Medical Design articles from April 2006

Medical Design archives from April 2006

What designers should know about flex circuits: flexible circuits allow packing more electronics into smaller spaces.
April 1, 2006... Engineers at OEMs work hard building products with conflicting design requirements. Take electronic devices, for instance. Users expect them to be smaller and lighter, yet still pack advanced capabilities and features. They also want the...

Brady Corp. buys TruMed Technologies.(NEWS FROM / Contract Manufacturers)
April 1, 2006... Brady Corp, developer of identification methods and precision die-cut materials, has acquired TruMed Technologies Inc., Burnsville, Minn. TruMed produces disposable products for manufacturers in the medical device, personal care, and industrial...

Lasers ready for microfluidics, Nanotech, and BioMEMS.(NEWS FROM / Contract Manufacturers)
April 1, 2006... Contract manufacturer and laser builder Resonetics Inc., Nashua, N.H. (resonetics.com) converts drawings into finished prototypes with its Rapid X Series of lasers. The software translates .dwg, .dxf, .hpgl, and other formats to laser CNC code...

TSI acquires airflow instruments' test equipment line.(NEWS FROM / Contract Manufacturers)
April 1, 2006... Measurement-technology company TSI Inc., Shoreview, Minn., (tsi.com) acquired the test instrument product lines owned by Airflow Developments Ltd. (ADL), High Wycombe, United Kingdom, (airflowinstruments.com) including its manufacturing,...

Accellent merges and buys other firms.(NEWS FROM / Contract Manufacturers)
April 1, 2006... Medical-device contract manufacturer Accellent Inc., Wilmington, Mass., (accellent.com) will merge with affiliates of private-equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), (kkr.com). The merger is valued at about $1.27 billion. Accellent's...

Giving product development a JumpStart.(NEWS FROM / Contract Manufacturers)
April 1, 2006... Services from JumpStart, Cleveland, (jumpstartinc.org) help companies speed product development from concept to commercialization, says Foster-Miller, Waltham, Mass., (foster-miller.com). The product and equipment-design firm helps companies...

Robinson rubber forms new division.(NEWS FROM / Contract Manufacturers)
April 1, 2006... A medical-dental division that produces molded rubber and silicone components for medical and dental devices has been formed by Robinson Rubber Products, Minneapolis, (robinsonrubber.com/medical). The division will bond molded rubber and...

Compact, portable thermal printer.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The DPU-V445 thermal printer is compact and portable so users can immediately print patient records, test-and-measurement results, payment-reimbursement forms and other applications. Thermal printers use heat to transfer impressions onto paper....

Turn CT-scan images into physical models.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Mimics Z software makes it easy for medical personnel with no previous 3D modeling or 3D printing experience to turn MRI and CT-scan images into physical anatomical models using 3D printers. These models are useful in pre-operative planning,...

Small hard-disk drives hold gigabytes.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Small form factor hard-disk drives (HDD) in 2.5, 1.8, and 0.85-in. sizes target mobile PCs, GPS systems, and MP3 players, among other applications. The 1.8-inch PMR HDD has a 40-Gbyte capacity. The 0.85 in. version, said to be the world's...

In-line mixer.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The Bematek LZ Series Sanitary Dynamic In-Line Mixer features a patented mixing head consisting of stators and high-speed rotors that users can set-up to create from 1 to 12 shear-action zones, which produce shear rates of 200,000/sec. each....

Explosion-proof rotary encoders.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... ROD 420 rotary encoders are explosion proof for environments where exposure to explosive gases is unavoidable such as paint-spray lines, printing machines, or silage systems. The rotary encoder has a standard housing diameter of 58 mm and an...

Dust proof, water-proof cylinders.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Especially designed for harsh environments, RSW/RMW series, part of the RCP2 Robo Cylinder line, is dust-proof and water-proof. Robo Cylinders are rated IP65 according to the IEC international classification system for the sealing effectiveness...

Slim machining center mills precision parts.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The NV1500 DCG is a high-precision vertical compact machining center aimed at small workpieces such as molds, electrodes, and medical components. The unit minimizes vibration along with heat control and heat isolation. Its narrow form allows...

Centrifuge purges gas from fluids.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The ProcessMate 5000 centrifuge is a fast, simple, and cost-effective way to purge medium to high-viscosity fluids such as epoxies, greases, and silicones of bubbles and air pockets that can affect shot-to-shot consistency in pneumatic...

How to heat with accuracy and high pressure.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Cast-X Series 2000 circulation heater provides fluid heating in a compact package where cleanliness, temperature accuracy, and high pressure are needed. The heaters consist of a helical coiled tube cast into an aluminum body with tubular...

Think die cutting to make good products better.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Design, engineering, and contract manufacturing are services from Brandon International, a division of Brady Worldwide Inc, a converter of medical products. The company sports capabilities for in vitro diagnostics, patient monitoring,...

What you should know about mold quotes.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The Mold Quote--an Inside Guide assists those who design, specify, or purchase injection-molded parts. This online, downloadable guide identifies key variables engineers should provide to their mold manufacturer to ensure accurate estimated...

Shock absorber boosts production.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The SC 190-HC High-Cycle industrial shock absorber is for high-speed production equipment. The quick rod-ready time and short stroke translate to faster cycling and production gains. Additional features include rapid repeat strokes and quick...

Primers for difficult-to-bond substrates.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... A line of healthcare primers help bond silicones to many difficult substrates. These primers are supported by USP Class VI and 90-day implant testing, per ISO 10993. In addition, each lot of these products undergoes cytotoxicity and trace...

System converts pure water to ultrapure water.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The Milli-Q Advantage system converts pure water to ultrapure water and targets applications such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical, and government laboratories. Several movable point-of-use dispensers are available to match specific...

Air pumps for vending.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Series 2665 and 2685 WOB-L Piston pumps stand up to the rigors of use in coin-operated tire inflation pumps and other air-vending applications. Series 2665 pumps are used where fan guards are not required. Series 2685 pumps include stainless...

Rapid-prototyping accelerates pump development.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... A rapid-response prototyping process helps bring products to market faster. Prototyping shortens development cycles for quick iterative design changes to meet dispensing, transfer, circulation, and dosing applications. The engineering team...

PLM for small and medium companies.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The PLM Agile Advantage 2006 features Agile Product Compliance Management to help users track material and substance information for each product against compliance directives and environmental regulations. The Standards and Compliance...

Molded power cords for Danish medical.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Danish medical power cords and cordsets are for equipment rated to 10 A with service at 250 Vac. They are approved to the Danish Medical Standard DK-2-8A and are RoHS compliant. The units are available from stock with 0.75 [mm.sup.2], HAR cable...

Actuator pushes with 110 lb.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The CRES actuator (compact, rigid, economical, stylish) comes in models 200 and 500. The 200 runs at 55 mm/sec and pushes 196 N. Model 500 runs at 15 mm/sec and pushes 490 N. Both have a built-in 12-Vdc brush motor, limits switches embedded in...

Pumps OK for heavy fluids.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Smart pumps have a minimum number of moving parts for added dependability. They are manufactured in the U.S. and can be specified with FDA materials. The energy efficient pumps are compact, easily mounted, and exceptionally quiet. High-capacity...

Conveyor-component models now online.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The developer of VarioFlow conveyor system has added 3D solid models for it to the company's website to help design conveyors. The 3D or 2D models come in more than 30 formats, including SolidWorks, Pro/E, Inventor, Catia, and widely used 2D...

Stainless steel latch work in a quarter turn.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The line of Southco E5 Industrial Series Fixed Grip Cam Latches creates options for latching applications requiring corrosion-resistant performance in an attractive package. The stainless-steel latches open in 1/4-turn, perform reliably, and...

Hey team, look at this.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... DesignShare lets Actify products interact in a common environment for team collaboration on managed data. The collaboration software stores, manages, and shares CAD data enterprise-wide from a centralized, platform. It provides assembly-level...

Centrifugal pumps keep systems clean.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... The TRA400 series of centrifugal pumps are available in five models in both volute and non-volute styles. Each pump is machined from 316L stainless steel, or other high quality alloy bar and plates, eliminating the problems associated with...

Animal-free polypropylene fittings and connectors.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... Animal-free polypropylene significantly reduces customers' BSE-related paperwork by eliminating the documentation requirement for fittings made with this material. To prevent the spread of BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, healthcare...

Monitors for medical.(DESIGN Solutions)
April 1, 2006... NEC MultiSync 90-series screens contain over 25 new or improved features that produce crisper, clearer images, for better control and connectivity, and they use less energy. The desktop displays boast of advanced technologies such as in-plane...

How small biotechs can get big funding.(MEDICAL Edge)
April 1, 2006... Biotechnology research left a bad taste in the mouths of many companies a decade or two ago because their university research investments fostered little development. Professors were happy to accept grants and churn out reports that often...

Tap box records lab data.(ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS)
April 1, 2006... Signal tap boxes are used in sleep labs, drug research, and multiple device signal analysis. The box, part number 7B5311D0, taps a signal from a standard 10-lead EEG signal for strip chart recording, saving the signal to an electronic file or...

Online cable configurator includes assemblies.(ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS)
April 1, 2006... The Gore high-flex flat cable and trackless cable configurator simplifies online cable-design with a quick, streamlined step-by-step procedure. Users can take an interactive tour to learn more about the configurator, then design a cable or...

Web site caters to fluid sensing and control.(ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS)
April 1, 2006... A new web site from Gems Sensors & Controls features products, news, and other information for the medical industry. Visitors can read the latest product spec sheets and catalogs in addition to browsing application information on specialties...

Relay has high current digital I/O capability.(ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS)
April 1, 2006... The DT9817-R is a data acquisition digital I/O relay output module for USB 2.0. This isolated module provides high drive, and high current digital I/O capability. It is for users seeking a portable solution for driving solid state or mechanical...

Enclosed hospital-grade isolation transformer.(ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS)
April 1, 2006... ISO-Puck, a wall-mounted, enclosed hospital-grade isolation transformer, comes with power ratings of 300, 600, and 1000VA. The transformer is installed between the wall outlet and any electrical or electronic apparatus used in patient-care...

Engineering success with implantable polymers.(INDUSTRY Viewpoint)
April 1, 2006... While many engineers and designers have a solid understanding of metals in long-term implantable applications, there is limited in-depth understanding of implantable-grade polymers since, by comparison, they are relatively new biomaterials. ...

The changing face of injection molding: new ideas in injection molding solve several problems related to complex part geometries.
April 1, 2006... Injection molding is suitable for producing a myriad of medical designs in plastic parts such as cardiovascular implants, drug-delivery systems, and product containers. And part counts need not be in the millions. Conventional injection molding...

Bioabsorbable screw for tendons.
April 1, 2006... Foot surgeons often take tendons from one place in a patient and graft them to a bone in the foot or ankle. But many of the methods used to fix the graft to the foot bone, such as suture anchors and suturing the tendon into a bone trough, use...

Footswitches straighten the OR.
April 1, 2006... Operating rooms would be a tangle of wires if all the equipment in them were hard wired to controls within the surgeon's reach. It would also be impractical. Wireless foot controls, however, eliminate the nuisance of wires under foot and remove...

What designers should know about metal injection technology.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... Metal injection technology (MIT) produces complex netshape parts in a variety of metals including stainless steel alloys and at lower costs than traditional wrought metal and casting processes. Applications range from needles to hearing aids,...

Get sheetmetal prototypes quickly.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... Assurance Manufacturing Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., (assurancemfg.com) says its quick-turn prototype service provides sheetmetal fabrications, chassis, enclosures, stampings, and assemblies in three to seven days. The service targets design...

Think diffusion bonding for homogeneous components.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... Vacco Industries,, South El Monte, Calif., (vacco-etch.com) says adding diffusion bonding to its existing photochemical etching and laser-cutting processes lets the company make complex, homogeneous, hermetically-sealed components that contain...

Lathe also microblasts.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... The Advanced Lathe LA3200 from Comco Inc., Burbank, Calif., (comcoInc.com) combines a traditional lathe with microabrasive-blasting technology and is well-suited for medical-device manufacturing. The company says microabrasive blasting...

Meta-material promises better optics and communications.(MEDICAL MATERIALS NEWS)
April 1, 2006... A material with a negative index of refraction in the wavelength of light may pave the way for better communications and imaging technologies. Harnessing materials with a negative index of refraction may allow capturing images of objects that...

Closed-cell rubber lets gasket seal tight.(MEDICAL MATERIALS NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Silicone-rubber maker Stockwell Elastomerics, Philadelphia, (stockwell.com) has developed a closed-cell fluorosilicone sponge rubber that meets AMS 3323, Class 2 (medium density). Like silicone rubber, fluorosilicone (fluorinated silicone...

Meetings & shows.(Calendar)
April 1, 2006... COFES 2006 Apr 20 to 23--Cyon Research Corp. consults on and researches engineering technology markets. It is sponsoring COFES 2006: The Congress on the Future of Engineering Software in Scottsdale, Ariz. The event brings executives from...

Military medicine coming soon to an accident near you: the trauma care that Army medics give to wounded soldiers may someday save your life.
April 1, 2006... It's no secret that the sooner a wounded soldier gets treatment, the greater his chance of survival. That's why the Army began using MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) units and tasking helicopters with carrying wounded quickly to medical...

Breaking the connection.(MOTION CONTROL NEWS)
April 1, 2006... A recent study by strategy-consulting firm Venture Development Corp (VDC), Natick, Mass., (vdc-corp.com) says a large percentage of RF/microwave wireless technology users in industry apply it to control applications or both control and monitor....

Digital amp makes programming easy.(MOTION CONTROL NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Programming pressure, flow, and positional functions in closed-loop hydraulic-drive applications is easy with the VT-HCD-1 digital amplifier, says Bosch Rexroth Corp., Lehigh Valley, Pa., (boschrexroth-us.com). The unit accepts analog...

Stepper drives sport point-and-click programming.(MOTION CONTROL NEWS)
April 1, 2006... STAC6-Si high-performance stepper drives from Applied Motion Products, Watsonville, Calif., (applied-motion.com) are programmable for standalone operation with Si Programmer Windows-based software. A graphical point-and-click format combines...

Rapid prototyping: builds clever custom braces.(INDUSTRY News)
April 1, 2006... Dental inventors at T.O.P. Service fur Lingual-technick came up with a great idea: put dental braces on the tongue side of the teeth and they become almost invisible. Each orthodontic appliance requires up to 16 brackets and a connecting...

AdvaMed approves code of ethics self-certification.(Regulations & FDA)
April 1, 2006... Medical-technology companies will soon be able to self-certify that they adhere to the highest ethical standards and have strong compliance mechanisms in place. At AdvaMed's 2006 Annual Meeting, the Board voted to further encourage industry...

FDA and AdvaMed discuss postmarket safety of devices.(Regulations & FDA)
April 1, 2006... A meeting between the FDA and AdvaMed, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, held in February, discussed the FDA's analysis of postmarket trends and industry's perspective of postmarket issues and regulations. In addition, they discussed...

Solid modeler: makes design firm more versatile.(INDUSTRY News)
April 1, 2006... Engineers at medical manufacturer FHC in Bowdoinham, Maine assumed designing portability into a new device was beyond the firm's resources, and so planned to outsource the task. The company (fh-co.com) produces equipment to treat neurological...

Software assists with regulation compliance.(INDUSTRY News)
April 1, 2006... Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics, Roswell, Ga., (osmetech. com), a manufacturer of diagnostic equipment, purchased SmartCAPA, SmartComplaints, and SmartDoc software modules from Pilgrim Software Inc., Tampa, Fla., (pilgrimsoftware.com). The...

Dispensing material to within 0.1[degrees]C.(Machine Of The Month)
April 1, 2006... A small see-through enclosure that surrounds a dispensing valve along with a heater and controller can maintain the temperature of sensitive materials to within 0.1[degrees]C. The ProcessMate 6500 Temperature Control System from EFD Inc., East...

PLM tames FDA tasks.(INDUSTRY News)
April 1, 2006... The Medical Device Template inside Windchill PDMLink from PTC Inc., Needham, Mass., (ptc.com) let a medical-device maker trace and record product data over entire product lifecycles. Doing so is required by the FDA and foreign regulatory...

Low-profile conveyor works in tight spaces.(PACKAGING WRAP-UP)
April 1, 2006... The 250 Series center drive line conveyors from QC Industries, Cincinnati, (qcindustries.com) combine a center drive and low profile (1.89 in.) for use in tight spaces. They carry up to 630 lb at speeds to 360 fpm. Belt widths range from 2...

Case erectors build 3,000 boxes/day.(PACKAGING WRAP-UP)
April 1, 2006... Two case erectors were used by Bayer HealthCare's Animal Health Div. plant in Shawnee, Kan., to quadruple its daily production. The case erectors, the C-300 and C-2000, from Lantech, Louisville, Ky., (lantech.com), let Bayer consistently ship...

UV sterilization decontaminates package exteriors.(PACKAGING WRAP-UP)
April 1, 2006... A non-contact sterilization system from Xenon Corp., Wilmington, Mass. (xenoncorp.com) instantly kills microorganisms on the outside of packages to prevent contamination when opened. The SteriPulse-XL surface decontamination system uses pulsed...

Variable-speed pump handles 240 psi.(Product Spotlight: Pumps & Valves)
April 1, 2006... The model 1090 variable-speed sealless pump combines intelligent controls and brushless-motor technology. The pump is made of stainless steel and corrosion-resistant polymers that create improved control through built-in interface with standard...

Pumphead can be customized and contamination free.(Product Spotlight: Pumps & Valves)
April 1, 2006... The 313D peristaltic pumphead is manufactured in a cleanroom, easy-to-load, and meets ISO 9001 facility standards. The 313D contains the product within the tubing so there is no risk of contamination in the laboratory, including the metallic...

Pivot valves save space and dispense fluid.(Product Spotlight: Pumps & Valves)
April 1, 2006... Electrically-operated miniature solenoid pivot valves are manifold-mounted to save space in precision mixing and dispensing applications. A low internal-volume design is suitable for 2-way or 3-way configurations to minimize carryover during...

And the "design Oscar" goes to ...(RECOVERY Room)
April 1, 2006... More than 1,900 entries from 37 nations vied for a "design Oscar" at the 2006 iF International Forum Design GmbH competition in Hannover, Germany. Twenty-five internationally recognized jurors whittled the number down to 688 top contenders, 50...

Tubing shrinks at 1.2:1.(TODAY'S TUBING TECHNOLOGY)
April 1, 2006... PEEK-based heat-shrinkable tubing provides a "shrink to fit" layer of protection that's impervious to extreme environments. It protects sensitive components where heat, cold, caustic fluids, and dielectric interference are a threat. Purity and...

Introducers for IV device manufacturers.(TODAY'S TUBING TECHNOLOGY)
April 1, 2006... Fluoroplastic tipped tubes have tapered or beveled ends to make it easier to insert IV's and to facilitate the transfer or extraction of fluids. The introducer tubes are designed with lasers and can be marked by them for identification. Sizes...

Marked tubing is easily identified.(TODAY'S TUBING TECHNOLOGY)
April 1, 2006... Easily coded peristaltic tubing helps identify parts and traces batches in peristaltic pumps and filling systems. Clearly printed markings present highly visible batch and part numbers to facilitate traceability requirements. The tubing is for...

Tubing dispenser holds five sizes.(TODAY'S TUBING TECHNOLOGY)
April 1, 2006... A benchtop or wall-mount see-thru dispenser holds five widely-used sizes of PVC heat-shrink tubing for design, assembly, service, and repair applications. The Insultab Pull-Pak dispenser holds five mini-spools of highly flame retardant, low...

Port eliminates rethreading.(TODAY'S TUBING TECHNOLOGY)
April 1, 2006... A 1/4-28 flat bottom port for Colder's PMC12 Series couplings is compatible with standard HPLC type fittings. The port saves users time by not having to thread and rethread a separate fitting every time the line is disconnected. The PMC12 is...

A closer look at vision systems: the jobs of machine-vision systems range from detecting the presence of an object to reading the label on a vial. Choosing the right one takes a little finesse and a working knowledge of what to expect.
April 1, 2006... Vision systems do more than capture images off a production line. Simple tasks include determining the presence of an object or a label on a bottle. More challenging chores check tubing sizes and inspect needles for small hooks and burs. Some...