CleanRooms articles from April 2005

CleanRooms archives from April 2005

FDA actions prompt heightened awareness of 510(k) compliance.(CleanZone)(Food and Drug Administration)
April 1, 2005... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- Recent warnings and guidance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, www.fda.gov) are sending a strong message to medical device manufacturers about the importance of submitting FDA 510(k) premarket notification when...

Semiconductor measurements come clean: advances in metrology tools combat nanometer contamination.(NEWS)(semiconductor metrology tools)
April 1, 2005... When measuring semiconductor features, recent industry developments illustrate that the linkage between metrology and contamination control is getting tighter as features shrink. Therma-Wave Inc. (Fremont, Calif.; www.therma-wave.com) has...

Agency to monitor Chiron processes as flu vaccine manufacturing resumes.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... EMERYVILLE, CA -- The United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has restored Chiron Corp.'s (www.chiron.com) license to manufacture Fluvirin vaccine at its Liverpool. U.K., facility, but the agency will continue...

Companies move in on Asian cleanroom boom.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... EAST HILLS, N.Y. -- On the heels of a recent market study indicating that Asia is driving--and will continue to drive over the next several years--the cleanrooms hardware and garment market, filtration/purification developer Pall Corp....

The tools we use.(FROMtheEDITOR)
April 1, 2005... People concerned with contamination control certainly know a lot about such things as cleanrooms, barrier isolators, minienvironments, fume hoods and glove boxes. These are just a few of the tools of the trade. They also know a lot about the...

Report: new wafer-cleaning methods needed for increasingly smaller ICs.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... PALO ALTO, CALIF. -- Rapid advancements in the IC industry, says a report by industry research firm Frost & Sullivan (www.frost.com), are prompting increased demand for new or improved front-end semiconductor manufacturing technologies, such as...

Critical lab diagnostics aided by new water filtration technology.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... EAST HILLS, N.Y. -- A point-of-use water purification technology, designed specifically for research and diagnostic laboratories, is promising to deliver high-purity water through a series of separation and purification steps. Pall Corp.'s...

New pharma giant's U.S. facility to focus on research and development.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... DEERFIELD. IL -- The merger of two pillars of Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturing has resulted in a new corporation that ranks in the top 20 globally and a U.S. operations that will be headquartered here amidst the growing pharmaceutical...

Mega merger creates new landscape for critical materials transport technology.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... CHASKA, MN -- In less than a month, molecular contamination removal company Extraction Systems (Franklin, Mass.) went from being a small, independent company to being acquired by semiconductor subsystems supplier Mykrolis Corp., only to have...

Cleanroom co-op in Korea.(particles)(EV Group)(Jinsan Scientific)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... SEOUL, Korea -- EV Group (Scharding, Austria; www.EVGroup.com), a manufacturer of MEMS, nano, and semiconductor wafer-processing equipment, is joining with Jinsan Scientific (www.jinsanco.co.kr) to operate a Class 100 cleanroom at the...

Integrated 'immune' innovation.(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... AUSTIN, Texas -- A nanosensor that is reportedly immune to the toxins it detects has been developed by engineers at the University of Texas and Georgia Tech University. The reusable sensor can detect nerve gas and similar toxic airborne agents...

On-site oversight.(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Agilent Technologies Inc.'s (www.agilent.com) Laboratory Research Management (LRM) service for life science and pharmaceutical companies places engineers on-site to handle maintenance, repair, regulatory compliance,...

Nanotech knows northeast.(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Seven northeastern U.S. states, including five in New England, are viewed as the nation's leaders in nanotech economic and promotional development. Top-ranked Massachusetts, says a recent report from Lux Research...

Healthier hospital H20.(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... EAST HILLS, N.Y. -- Pall Corp. (www.pall.com) has introduced its Aquasafe AQF1C water filter to the European healthcare market as a point-of-use preventative against microbial contamination of heat-sensitive medical devices as well as pathogens...

Sounds of sensors.(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Magnetoresistance sensors from NVE Corp. (www.nve.com) are the tiny devices offering big sound for next-generation nanotech hearing aids built by Starkey Laboratories (Minneapolis, Minn.; www.starkey.com). The sensors are...

Miracle MEMS in the making?(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A MEMS-based implant, developed from a microelectromechanical system designed by University of Michigan Professor Karl Grosh, may hold the promise of an artificial device that will let the deaf hear without external...

Electroless enthusiasm.(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A U.S. semiconductor manufacturer, a leading European fab, and an Asian customer (all unannounced) are among the first companies to order a new electroless chemical monitoring system, developed by ECI Technology Inc....

Direct drug delivery device.(particles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... CARDIFF, Wales -- A proprietary wafer nanotechnology process from Q Chip (www.q-chip.com) will be teamed with the medical device expertise of Biocompatibles International plc (Surrey, U.K.; www.biocompatibles.co.uk) to develop next-generation...

Invest wisely, invest in yourself through volunteerism in the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology.(SETTING THE STANDARD)
April 1, 2005... Time is a finite and precious commodity. Talent is a gift. Just as economists advise to "pay yourself before paying others" to create monetary wealth and security in retirement, business experts are advising us to take "ownership of our career...

China is changing the world's cleanroom industry.(YOUR MARKET ANALYSIS)
April 1, 2005... The cleanroom industry has always been dynamic. The rate of change may now be accelerating thanks to activity in China. Over the next decade, China will become the largest consumer of cleanroom products as well as one of the largest suppliers....

Automated contamination monitoring: faster is better; Across all cleanroom industries, manufacturers are looking for quicker ways to gather more high-quality data from their contamination monitoring devices, but each industry is taking a different approach.(SPECIALREPORT)
April 1, 2005... Contamination monitoring is the last element of the cleanroom's production process to become automated, but as manufacturers are pushed to the limits of their manual contamination-monitoring capabilities, demand for new technologies is...

Body-Box Test: investigation of a test method; Examining a practice-oriented test method with respect to the reproducibility of results.
April 1, 2005... It is indisputable that cleanroom garments are still one of the most important components of contamination control in the cleanroom. Apart from textile-related parameters, other factors, including fit of the garments, behavior of the user,...

Safe containment lab design follows clear protocols: a BSL-3 lab and Animal BSL-3 lab can be simple or sophisticated, depending upon their purpose. Regardless, successful design must take into consideration material flow, people flow and waste flow.
April 1, 2005... Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment laboratories allow researchers to handle exotic or indigenous agents that can cause lethal infection by inhalation. Therefore, these laboratories must be planned carefully. A successful BSL-3 lab is...

INTERPHEX.(INTERPHEX PREVIEW)
April 1, 2005... APRIL 26-28, 2005 JACOB K. JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER, NEW YORK CITY [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For over 25 years, INTERPHEX has been a strategic resource for the pharmaceutical industry, helping industry professionals enhance their...

Air filtration.(PRODUCTSPOTLIGHT)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... Air quality is a key factor in most any cleanroom environment and when it comes to filtration equipment, the choices can be overwhelming. Features such as accessibility, service life, and the types of contaminants that can be filtered are...

High-density Floor-Trak system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... This track-and-skate system from Eagle MHC enables material managers to consolidate and optimize the storage of supplies, parts and other items where there is a need to store a high volume of goods in the most space-efficient way. The system is...

Air purification system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... This air purification system minimizes cross-contamination of germs and bacteria and reduces the risk of airborne infection. The Airshower works on the principle of nonturbulent displacement and controlled thermal stratification with low...

Gas analyzer.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The CheckMate head space gas analyzer tests packages, including those with low headspace, to provide reliable, reproducible, failsafe testing and documentation of vials, vacuum packages, shelf stable adhesives, transdermal patches and...

Glass-lined clean valve.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... This clean valve from De Dietrich Systems is a bottom-flush valve designed for use on glass-lined reactors where batch to batch cleanability is important. This self-draining valve allows for a variety of functions without the need to interrupt...

Hygienic scissor lift.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The new version of the Zero-Low Scissor Lift Table for ground-level loading is suitable for pharmaceutical, food processing, and other sensitive applications. The advantage is that the deck lowers to ground level and then lifts up to 10,000...

Filling and capping system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The FMB210 monobloc vial filling and capping machine enables pharmaceutical and biotech filling operations to achieve a 50 percent increase in output capacity with maximum flexibility within minimum floor space requirements. The system is...

Particle counting, identification.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Single Particle Explorer from Rap. ID automatically and reliably counts particles isolated by the APSys Filtr.AID system. All microscopic images of the particles are documented and analyzed. Parameters such as number, length, width, and...

Contact plate rack.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Science-ware Contact Plate Rack holds up to 60 contact plates with lids in a compact and stable configuration protected from knock-over and lid displacement. The small footprint preserves benchtop and incubator space and the racks interlock...

Benchtop FT-IR spectrometers.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Nicolet ECO/RS FT-IR spectrometer from Thermo Electron Corporation is a benchtop tool for wafer analysis integrated with the company's newest FT-IR platform, the Nicolet 6700 FT-IR spectrometer. FT-IR spectroscopy is a good inspection...

Water filter.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Aquasafe AQF1C water filter from Pall Corporation is specifically designed to prevent microbial contamination of heat-sensitive medical devices as well as machines that dispense ice and water. The disposable filter, which is installed in...

Particle sensor.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The RNet is an aerosol particle sensor with a proprietary single-plate design that reduces system complexity, reduces the number of heat-generating components and increases the use of heat-dissipating materials. This lowers the initial costs...

Laboratory water purification system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The RiOs-DI 3 UV system is optimal for low-volume, routine laboratory applications ranging from buffer, reagent and culture media preparation to general washing. The high quality product water (>10 M[ohm].cm and less than 50 ppb TOC) is useful...

Stainless-steel tables.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Series 62 stainless-steel tables are suitable for Class 100,000 to Class 10 cleanrooms. The tables will not crack, chip, corrode or generate particulates, and are useful in applications where heavier loads or impact would cause standard...

Absolute pressure transducers.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The 700 Series heated, absolute pressure transducers incorporate all welded, Inconel variable capacitance sensors, which are characterized by wide dynamic range, high accuracy and overpressure capability. The Inconel variable capacitance sensor...

Ultrapure water system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The DeltaFlow 2.0 system for producing ultrapure water without the use of hazardous ion exchange regeneration chemicals combines three membrane separation technologies, Reverse Osmosis (RO), GTM membrane degasification unit and...

Upgrade packages for wafer analyzers.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... PANalytical has introduced a series of upgrades for the its XRF wafer analyzers, Including: a new version of the SuperQ software that enhances the user interface and improves integration with other metrology techniques; new boron detection...

FDA-approved protective lotion.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... Skin Protectant Plus is an FDA-approved lotion that helps protect the skin from hazardous materials and most airborne and surface-borne substances. By forming an invisible membrane, the lotion prevents penetration of contaminants such as blood,...

Manual benchtop TFF system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Cogent M Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) system, a manual benchtop system designed for the purification of biopharmaceutical products up to 10 liters, is ideally suited for process development optimization and scaling studies of vaccines,...

Sterility testing.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Steritest EZ testing device provides fast and consistent sterility testing of large volume parenterals and synthetic drugs without antimicrobial activity. The device's ergonomically designed needle adapters fit the majority of test...

PTFE switches.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... This full line of liquid level switches in PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is useful for high-purity applications such as medical/pharmaceutical products and food or beverage dispensers. PTFE switches are also suitable for electronic component...

Portable cleanroom fogger.(NEW PRODUCTS )(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The patented, portable, ultrasonic FOG-GUN was developed specifically for users who require totally portable visible vapor generation in applications such as laminar flow tests, airflow balancing, chemical process equipment ventilation tests,...

Air velocity/temperature meter.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The Mini Air HW Pro VT50 is a portable, compact, economical and accurate hot wire thermo-anemometer. The Mini Air HW Pro is designed for simplicity and one-handed operation. This air velocity and temperature meter is equipped with features such...

Reflow and wave soldering system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The MAP Check 9000 PCF instrument offers the operator a single control point for maintaining maximum quality of the end product with less scrapping and rework while using minimum gas consumption. The system merges the company's MAP Check and...

Digital pressure gauge.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... The MERIGAUGE digital pressure gauge from Meriam Process Technology is designed for local indication, signal transmission or control for positive pressure and vacuum measurements. Pressure ranges are available to 6,000 PSIG at standard accuracy...

Real-time fault detection system.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... Straatum Processware Ltd. has introduced Imprint MX2, the first truly scalable fault detection and classification (FDC) system for semiconductor manufacturing. Imprint MX2 provides fabs and foundries with portable fault libraries, improved FDC...

Acrylic polymers reference guide.(NEW LITERATURE)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... This product information resource features detailed charts and graphs illustrating the lipid and isopropyl alcohol resistance, heat aging, and sterilization of the company's advanced acrylic polymers. This reference tool details the company's...

HVAC educational pamphlets.(NEW LITERATURE)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2005... Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products has developed a series of educational pamphlets designed to help HVAC and facilities management professionals better understand how to select and maintain their HVAC filtration systems. The brochures are...

Calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... APRIL 19-20 2005 Surface Preparation and Cleaning Conference, "Emerging Technologies in Semiconductor Surface Preparation," sponsored by SEMATECH, Hilton Airport Hotel, Austin, Texas. For more information, e-mail: naim.moumen@sematech.org;...

Free-standing Vertical Laminar Flow Stations.(Filter/Fan Units )
April 1, 2005... * Economical system provides a laminar flow of HEPA-filtered air to meet the most critical contamination requirements [GRAPHIC OMITTED] * Incorporates industry-leading 48 dBA blowers for quiet, low-vibration operation *...

Horizontal Laminar Flow Station.
April 1, 2005... * The ideal processing environment for contamination-sensitive materials [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Dual multi-speed filter/blower modules direct a continuous wash of HEPA- or ULPA-filtered air forward across the work area * Take-up...

Portable CleanBooth[TM].
April 1, 2005... Terra's Portable CleanBooth[TM] is ideal for kitting operations, assembly, or work with probe stations, screen printers and other free-standing or benchtop process equipment. The backbone of the system is one or more filter/fan units (FFUs),...

Narrow profile vertical flow hood.(Terra Benchtop Hoods )
April 1, 2005... * Dual 2' X 4' HEPA Filter/Fan Units provide laminar flow of clean air to the work surface [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Powder-coated CR steel frame includes static-dissipative PVC side panels See full line of work benches beginning...

Cleanroom benches: for ECM[TM] Modular Hoods.
April 1, 2005... * Allow permanent installation of ECM[TM] Modular Hoods as complete turnkey systems * Available in several materials and designs to meet a variety of cleanroom requirements * Precise sizing eliminates exposed edges that collect...

ECM[TM] Modular Hoods.
April 1, 2005... * Modular HEPA filter/blower units and hoods form versatile controlled-environment enclosures * Innovative, economical design lets you configure a system for any of three basic applications: ** Horizontal or Vertical Laminar Flow Hood...

ECM[TM] Modular System: laminar flow hoods.
April 1, 2005... These modules direct a continuous wash of filtered air through the work area. They require a work surface that provides at least 44" of depth (for horizontal systems) or 30" (for vertical systems). Select the hood material and filter(s) for...

ECM[TM] Modular System: ductless exhaust purifiers.
April 1, 2005... Negative-pressure systems ventilate and purify hazardous fumes generated under the hood, allowing safe indoor release of exhaust. They are ideal for such operations as soldering, screen printing and chemical mixing. Select the hood...

ECM[TM] Modular System: exhaust fume hoods.(Illustration)
April 1, 2005... Draws exhaust fumes into an exhaust duct for delivery to an in-house filtration system. Each blower module includes multiple 1200-CFM impeller blowers to provide adequate ventilation. An 8"-diameter flange for each blower allows connection to...

ECM[TM] Modular System: ventilator modules.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Free-Standing Ductless Exhaust Purifier Draws exhaust fumes from a work area into a purification filter to allow safe indoor release. It is ideal for continuous operation in an area where exhaust fumes could accumulate over time and pose a...

WhisperFlow[TM] benchtop hoods.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... This versatile laminar flow hood gives you a particle-free work environment on any available work surface. It consists of two modules: a filter/fan unit (FFU), which houses a particle filter, and a hood. The 24" X 48" X 12.25" FFU houses a...

CleanCube[TM] vertical laminar flow hood.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Terra's CleanCube[TM] provides a vertical laminar flow of filtered air to provide a particle-free processing environment. Its one-piece hood design eliminates cracks and crevasses where germs or particles can collect. The radius corners are...

Benchtop universal hood.(Purified Exhaust Chamber)
April 1, 2005... * Completely modular design lets you configure an economical hood and filter/blower configuration to your specs! * As a Mini-Laminar Flow Hood, it provides a continuous wash of HEPA- or ULPA-filtered particle-free air to the work surface...

Purifier[R] Delta Series Biological Safety Cabinets.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... * Meets new NSF designation for Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinets (see sidebar below) * Offers the largest working area of any biological safety cabinet in its class * Safety features include fully closing, counterbalanced...

Heated processing chamber.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 1, 2005... * Ideal for work with biological samples, microelectronics-based surgical tools, medical implants, and other critical components requiring above-ambient calibration or testing * Recirculation system ensures uniform heating of the internal...

RH/temperature stability chamber.(Relative Humidity)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... This acrylic cabinet is customized for storage of polycarbonate films used for high-precision screening of circuit boards. It maintains critical relative humidity and temperature levels to prevent dimensional aberrations that result from...

Mini-environment equipment enclosure.(Illustration)
April 1, 2005... * A particle-free, static-safe environment for microelectronic equipment, balances, scales and other sensitive equipment [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Interchangeable access ports let...

High-clearance chemical fume hood.
April 1, 2005... This benchtop unit features over 28" of vertical clearance with the access shield open. The dual impeller blowers provide ample ventilation under filter load to maintain exhaust air speed [greater than or equal to] 100 fpm for safe operation...

Benchtop Ductless exhaust fume hood.
April 1, 2005... This high-capacity, turnkey fume hood features dual blowers to ensure a safe exhaust flow speed [greater than or equal to] 100 fpm. Polypropylene construction resists chemical vapors; and an onboard air speed meter monitors operation. Includes...

Exhaust fume filtration systems.
April 1, 2005... A. Exhaust Fume Filter System This versatile system removes smoke and fumes from soldering, epoxies, solvents or other sources. It is ideal for highly localized operations, for which an exhaust fume hood may be too constrictive or...

Exhaust fume.
April 1, 2005... Filtration Systems A. DownDraft[TM] Work Station This work station is ideal for soldering or chemical processing that requires the removal of potentially hazardous fumes. Its powerful 1200 CFM blower draws exhaust fumes downward, away...

Vacuum chambers.(Illustration)
April 1, 2005... A-D Full-Vacuum Chambers See specifications/ordering chart below. A. High-Capacity Vacuum Chamber Ideal for degassing large assemblies. Powder-coated steel chamber with 1"-thick aluminum door. Includes 1"-thick polycarbonate viewing...

Sensitive parts cleaning.
April 1, 2005... A-B. MicroVac[TM] Portable Cleanroom Vacuum The MicroVac[TM] incorporates a four-stage filtering system to trap particles as small as 0.12 microns. Made of stainless steel, it includes a mini-tool kit for use in drawers, computer keyboards,...

Laboratory accessories.
April 1, 2005... A. Enclosed Safety Shower Protect your personnel against hazardous chemical burns! This fully enclosed polypropylene booth features easy-parting PVC strip curtains and immediate-response handles that activate an overhead shower and eye...

Garb and parts dispensers: space-saving convenience!(Illustration)
April 1, 2005... These handy dispensers save space and organize gloves, safety glasses, wipers, hats, and other garb. They're perfect benchtop storage bins for small parts used in cleanroom processing. Select clear acrylic or static-dissipative PVC, which...

Modular Cleanrooms.(TerraUniversal)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... These free-standing steel structures require no suspended ceiling supports. Their modular design lets you configure an economical system to your space and cleanliness specifications. Add ceiling filter/blowers, lights and ionizers to meet...

Wet processing and cleaning: compare Terra's value and versatility.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Value Design and Engineering Whichever stations you choose, you'll find flexible designs that let you specify the processing configuration for your application. Complete Facility Integration Terra's engineers and installation...

Wet processing and cleaning cabinets.
April 1, 2005... * Incorporates all processing components into one self-contained, easy-to-clean system [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Isolated control panel allows safe, convenient operation of baths, rinsers, and other process modules * Select...

Complete line of system features.(Illustration)
April 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [GRAPHIC OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Specifications Construction: All stress-relieved white polypropylene (1/2"...

Processing & cleaning modular stations.
April 1, 2005... These modular, economical stations are configured to meet your processing requirements for bath layout, particle-free laminar flow, exhaust fume removal--even robotic transfer. Like the models on the previous pages, these benches...

Processing sinks & tanks.
April 1, 2005... Overflow tanks include a serrated weir that overflows liquid into a catch basin for recirculation into the main tank. A dump drain with pneumatic valve allows quick emptying into the plenum catch reservoir of the wet station. Models are...