wear associated with high pre-load forces. The anti-backlash assembly provides the maximum load-carrying capability and the highest axial and radial stiffness of any of the...

Black chrome plating on motion components.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Low-temp, black chrome plating is available for a variety of the company's motion components, including linear shafts, linear bushings, linear guides, ball screws, and others. Through electroplating, an alloyed...

Modular control system offers flexibility.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This rack-based modular control system offers the flexibility to control up to eight rack servo drives and 64 distributed axes via CANopen. Designated MC4U, the motion control system is designed for multi-axis motion...

Plastic reel addresses storage concerns.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Company has developed an exclusive assembly and disassembly method to address customer concerns over shipping and storing empty reels. The cord lock design assembles in seconds and requires no glue, fixtures, or tools. This exclusive design...

Hose provides maximum flexibility.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] E-Z Form Hose, a family of new industrial hoses, provides extreme flexibility while retaining full-flow performance. The value to original equipment manufacturers, equipment users, and distributors is that this hose...

Load cell amplifier provided lead free.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The CSG110 inline signal conditioner/amplifier can now be provided lead free per RoHS directive's requirements. The CSG110 is a solution for in-line amplifier of any full bridge strain gauge type sensor with mV/V...

Ultra-miniature, half pitch, side-actuated DIP switch.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designated the TDP Series, this ultra-miniature, surface mount, side-actuated DIP switch features a dual bifurcated wiping action that ensures reliable contact. When mounted horizontally, the side-actuation mechanism...

Three sizes added to pneumatic rodless product family.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Three sizes have been added to the MXP rodless product family, completing the size range from 16 mm to 63 mm bores. MXP is designed with the company's exclusive Endurance Technology features for maximum durability...

Vision sensor inspects small features over a wide area.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Designed to inspect small features over a wide area, Checker 232 provides reliable inspection results on the fastest production lines, detecting and inspecting up to 1,500 parts per minute. It is ideal for applications where small features are...

Laser modules with integral thermo electric control.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two 532 nm DPSS high visibility green laser modules from SANYO--the DLX-9356-13 (532nm, 5mW) and the DLX-9456-02 (532nm, 10mW)--are available. The modules, measuring just 20 mm diameter by 50.5 mm, have integral...

Rotary blade wire stripper.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... The Model C100S rotary blade wire stripper is a single blade centrifugal rotary stripper (and twister) that can process insulations from solid and stranded wires. Strip length and blade depth adjustments are made while the machine is running....

Strain relief bushings fit larger size round cables.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... The RDD-601 strain relief bushing increases the capabilities of the RDD line to include round cables up to 0.7" and panel mounting holes up to 1.109" w/1.0" flats. Engineered to be user-friendly, all RDD Lockits can be preassembled onto round...

Open frame chassis for test/debugging.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An open frame chassis is offered for test/debugging. The unit does not have side or back walls around the card cage area, leaving it open for easy access. The E-frame was designed with the high (and flexible) power...

Motion control development tool eliminates confusion.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Freedom Series is a user friendly, motion control development tool designed to eliminate the confusion often associated with motion systems integration. An all-inclusive package featuring the utility and design...

Biomaterial absorbed by human body.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BIOFELT is a unique non-woven biomaterial which can be readily absorbed by the human body. It is a polymer fiber scaffold that is highly porous, soft and flexible, biocompatible, and enables human cells to grow into...

Wave springs minimize assembly cost.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Metric Crest-to-Crest wave springs minimize assembly cost and total assembly size due to the reduced spring cavity required. The company offers over 3,000 standard wave springs in 17-7 stainless steel or carbon...

Thermal transfer bar code label printers.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... The PA2000t label printer/applicator is a cost-effective accessory for the H-400/H-600 Series of thermal/thermal transfer bar code label printers. This unit is easy to use, with minimal adjustments necessary, and allows for quick setup and...

Mouse-controlled ring light for microscopes, cameras.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An ordinary computer mouse plugs directly into the OrbiLight ring light giving complete control over light direction, width, and intensity. The mouse makes operation easy and intuitive. Wired or even wireless mice...

Brushless ac motor features integrated controller.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The HypAC is a compact, brushless permanent magnet AC motor that features an integrated controller, accepts 24 to 80 VDC inputs, and provides output from 1 to 5 kW. Designed for products requiring a highly reliable...

Power measurement module aids in managing costs.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This 750-493 3-phase power measurement module integrates comprehensive monitoring of a power supply network with the connectivity of an I/O system. At just 12 mm wide, the high-density, 6-channel 750-493 represents a...

Piezo motors allow backlash-free positioning.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Piezo Legs and PiezoWave motor lines eliminate common problems and offer new possibilities. Interfacing piezo-electric material directly with the output drive allows backlash-free positioning down to nanometer or...

Advanced display solutions in widescreen formats.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition to the 17" and 20" versions of the StereoMirror stereoscopic/3D displays currently available, the SD2420W and SD2620W with larger widescreen StereoMirror formats are offered. The SD2620W is the largest...

Lithium coin cell battery available in four configurations.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The BR2477A coin cell, Poly-carbonmonofluoride, high-temperature (BR) lithium battery utilizes unique polymer materials and construction techniques to provide high temperature tolerance and exceptional reliability,...

Abhisam Softwares' free training course on RFID technology is made up of text, rich graphics, Flash animations, and interactive exercises that make learning about RFID fun and easy.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2008... * Abhisam Softwares' free training course on RFID technology is made up of text, rich graphics, Flash animations, and interactive exercises that make learning about RFID fun and easy. It introduces the learner to the basics of RFID technology...

Turck has launched the latest free version of its popular I/Oassistant software, V3.0.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2008... * Turck has launched the latest free version of its popular I/Oassistant software, V3.0. The program is used as a configuration tool when designing Turck's BL20 in the panel and BL67 on the machine nodes. It can verify I/O arrangements and make...

Nordson Corp. has launched its new online Adhesive Systems Parts and Services Center.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2008... * Nordson Corp. has launched its new online Adhesive Systems Parts and Services Center. The site provides registered customers with a unified, comprehensive hub for purchasing Nordson parts, contacting sales and service representatives, and...

Universal Air Filter, offers a complimentary, round-the-clock prototype service to design engineers world wide at its website.(Design Notes)(Website overview)
March 1, 2008... * Universal Air Filter, offers a complimentary, round-the-clock prototype service to design engineers world wide at its website. To receive a prototype, the client can submit a request on the Internet or via telephone, fax, or e-mail. Once the...

Adobe has made available via its web site a free download that delivers updated 3D CAD translators for Acrobat 3D Version 8.(Design Notes)(Website overview)
March 1, 2008... * Adobe has made available via its web site a free download that delivers updated 3D CAD translators for Acrobat 3D Version 8. As a result, Acrobat 3D now supports the latest version of many of the major 3D CAD file formats. The file formats...

Earplug scrap/tear issue silicone solution.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2008... Leading retail earplug manufacturer McKeon Products Inc, recently embarked on progressing its advanced earplug line. McKeon President/CEO Devin Benner commissioned technically advanced, multinational liquid-silicone parts molder Silcotech North...

Thin-wall sheet helps hospitals optimize space.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2008... As hospitals strive to accommodate greater volumes of patients and services, they are looking to innovations in medical equipment to address these challenges. SABIC Innovative Plastics' technologies are enabling development of smaller,...

Elsevier has launched illumin8.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2008... * Elsevier has launched illumin8, the first web-based research tool that integrates natural language search technology with content from Elsevier's full-text scientific articles, millions of scientific abstracts, patents, and billions of web...

Mouser Electronics Inc.(Design Notes)
March 1, 2008... * Mouser Electronics Inc. offers the first of four quarterly new product catalogs in 2008. Catalog #633 (February--May) features 2,112 pages of the newest products and technologies from over 335 premiere electronic component suppliers....