Medical Design Technology articles from September 2007

Medical Design Technology archives from September 2007

Flat flexible cable.(Innovations)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gold contact FFC/FPC connectors may be mated with flat flexible cable that contains a gold coating on the stripped ends for an extra measure of reliability in board-to-board interconnections. In addition to its...

CAN-ethernet gateway.(Innovations)
September 1, 2007... EtherCAN is a CAN-ethernet gateway that converts from CAN into ethernet to overcome the limited physical length of CAN networks. Since CAN technology was originally developed for the automotive industry, it has limitations for high-speed data...

Electricity converting film.(Innovations)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This miniature, thin film thermoelectric generator (TEG) converts heat directly into electricity. Ideal for waste heat conversion applications, the solid state TEG delivers power generation densities (>3...

Peelable header pouch.(Innovations)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new generation, peelable chevron header pouch, called Duet, that reduces costs while offering improved aseptic presentation of medical products is offered. Duet's hybrid design combines elements from both header...

Inverters.(Innovations)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SE/SE2 and E200II Series inverters for CCFL-backlit LCDs are vacuum-encapsulated to provide maximum reliability and excellent resistance to shock, vibration, and humidity. Widely used in medical diagnostic equipment...

Lawmakers probe FDA over handling of Cordis warning letter.(Regulatory Report)
September 1, 2007... The House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to FDA and Johnson & Johnson requesting documents as part of an inquiry into FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs. The letters, sent by committee Chairman John Dingell, D-MI, and...

Roche's Ventana bid advances in court.(Noted ...)
September 1, 2007... Ventana Medical Systems is preliminarily enjoined from using certain anti-takeover provisions to avert Roche's $3 billion hostile bid for the Tucson-based cancer diagnostics firm under an Arizona federal district court decision Aug. 21. Swiss...

IsoTis Accell gains FDA clearance.(Noted ...)
September 1, 2007... Integra LifeSciences' pending acquisition of orthobiologics firm IsoTis moves a step closer to completion with the Aug. 15 receipt of 510(k) clearance for IsoTis' Accell line of demineralized bone matrix products. Accell is a key asset of the...

FDA to retain staff, despite user fee reauthorization delays.(Regulatory Report)
September 1, 2007... No layoff notices will be sent to FDA staff, despite delays in reauthorizing user fee legislation, set to expire Sept. 30. User fee language in broad-based FDA bills that have passed both the House and Senate allows FDA to collect $287...

An interview with Richard Partlow, general manager at Brentwood Industries: sound, secure packaging is essential to the success of a finished medical device. However, it is often not given enough consideration in the design stage of a product's development cycle and, as such, does not provide as much benefit as possible. In this month's interview, a packaging expert offers insight on several packaging concerns.(View From The Top)(Interview)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Medical device packaging can be just as important an element of a finished product as a molded component or electronic part. It offers protection for the device during transport and storage, enables enhanced safety...

AdvaMed 2007: October 1-3, 2007, Washington, DC Ronal Reagan Building & International Trade Center.(Show Preview)
September 1, 2007... AdvaMed, the trade association for the medical device manufacturing sector, has launched a new industry conference-AdvaMed 2007. It is designed specifically to serve as a vehicle upon which to gather industry stakeholders, innovators, and...

Compressing the storage demands for CT imaging: medical imaging applications, such as CT scanning, move extremely large amounts of data through a system at a very high rate. In order to avoid bottlenecks at certain points in the process and to alleviate storage space concerns, medical device manufacturers of this type of equipment are looking for compression solutions. This article reviews one potential response to the problem.(Device Sector Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Modern CT scanners digitize tens of thousands of x-ray channels at sample rates in the range of 1 to 7 ksamp/sec with 16 to 24 bits per sample, resulting in an aggregate bandwidth of many Gbps across the slip ring and to disk drives for...

Five basic steps to proper membrane selection: selecting a membrane to use with a medical device seems like a relatively simple enough process, however, without careful consideration of a number of key factors, a device can fail as a result of an improper choice. This article provides five basic steps to aid medical device designers in ensuring they are making a proper selection for their specific application.(Emphasis On Membranes)
September 1, 2007... The design and implementation of a membrane into a device is not an art form, but fundamental knowledge of the components and their functionality can help ensure success. Whether designing a standard biomedical product or on the cusp of medical...

Small footprint, big impact: by adding robotics to the production line, a company can turbocharge its product quality, reliability, and speed to market. This article will focus on what characteristics should be examined when considering a robotic solution for various tasks. In addition, a success story illustrates the advantages that can be realized from this automation purchase.(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... Smart choices can make all the difference in a product's success or failure. Should product manufacturing be outsourced so a company can instead concentrate on developing new intellectual property? Should product be manufactured overseas? Which...

GE Plastics purchased.(Industry Watch)
September 1, 2007... Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) today announced the completion of its purchase of GE Plastics from General Electric for a purchase price of US$11.6 billion. The former GE unit is now SABIC Innovative Plastics, a new business addition to...

Visage imaging formed.(Industry Watch)
September 1, 2007... Mercury Computer Systems Inc. announced the formation of Visage Imaging, its wholly owned Subsidiary for the life sciences and medical businesses. As an independent operating entity, Visage Imaging will be more effectively positioned to deliver...

Datamax partners with Innovatum.(Industry Watch)
September 1, 2007... Datamax Corp., a supplier of bar code labeling and RFID printing hardware, has aligned with Innovatum Inc., a provider of software and consulting services to the life sciences. Under the agreement, Innovatum will support Datamax and its channel...

Artificial disc study.(Industry Watch)
September 1, 2007... A 3D finite element study published in the August 1 edition of Spine shows that the mobile-core design of the Charite artificial disc, which consists of two metallic endplates and a polyethylene sliding core, reduces facet loading by more than...

Calendar of events.(Industry Watch)(Conference news)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... Click on the "Calendar" icon at www.mdtmag.com for information about any of the following events. September 25-26 MPO 2006 Summit, The Hilton Hotel & Conference Center, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. September 25-27 Makino's 2007 Die Mold...

Medical design & manufacturing Minneapolis: October 16-18, 2007 Minneapolis Convention Center.(Show Preview)
September 1, 2007... Co-located with the MidPak show, MD&M Minneapolis is host to an array of suppliers and service providers from across the country. The event offers an opportunity for designers and engineers to establish new contacts as well as take part in an...

Brushless DC motor.(Notables: Motors & Motion Control)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This compact high performance 8-pole brushless DC motor is well suited for applications where high torque to weight ratio and efficiency are important. The motor is capable of 40% more torque than typical 4-pole...

Integrated motor/driver.(Notables: Motors & Motion Control)
September 1, 2007... The PRO Series NEMA 17 integrated motor/drivers are fitting for machine designs where an incorporated motor/driver helps conserve space. A 42 mm hybrid motor with attached drive electronics, yields a compact, RoHS compliant package. PRO Series...

Modular spindle drives.(Notables: Motors & Motion Control)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The GP 22 S and GP 32 S gearheads, specifically adjusted for spindles, are designed to withstand high loads, and the special spindle intake means that customer-specific spindles can be assembled with ease in...

Brushless DC motor.(Notables: Motors & Motion Control)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Smoovy Series 0308... B version of the brushless DC motor line uses the "System Faulhaber" skewed winding in combination with a rotor made of Neodymium rare-earth magnets to provide cog-free motion. The bearing...

Connection selection: identifying fluid connector options.(Emphasis On Connectors)
September 1, 2007... Selecting the right fluid line connector can boost performance and bring enhanced benefits to a medical device. However, with a variety of choices between fittings, luers, and couplings, it is difficult to know which offering would be best...

Hand-held scale.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... The OHAUS HH320 hand-held scale operates on two AAA alkaline batteries, has a sealed keypad with buttons for on/off, weighing units, zero, and backlighting the large LCD display. Featuring a 320 gm capacity with 0.1 gm readability and [+ or -]...

Diode laser.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 2495-L3 Series 808 nanometer fiber-coupled diode laser incorporates new chip technology to provide a reliable and less expensive laser solution for many industrial, dental, and medical applications. It generates...

Micro solenoid valves.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 401 Series direct acting micro solenoid valves are compact and offer a field-proven pop-pet design for reliability. The valves are 10 mm wide; have a five port, 4-way configuration; and are available as single...

Temperature testing.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... The TP4500 ThermoStream System combines high thermal capacity and portability with a 45[degrees]C to 225[degrees]C temperature range for testing and characterizing small to large devices. The robust TP4500 is designed for continuous use in a...

Self-clinching fasteners.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PEM SpotFast stainless steel self-clinching fasteners ideally suit flush-mount attachment applications where corrosion resistance may be required. These fasteners permanently join two metal sheets to create a...

Wire and ribbon.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... Precious metal clad wire and ribbon are metallurgically bonded to a core material, feature a smooth, consistent surface finish, are functionally equivalent to solid products, and cost considerably less. Ideally suited for use in medical devices...

Fastener Clipper Splice.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... The distinguishing characteristic of the Unibar Fastener Clipper Splice is all the teeth, or hooks, are joined together by a single bar stretching the length of the conveyor. This is important because it prevents teeth that may become loose...

Pumphead.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... The easy-to-load 313D pumphead is offered for blood processing applications. It accepts seven different tube sizes for a flow range of 0.25 to 3,000 ml/min, and pressures up to 30 psi. The easy tube loading feature enables the 313D to provide...

Linear air-bearing stage.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leading edge manufacturing demands positioning tolerances beyond the capability of conventional ball-screw and mechanical-bearing positioning systems. The ABL1500, with its fully active preload, exceptionally high...

UV flood lamp.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company has made several UV flood lamp improvements. The warranty for flood lamp bulbs has been doubled--now a 2,000 hour warranty. A new curtain material for the ZIP Shutter has been developed--a material that...

Potentiometer.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... Providing design engineers with a versatile, robust rotary device for applications requiring extended life, this 12.7 mm rotary potentiometer with a life cycle of up to 1 million rotations was developed. Designated the Model P260, the panel...

Fiber optic illuminator.(New Products)
September 1, 2007... The Fiber-Lite DC950H machine vision fiber optic illuminator is designed for machine vision integrators. It is a 150-watt quartz halogen regulated illuminator that has been improved to produce a higher output with greater reliability and is now...

Danaher Motion introduces Linear Motioneering--a powerful web-based linear motion system sizing and selection tool that enables OEM and factory automation users to optimize machine design and operation in five simple steps.(Design Notes)
September 1, 2007... Danaher Motion introduces Linear Motioneering--a powerful web-based linear motion system sizing and selection tool that enables OEM and factory automation users to optimize machine design and operation in five simple steps. Linear Motioneering...

The Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies group from the Bosch Rexroth Corp. is offering a free Ergonomics Checklist for manual production systems, available for download from the company's web site.(Design Notes)(Website overview)
September 1, 2007... The Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies group from the Bosch Rexroth Corp. is offering a free Ergonomics Checklist for manual production systems, available for download from the company's web site. This 7-step checklist can help...

The Center for Connected Health has launched a new website and online Resource Centers for healthcare providers, patients, and other healthcare and policy leaders.(Design Notes)(Website overview)
September 1, 2007... The Center for Connected Health has launched a new website and online Resource Centers for healthcare providers, patients, and other healthcare and policy leaders. The new website is focused on providing a platform for discussions, comments,...

PennEngineering has re-launched the company's web site with a fresh design and upgraded features.(Design Notes)(Website overview)
September 1, 2007... PennEngineering has re-launched the company's web site with a fresh design and upgraded features. The site makes navigation easy with links prompting full access to the wide range of fastening resources available online. Newly expanded sections...

Linemaster Switch presents a new 84-page catalog, complete with medical and industrial grade products.(Design Notes)
September 1, 2007... Linemaster Switch presents a new 84-page catalog, complete with medical and industrial grade products. Many are UL, CSA, TUV certified, and CE marked. Linemaster offers numerous models including light-duty, explosion-proof, potentiometers,...

Material lends a hand to device design.(Design Notes)
September 1, 2007... Whether it's to improve the dexterity of video gamers or the motor functions of stroke survivors, the Xtensor device was designed to accommodate the upper-extremity therapeutic needs of virtually everyone. When Clinically Fit Inc. developed...