Medical Design articles from May 2005

Medical Design archives from May 2005

Who exactly is the WHO fooling?(MEDICAL Edge)(World Health Organization)
May 1, 2005... The WHO in this case is not the 1970's era rock group, but the World Health Organization. It rated the quality of health care around the world. (You can fred a listing at www.who.int/whr/2000/en/annex01_en.pdf). One might think WHO ratings...

Building a replacement ear.(INDUSTRY News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Anaplastologist Rosemary Seelaus recently made a prosthetic ear for a patient using a desktop milling machine and scanner. The Roland MDX-650 from Roland DGA Corp. Irvine, Calif. (rolanddga.com) helped produce a more realistic medical...

Igus Inc.
May 1, 2005... The Mini Manus contest sponsored by Igus Inc. looks to uncover unusual plastic bearings applications. Contestants enter online at igus.com/mini_manus_contest.asp where they answer questions and submit a form detailing their application. The...

Phillips Plastics Corp.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Phillips Plastics Corp. is relocating its magnesium molding (thixomolding) process to a facility in Eau Claire, Wisc. The expansion will let Phillips conduct research and development to advance the technology.

Patient Practioning.(Patient Practitioners)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A medical record system stores a complete medical history on a device the size of an ordinary keychain. The system, from Patient Practitioners, Chipley, Fla., can be accessed by any desktop or laptop computer as well as ambulances, making the...

A lightning-fast laser technique, developed by a Sandia National Laboratories team led by researcher Paul Gourley, identifies liver tumor cells without invasive chemical reagents.
May 1, 2005... A lightning-fast laser technique, developed by a Sandia National Laboratories team led by researcher Paul Gourley, identifies liver tumor cells without invasive chemical reagents. The technique generates a laser beam in single human cells...

Oxford BioSignals Ltd.(medical equipment industry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... New monitoring technology being tested at Clarian Health Partners' Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, may give doctors and nurses an early warning of patient problems. The monitoring system, called BioSign, from Oxford BioSignals Ltd., Oxford,...

Testing more drug-eluting stents.(Regulations & FDA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Abbott Vascular Devices, Abbott Park, Ill, (abbottvascular.com) received conditional approval from the FDA on its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application for the ZoMaxx drug-eluting stent. As a result, the company will soon begin...

Automate quality-control management.(Regulations & FDA)
May 1, 2005... The FDA recently issued the draft guidance, Quality Systems Approach to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP). To address this guidance, Document Control Systems, Salt Lake City, released a complementary white paper that presents the...

Defibrillator can be used on children.(Regulations & FDA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Royal Philips Electronics, Andover, Mass., received FDA clearance of the Philips HeartStart FRx Defibrillator. The automated external defibrillator (AED) is targeted at those who first get to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest and is easy enough...

A clarification.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2005... The table on page 23 of 10 Tips for Effective Design Controls in the March MEDICAL DESIGN contains a small but significant omission, says author Judith Andrews. The Requirements for Class I devices should read No Premarket Notification...

Custom seal performs double duty.(INDUSTRY News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A nickel-graphite filled silicone with an electrically conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive on each side performs double duty as an EMI and vapor shield for electronic equipment. "Using a low-durometer silicone rubber as the base ingredient...

How to help contract manufacturers help you.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Most drawings carry enough information that contract manufacturers can make accurate bids, says marketing manager Jack Fulton at Specialized Medical Devices, Lancaster, Pa., (specializedmedical.com). "Properly detailed drawings .yield accurate...

One way to win awards.(NEWS FROM Contract Manufacturers)(HEI Inc. earned the Supplier Excellence Award from Ethicon Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Before HEI earned the Supplier Excellence Award from Ethicon Inc. for its work as a manufacturer and supplier, it targeted five areas for improvements: Quality, Regulatory, Service & Operations, Cost Leadership, and Partnerships. The Victoria,...

Catheter equipment manufacturer triples its floorspace.(NEWS FROM Contract Manufacturers)(Machine Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Machine Solutions Inc. recently moved into new, expanded corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities. The company makes equipment for crimping stents, processing balloons, swaging marker bands, and testing catheter and stent...

Low-turbulence casting makes high-quality parts.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... An often overlooked manufacturing process combines graphite molds with a low-turbulence-filling method and a zinc-aluminum alloy. It turns out parts with tolerances of [+ or -] 0.005 in./in, or less, and at lower cost than other casting...

Intelligent CAM spots revisions, adjusts toolpaths.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Parts Design Only (PDO) software is available at no additional cost to eligible users of Surfcam from Surfware Inc.,, (surfware.com). SolidWorks PDO is the CAD software without assembly and drafting functions. Surfcam works with SolidWorks to...

Probe tells machine tool "cut right here".(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A probe or CMM on the machine tools of a medical-part manufacturer lets the shop work with one-fourth the labor previously needed while turning out more work. Only three operators are needed to run 13 machines. "The probing system, based on...

Tools for precision boring.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A 76-page catalog from Criterion Machine Works features the company's precision boring system, heads, bars, and tools for production floors and toolrooms. The catalog also introduces a line of metric products. Tooling in the catalog bores holes...

Linear scale lets scanner examine 40 slides/hour.(MOTION CONTROL NEWS)(DMetrix, Tuscon, Ariz. (dmetrix.net))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... An innovative loader for a high-speed microscope lets it digitally image up to 40 slides/hr. "The slipstream slide loader on the DX-40 transports slides on a cushion of air," says Artur Olszak, director of engineering at DMetrix, Tuscon, Ariz.,...

A big hand for micro arrays.(MOTION CONTROL NEWS)(Parker Life Sciences)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The engineering team at Parker Life Sciences, Hollis, N.H. (parker.com) combined several linear tables to produce a smooth motion, high-speed liquid-handling machine. The equipment has resolution and precisely coordinated motion to deposit...

A Guide to Brakes and Clutches.(MOTION CONTROL NEWS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The 2005 Guide to Deltran PT Brakes and Clutches comes from Danaher Motion. This 140-page booklet details a line of electromagnetic friction brakes and clutches, end The Genuine Wrap Spring family of clutch/brakes. It includes product features,...

M&M East show preview.(INDUSTRY News)
May 1, 2005... The Medical Design and Manufacturing show in New York City gets a little bigger this year with the addition of the Automation Technology Expo. In addition to ATX, the June 13 to 15 event in New York's Javits Convention Center consists of...

2005 Medical Design Excellence Awards.(INDUSTRIAL News)
May 1, 2005... Winners of this year's Medical Design Excellence Awards, (MDEA), include the Somatom Sensation 64 Commputed Tomography System from Siemens Medical Solutions Malvern, Pa., ClozeX, a wound-device device manufactured by Clozex Medical LLC,...

Foams for medical body contact.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... A new family of foams for external use for medical appliances and devices will be on display at the show. On display will be Poron Medical Urethanes, Bisco Medical Silicones, and Dalvan Medical Polyolefins. These foams are specially formulated...

Custom thermoformed plastic materials.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... Thermoformed plastic packaging is well suited for surgical instruments and medical electronics, offering superior product protection, a reduction in SKUs, lower packaging costs, plus added flexibility for multiple product packaging. The...

Machine complex parts in one setup.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... The multi-function DECO 26a turning center can completely machine complex medical parts in a single setup for fast production and high accuracy. Three key features allow this quick setup: up to 12 independent axes of motion (ten axes standard),...

Filters and seals in one part.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... Filter Seal is a single device that operates as both a seal and a filter. The combination of elastomer and fabric meets the specifications of an application with a variety of elastomers and filter materials available. It simplifies component...

Double-coated medical adhesive.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... Bioflex Rx869S is a double-coated fabric pressure sensitive adhesive tape for direct skin applications such as bandages, EKG electrodes, and TENS. Bioflex Rx869S consists of a 25 mil white spun-laced polyester fabric, double coated on each side...

Linear guide reduces rolling, pitching, and yawing.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... The High-Precision Ball Rail System reduces rolling, pitching, and yawing deviations in linear guideways due to ball recirculation. The result is extremely smooth motion with almost no deviation in the X, Y, or Z direction. The new system is...

Persistaltic pumps can run dry.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... 400 FD/A pumps are smaller and cost less than syringe pumps, so designers can place them anywhere on an instrument. The pumps are ideal for automated laboratory applications including dispensing and collecting samples and reagents. These...

Manual press with electronic control.(Show Products)
May 1, 2005... The ManualPress 307/3000 system is for intricate press-fit assemblies requiring press forces between 25 and 900 lbs. The press has 100% process verification and SPC, and eliminates costly safety devices for powered press systems. The press can...

Prepping surfaces for ink and labels.(Machine Of The Month)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Preparing plastic parts for adhesive assembly, labeling, or printing often requires a treatment to make surfaces more acceptable to adhesives and inks. The chemical baths and solvent washes commonly used to prepare surfaces have drawbacks. For...

Is that a counterfeit drug? Security systems tell.(PACKAGING WRAP-UP)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Two separate security systems let manufacturers tag products on packaging lines and provide hand-held readers for downstream inspectors that let them tell whether or not the package is authentic. One system puts a sample of synthetic DNA on a...

Mechanical cochlea: one step closer to an artificial ear.(INNOVATIONS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Engineers at the University of Michigan have micro-machined a life-sized cochlea that could one day translate acoustic vibrations into electrical signals the brain would interpret as sound. The device is 3-cm long, as long as a normal cochlea...

Device simulates upright position while lying down.(INNOVATIONS)(DynaWell Int AB)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... MRIs and CAT scans are great diagnostic tools, but they have their drawbacks. One is that patients usually have to lie down. This relaxes their spines which masks some spinal problems on the resulting images. The L-Spine from DynaWell Int. AB,...

Sleeve ensures good electrical contact.(INNOVATIONS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... When it comes to single and multi-pin electrical connectors on medical devices, designers want them to be easily inserted and removed, resist shocks and vibrations, have low contact resistance, and maintain reliable electrical contact....

Don't let bad heaters scrap a good design: a few guidelines make it easy to select the best heater available.
May 1, 2005... Heating and cooling seems to be an after-for many designers. They presume can slap any heater on their equipment and be done with it. What they don't consider is where and how the heater is attached, and how that affects equipment performance...

Push, turn, slide, latch, halt: a few of the latest medical-equipment subsystems include servo controllers smaller than your thumb, belt conveyors that don't stretch, and a three-axis gantry that hits 2 gs and 2 m/s.
May 1, 2005... The do-it-yourself engineer assigned to build a machine with a motion-control system could buy, assemble, and debug the components. And while the education provided by that process might be valuable, it's also likely to be a hard lesson in what...

Lean ideas for design teams: lean manufacturing and Six Sigma projects get a lot of attention. But did you know there are lean methods for design departments as well?
May 1, 2005... Learn manufacturing gets lots of ink, and rightfully so. Applying its principles using a range of techniques drives waste off the manufacturing floor. Experts say the same principles can be applied to design organizations. Waste in the...

Think of patents as products: patents can produce income for a company several ways.
May 1, 2005... It's often difficult to decide what to patent, where to patent it, and how much to spend. This is particularly true for device companies that compete in rapidly changing technology because changes often invalidate assumptions behind decisions...

Connectors for robotics and nuclear jobs.(Product Spotlight: Electrical Components)
May 1, 2005... The N Series connectors have been updated to include new shell styles and additional features in size 5. The connectors are usually made of stainless steel and are intended for use with robotic applications. The 5N has wider grip areas,...

Mix and match contact types in small package.(Product Spotlight: Electrical Components)
May 1, 2005... High performance Hybrid Connectors can be assembled into many configurations with fiber optic, coax, and electrical contacts, with inserts for transmitting fluid or gas. They are machined from solid brass, plated with electroless nickel and...

Circular connector has coax and power contacts.(Product Spotlight: Electrical Components)
May 1, 2005... D02 plastic connectors are for use in electronic catheters, patient monitors, and wearable therapeutic devices. They come with one coaxial contact (rated up to 18 GHz) and up to nine signal contacts (rated for 2.5 A). The coax can be replaced...

High density push-and-click connectors.(Product Spotlight: Electrical Components)
May 1, 2005... The PL900 series of Pulse-Lok medical instrumentation connectors simplifies mating and provides tactile and visual confirmation that the pair is engaged. Low-cost disposable and rugged reusable models have densities to 52 contact positions in a...

Molded cordsets and receptacles come in 6, 7, and 9 pins.(Product Spotlight: Electrical Components)
May 1, 2005... M23 powerfast cordsets and receptacles deliver power (up to 20 A at 300 V) to motors, material-handling, and other heavy-duty applications, and are available in six, seven, and ninepins. They replace hardwiring to bring power to devices on the...

Lead wires for muscle stimulation.(Product Spotlight: Electrical Components)
May 1, 2005... Thermal plastic rubber jacketed wires, DIN spec. 0.08-in. diameter pins, and 0.08-in. female gold connectors make lead wires for muscle stimulation that are flexible, soft, hypo-allergenic, and resistant to chemicals. The nickel-plated pins...

Bus-based connectors are shielded from electromagnetic fields.(Product Spotlight: Electrical Components)
May 1, 2005... Bus-based connectors for multiposition and shielded implementation resist vibration and are safe against interference from electromagnetic fields. With these inserts, the ODU MAC modular attachable product program receives data rates up to 400...

Ultraprecise, hollow-shaft motorized spindle.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Hollow-shaft brushless dc motorized spindles have air gaps between the shaft and spindle housing (0.0002 to 0.0004-in.), and shaft runouts held within 0.0003 in. This draws a vacuum from the spindle housing and through the hollow shaft, without...

Applicator accessory tracks tool usage.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The Edge Counter tracks tool usage for maintenance scheduling and comes integrated into the company's AMP applicators. The on-counter LCD display and Edge Counter Software Pack provide access to operation counts and cycles-since-installation to...

Enclosure outlets for Australian equipment.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Enclosure outlets are IP66 rated for dust and splashing water. They connect equipment rated from 10 to 20 amps with service at 250 Vac. Applications include medical and industrial equipment that can't handle dust and moisture. Outlets are...

Geared motors produce 0.3 to 540 rpm.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Three-phase BG Series helical-geared motors output speeds of 0.3 to 540 rpm and torques from 177 to 163,700 lb-in. These 0.075 to 50-hp motors include stator windings of insulated enameled copper wire, aluminum die-cast cage rotors, and gear...

High-density interconnect for high-speed signals.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The Ultra High Density (UHD) system is a cable-to-board and cable-to-cable coaxial interconnect for high-speed signals. It is ideal for test heads and probe cards used in automated test equipment, front-of-system connections, and backplanes in...

Stainless steel switches are shock resistant.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The MSM series of switches is rated from 5 to 250 Vdc, 0.1 to 10 amps, and carries a water-resistant rating of IP 67. A shock resistant rating of IK 07 makes them ideal for heavy use or impact. They operate in temperatures of-25[degrees] to...

Thermal insulation blankets.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... RapidWrap blankets provide insulation for thermal and acoustical applications. The blankets are easily removed and reapplied to equipment, reducing downtime, maintenance, and labor costs. The blankets are asbestos-free and environmentally safe....

World's smallest linear actuator.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The Size 8 hybrid external linear actuator is 2-mm square, making it the world's smallest linear actuator. It replaces a motor, coupling, lead screw, and nut. The design does not need shaft-to-lead screw couplers. The rotating stainless-steel...

High-performance toggle switches.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... High performance 12000X778 professional-grade toggle switches are intended for use in military, aerospace, and life support, and are OPL listed in Europe. They feature a double-shell case for extra mechanical strength and electrical insulation....

3D caster design online.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Engineers can access an interactive online design program to select casters. A comprehensive catalog details product information and access to CAD drawings. Designers have access to 2D and 3D data for a range of caster applications, including...

Proportional valve CD.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... An introductory CD highlights the features and specifications of EVP proportional-control valves. The EVP Series valves control air and gas flow and can vary output flow based on current input to the valve's solenoid. Consistent gain provides...

Brush-commutated dc motors.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Pittman Series 6000 22-mm brush-commutated iron-core de motors deliver the power of an associated cost. The motors use a skewed 5-slot armature and bonded neodymium-iron-boron magnets. They provide more power than most other DC motors of...

Silicone-based tubing and adhesives.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... BIO-PSA adhesives stick to skin without irritating the skin. The materials are used in all U.S. and European regulatory classifications, for implants and inserts, and in other applications that benefit from consistent high quality and purity....

High-resolution lenses.
May 1, 2005... High-resolution Infinite Conjugate MVO [micro]-Video lenses handle both wide angle and close focus. They are made for use with micro CCD board cameras and are said to provide excellent images. These lenses feature all-glass elements and are...

Hi-flex coil cords.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Hi-flex cables, coil cords, and cable assemblies provide long-term failure-free service in rugged environments. The cords have a sag-resistant coil memory and good flex performance. Neoprene jackets resist commonly encountered spills, including...

Manufacturing software.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The latest version of Visual EstiTrack ERP software lets users track all aspects of orders. The shop management software includes modules for estimating, sales orders, shop orders, job-cost tracking, time tracking, visual scheduling, inventory,...

Single barb fittings.(DESIGN fittings)
May 1, 2005... Pneu-Edge fittings feature a consistently sharp barb which provides a tighter grip and seal than standard multiple barbs and without clamps. Straight connectors, tees, elbows, crosses, and couplings have 1/16 to 1/2-in. ID tube with 10-32 UNF...

Optoelectronic components.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... A catalog describes high-brightness and power-efficient LEDs and includes descriptions, specifications, and diagrams for low-profile SMDs as well as high power red, green, and blue SMD LEDs. The catalog also highlights the photo-couplers and...

Small variable-speed drive.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The L200 Series micro variable-speed drive features side-by-side mounting, built-in timing logic, analog input math (PLC) functions, DIP-switch hand-off-ratio, and an RS485 Modbus RTU communication interface. There's also an optional NEMA4X...

Laser marker.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The ProWriter F20 laser marker uses active fiber and pumping with telecom-grade laser diodes for a projected life expectancy of 100,000 hr. The 20-W laser marks a wide variety of metals and other materials. It operates on standard 120 Vac...

Safe blade disposal.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Qlicksmart is a safe, convenient, and easy-to-use device for disposing scalpel blades. A flask and mounting bracket is fixed to a bench, wall, or trolley. The scalpel handle and blade are inserted into a slot in the flask until a click is...

PTFE products.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Precision-machined, die-cut, and stamped PTFE components come in virgin, commercial grade, and many filled grades. The components are targeted for use in valve seats and seals, bearings, gaskets, dynamic and static seals, envelope gaskets,...

Stepmotors sealed against water spray.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... IP65-rated motors come in sizes 17 and 23. Motors are protected against dust and guaranteed to withstand low-pressure jets of water sprayed from all directions at a distance of 3 m. Jets of water can carry pressure of up to 30 kPa at a rate of...

Molded rocker switch sports TV ratings.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The snap-in mount JW series of switches are billed as the industry's first molded rocker switches with TV ratings. They are designed to handle large inrush currents. JWM models are certified for TV-5 rating and JWL models for TV-8. All versions...

Swivel casters in four models.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... SingleTech Solus casters come in four swivel and four total-lock swivel models. The casters have pressure-diecast-aluminum shells with soft streamline contours. They swivel freely in all directions. Total-lock models feature a brake mechanism...

Cutter handles Velcro, films, and more.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... FGW cut-to-length machines fit any converting or material-handling situation. The compact units, for low to moderate volumes, reduce cost by eliminating the need to hand cut or inventory cut material. Several models, in sizes from 4 to 39 in.,...

High-power brushless motors.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... EC-powermax 30-mm brushless motors have the performance and life of brushless motors in a compact package. Hall-effect sensors provide feedback to the control electronics. Because the coils are outside the rotor, the motors have good heat...

Laser-coding system prints on many materials.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The Focus S25 laser-coding system offers quality printing for applications that require clean, permanent coding at high production speeds. This high-resolution laser printer marks on paperboard packaging, claycoat or secondary packaging,...

The smallest magnetostrictive position sensors.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Temposonics C-Series linear-position sensors are said to be the smallest magnetostrictive position sensors. Sensor electronics fit inside a 36 by 23-mm cylindrical package and are suitable for high-volume applications. The units output 0 to 5...

Ferrite tiles absorb EMC.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... A line of PCB ferrite tiles have frequency-tuned, RF absorber membranes. Four standard size EMC PCB tiles with two different ferrite substrate formulations have peak impedance at 200 and 700 MHz with measurable performance up to 1.2 GHz. The...

LED UV curing system.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The LED-100 is a UV-curing system powered by an advanced light-emitting diode that has an output of 600mW/[cm.sup.2] at 365nm. The compact hand held unit operates from a battery or from a 100-240 ac source. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and...

Inline flow sensors measure 3 to 100 psi.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The PS41 series of pressure switches use an internal piston for high proof pressure, while gaining sensitivity and accuracy from a diaphragm media interface. Repeatability is [+ or -] 2% of the full set point range of 3 to 100 psi (0.2 to 7...

Micro-force transducers.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... Smaller than a no. 2 pencil tip, the AIFP micro-force transducer is ideal for medical-research applications. It is constructed from micro-machined stainless steel and heat treated to form an elliptical-spring microstructure. This construction...

Cleaning air without filters.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... CAP (Clean air plant) technology uses bio hygienics to remove more pollutants from air than traditional filters. The air-cleaning unit is more efficient than high cfm rates at removing odor sources from facilities such as medical schools,...

Online guide to photochemical machining.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... A supplier of precision thin-metal parts has launched a comprehensive Website for photochemical machining. Copowered by Matweb, the database of material properties lets users search by alloy, metal composition, material property, and more....

Laser works fast on panel markings.(DESIGN Solutions)
May 1, 2005... The Fiber Laser Marking System is a safe, low-cost alternative to conventional Nd:YAG systems for high speed, high-quality material ablation on backlit buttons, backlit panels, and keypads and keyboards. The system eliminates the need for inks,...