Medical Design articles from September 2007

Medical Design archives from September 2007

MDUFMA 2: A half-step in the right direction.(MEDICALEdge)
September 1, 2007... Medical-device makers must be ignoring their lobbyists. What else could explain the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act, more commonly called MDUFMA (ma-doof-ma). Though called a "user fee/' MDUFMA is actually a tax, and in feet a...

Making valves safer for oxygen-rich environments.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
September 1, 2007... Avalve manufacturer has commissioned a room with clear vinyl walls and a HEPA air filter in which it will clean, inspect, and calibrate valves before they are installed on oxygen lines in labs and clinics. Clippard Instrument Laboratory Inc.,...

Are you ready for HE 75?(Regulations & FDA)
September 1, 2007... The latest edition of the risk management standard, ANSI/AAMI/ ISO 14971:2007--Medical devices--Application of risk management to medical devices, includes a requirement for human-factors testing. Human-factors engineering (HFE) is the science...

Wire cable with an open center.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
September 1, 2007... A wire manufacturer has found away to make small-diameter cable from stranded wire with an open center or working channel. Fort Wayne Metals, Ft. Wayne Ind, (fwmetals.com) says its helical hollow strand (HHS) cable can be formed of 6 to 12...

Need a heart?
September 1, 2007... Or the model of a skeleton, or vascular or nervous system? Zygote Media Group, Lin don, Utah, (zygote.com) has them as detailed 3D CAD models. The company generates them in SolidWorks 3D CAD software and makes sure its models are anatomically...

FDA studies electronic MDRs.
September 1, 2007... The FDA is working on an electronic submission program called eMDR, which will let com panies submit MDRs (medical device records) to the Agency. Working with FDA representatives, software developer EtQ Inc., Farmingdale, NY (EtQ.com) developed...

Machined plastic parts in a day? Is that possible?
September 1, 2007... Rapid-prototyping firm First Cut Prototype, Maple Plain, Minn., (firstcitt.com) says if you send in a solid model of a needed part, it will machine up to 10 of them from any one of the most commonly used thermoplastic resins and have them in...

Hi-Tech Group buys Ventrex and Accusil.(Contract Manufacturers)
September 1, 2007... If catheter balloons from all manufacturers are nearly identical in terms of quality, how can a machine maker of the devices differentiate itself from other manufacturers? Machine Solutions Inc., Flagstaff, Ariz. (ma chineso hi lions. com)...

Omnetics completes new cleanroom manufacturing facility.(Contract Manufacturers)
September 1, 2007... Omnetiec, Minneapolis, (omneties.com') says it has completed construction of anew cleanroominits Minneapolis manufacturing plant. The 340 [ft.sup.2] facility will be used for cleaning, testing, and packaging products, as well as providing...

Instron partners with Machine Solutions.(Contract Manufacturers)
September 1, 2007... Test-equipment maker Instron Inc., Norwood, Mass., (instron. com) announces a partnership with Machine Solutions Inc., Flagstaff, Ariz., a manufacturer of proprietary mechanical equipment to a variety of complex process and medical-device...

Free features for stamped tubing.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... Aproprietary process that stamps tubing on a pro gressive die allows adding features such as slots and holes at no additional cost. "We got the idea when a medical manufacturer asked us to develop a cost-effective, disposable cauterizing device...

Lightweight assembly tools clamp with 4,000-lbs force.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... A new series of lightweight pneumatic tools includes bench mount and hand-held models for numerous assembly tasks. The tools from Fabco-Air Inc. in Gainsville, Fla., (fabco-air.com) are said to be easily moved for rapid adjustments on assembly...

Don't cut that metal. Vaporize it!(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... According to Norman Noble Inc., in Highland Hts., Ohio, (nnoble. com) EDM vaporizes material instead of cutting it, so the process suits materials with a hardness above R 38,suchasStellite, hardened steel, and tungsten carbide. with thin walls,...

Metric standards for worldwide manufacturing.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... A new metric standards book aims to help firms compete in a global market. The book, Metric Standards for Worldwide Manufacturing 2007, Electronic 7th Edition, by Knut O. Kverneland, includes sizes for fasteners, material, and components that...

Five steps to a better linear drive.(MOTION CONTROL NEWS)
September 1, 2007... A Web-based linear-motion sizing and selection tool from Danaher Motion, Wood Dale, I11., lets OEMs speed a machine's design and improve its operation in five sim ple steps. Linear Motioneering walks users through a thor ough, intuitive...

Simplify automation and data acquisition.
September 1, 2007... Wouldn't it be great if you could buy automation components as needed, wire them, and they would work together without a lot of adjustments or additional programming? That day is still in the offing. But when it arrives it might look like the...

Dozens of shaft supports available online.
September 1, 2007... An online catalog now lists more styles of shaft supports. Standard flange-mounted supports from Mis- umi USA Inc., Schaumburg, III, (www.misumiusa. com) accommodate 3 to 50-mm shaft diameters. They feature an inlay or dowel hole, useful when...

Fighting counterfeit drugs with secondary seals and RFID.(PACKAGING WRAP-UP)
September 1, 2007... Drug counterfeiting, which was once limited to underdeveloped nations, has recently made its way to the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The number of counterfeit-drug cases tracked by the FDA, for example, grew from five in 1998 to 58 in 2004. To...

Goodbye glass lenses, hello plastic.(MEDICAL MATERIALS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... A thermoset monomer developed by Fosta-Tek Optics, Leominster, Mass. (fostatek.com) is replacing glass in several instrument-display windows and data-capture applications. The company says its ADC (Allyl diglycol carbonate) optical sheet...

Rugged plastic canister better holds infectious fluids.(MEDICAL MATERIALS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... A wound-care device works by applying a slight negative pressure to an open gash or sore to gently pull tissue and hold it together. In the process, the device also pulls potentially infectious fluid from the wound and collects it in a...

Flexible silicone adhesive insulates and more.(MEDICAL MATERIALS NEWS)
September 1, 2007... A flexible ready-to-use silicone elastomer that tolerates high temperature, Master Sil 700, from Master Bond Inc ., Hackensack, N.J. (masterbond. com) seals and joins metals, plastics, and provides electrical insulation, protective coatings,...

Don't be too casual pairing tubes to barbed fittings.(TODAY'S TUBING TECHNOLOGY)
September 1, 2007... Designers spend a lot of time choosing the right tubing or hose for an application yet sometimes the decision on fittings or couplings receives less scrutiny. In fact, a secure and reliable connection is really determined by how well the...

Micro flex circuits help shrink implantables.(ELECTRICAL COMNPONENTS)
September 1, 2007... A particular challenge in medical-device design is creating components so small they can adhere to the continually shrinking requirements for devices used inside the body. Some of these devices, such as those that monitor blood chemicals or...

Souped-up syringe serves as standalone fluid-dispensing system.(INNOVATIONS)
September 1, 2007... Engineers at Parker Hannifin Life Science Business Unit,, Hollis, N.H. (www.parker.com/lifesciences) have turned a syringe into a self-contained fluid dispenser with onboard memory, controls, and data storage. The Smart Syringe can dispense sub...

A better way to inspect complex molded parts.
September 1, 2007... Inspection and testing companies are increasingly using scanning devices such as lasers, white lights, computed-tomog-raphy machines, and articulated-arm touch-probes to capture 3D shapes at lower costs. Another technology called...

The Best Places to Work: what makes one company better to work for than others? Here's a peek at what keeps employees happy.
September 1, 2007... Look at any list of the top companies to work at and a few trends jump out The companies are usually small to medium size, offer employees creative freedom, and think of employees as valuable assets instead of overhead. Take Google for...

Forced employee rankings is bad for business.
September 1, 2007... Forced-ran king systems that require managers to evaluate the performance of an employee against other employees can hurt productivity, says a researcher at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. "Using rankings to scale employee...

The big story on miniature guides; Designing a miniature linear-motion system is daunting if you try evaluating all components from the growing number of vendors. However, a few concepts and the right application data helps cut through the confusion.
September 1, 2007... The medical-device industry places unusual requirements on manufacturers of linear-motion technology, and miniature devices compound the challenge. For instance, some requirements driving the development of miniature linear-motion components...

Designing a medical sensor: this engineering study details how a pressure sensor went from a rough idea to a successful product.
September 1, 2007... The P6000 pressure sensor from our company started as a concept to satisfy a perceived demand for a rugged device. How it developed provides a useful engineering study. It starts with a design team first sketching out a few goals. For...

Control of ultra pure or corrosive media.(Product Spotlight Pumps & Valve)
September 1, 2007... A 2-way, 2-position media-separated, solenoid valve controls ultra pure or corrosive media that would otherwise damage wetted-type solenoid valves. The Spartan Scientific 4BKR features a low-volume valve cavity and a rolling diaphragm, with no...

Proportional control valves.(Product Spotlight Pumps & Valve)
September 1, 2007... EVP proportional valves offer advanced technology based on Clippard's EV series valve. The valves feature a simple design, low power, fast operation, extreme cycle life, and reliability. The patented design uses an accurate positioned armature...

Pump delivers 0.25 to 3,000 ml/min.(Product Spotlight Pumps & Valve)
September 1, 2007... The 313D peristaltic pump-head for medical applications tolerates frequent tube changes and flow rates from 0.25 to 3,000 ml/min. The pumped fluid is completely contained in the USP Class VI approved tubing, so pump cleaning is as simple as...

Online ordering for solenoid valves.(Product Spotlight Pumps & Valve)
September 1, 2007... Qwik Piks, a new online ordering tool for the Gems line of miniature solenoid valves, provides online shopping for general purpose, isolation, and cryogenic valves. The site lets users select a voltage, wattage, body and seal materials, and...

Fractional hp stainless steel pumps.(Product Spotlight Pumps & Valve)
September 1, 2007... The FRX series of fractional-horsepower pumps includes six models, each available in five intake sizes from " to 1-1/4-in. NPT. Units can come with ac or dc motors for the FRX 50 and FRX 75, and an ac 56J frame for the FRX 100 and FRX 125...

Check values are field serviceable.(Product Spotlight Pumps & Valve)
September 1, 2007... Ideal for use in purge air, water injection, and liquid fuel applications, Power Generation Chek Valves are field serviceable, so users can disassemble and service the valves with a rebuild kit. The units come with or without a removable,...

Module connects equipment to Web.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The application-ready MatchPort AR module connects equipment to Ethernets with web-server capabilities for under $40 in volume. MatchPort AR lets OEMs add a network connection so products can send serial data over standard Ethernet with almost...

O-rings in any inside diameter.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... FlexiMold makes O-rings and other seal profiles that can have cross sections of up to 12-mm diameter and larger, and in almost any length for large inside diameters. The long seals are said to be better than those that are fabricated with...

Controller runs up to four dispensing valves.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The ValveMate 8000 Dispense Controller and 8040 Spray Controller give manufacturers a more cost-effective way to operate multiple dispense and spray valves from EFD Inc. Valve-open time is the primary control for deposit size. Both controllers...

No-arc relay extends controller life.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... No-Arc relays work longer than conventional designs in the developer's temperature and power switching controllers when applied to resistive heating applications that require many cycles. Standard relays can arc with surges in current. An arc...

Industrial networking made simpler.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A processor for industrial markets features Freescale's Power Architecture technology and comes in the COM Express form factor. The processor speeds and simplifies generating intelligent industrial equipment that runs industrial networking...

Aluminum profiles for build-it-yourself frames.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A series of modular aluminum framing components are intended for cleanroom tasks and other contaminant-sensitive environments. As an alternative to welded steel components, the modular aluminum profiles bolt together easily for maximum...

Thermal wire strippers.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The BTS1 thermal wire strip per is bench mounted to handle solid and stranded wire, and cables up to "-in. OD. The temperature of the stripping elements is variable to 1,400F. The unit has an adjustable strip-length stop from 0 to 1-1/2-in. and...

Solid-state drives up to 8 Gbytes.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The SiliconDrive USB CF family of solid-state drives comes in 1 to 8-Gbyte sizes. The drives combine the performance and compatibility of the USB interface with the rugged and industry-standard CF form factor. The platform improves protection...

Switch locks in "off" position.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The 58336 Locking Rocker Switch automatically locks in the off position, and requires activating before turning the switch "on". A bright orange actuator lets users easily see if the switch is locked. The weather-resistant switch provides SPST...

Enclosure sized to your specs.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The flexible and modular Type 35 Variety Case allows exact-sizing an enclosure without high customization costs. It starts with aluminum extrusions cut to any length. The extrusions accept tapped strips, sealing cords for EMC, optional direct...

Thrust bearings down to 4-mm ID.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A new line of micro thrust bearings are available in carbon and stainless steel and in 4 to 12-mm IDs. Custom sizes upon request. The design uses a molded nylon retainer, with hardened grade steel balls and washers. Self-lubricating nylon...

Print even on Tyvek with ease.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... Recent customer trials show the Plasma3 atmospheric plasma surface treater improves printing on a wide variety of materials used in the medical industry, including Tyvek. The technology improves ink adhesion by raising a material's surface...

Torque-limiting ratchet driver eliminates inefficiencies.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The Centaur ratchet driver introduces a torque-limiting option to the Tru-Control ratcheting products. By reducing the number of instruments required for a procedure, the time and complexity involved in changing out each instrument can be...

Headers for blindmate applications.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... Blindmateable vertical headers are a part of Tyco's 4.2 mm PE series connector system. The connectors are low cost, wire-to-wire, wire-to-board, and wire-to-panel based on 4.2 x 4.2 mm centerlines. The headers are available in even position...

Switches come in three rocker shapes.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The 2600 Series of rocker switches are for power applications with capacitive and inductive circuits as well as common resistive circuits. The switches are rated to 15 A at 250 Vac and feature a minimum electrical life of 10,000 cycles at full...

Moving a molded part to a new molder? Start here.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A new guide assists manufacturers that may be faced with transferring production of an injection-molded plastic part from one supplier to another. Taming the Troubled Transfer objectively outlines how businesses can avoid potential problems...

Micromachining in three axes.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The Microlution 310-S, a 3-axis mill, provides ultra-high accuracy to support micromachining in the biomedical industry. With a positioning accuracy of 2 microns and a cost of less than $90,000, the 310-S works well machining small parts. The...

Choosing the right disposables for adhesives.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... Two of the most common adhesives used in electronics and medical industries are UV and Cyanoaerylate fluids. Both require disposable products suited to their properties. Exercise caution when selecting the right syringe and needle (tip) system...

This keyboard deletes microbes.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The InduProofmed keyboard features an antimicrobial silicone covering the entire keyboard. The specially treated silicone inhibits the growth of microbes on contact. It works continuously to maintain a consistently lower bio-burden than would...

Dome switch snaps when closed.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A metal tactile dome contact makes two separate, progressive contact closures in a single dome switch. IntelliTac technology allows making a first contact with minimal pressure. Further pressure on the dome snaps the second contact closed while...

Linear slides move fast, lube free.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... RGSW and RGSWX series slides allow high linear speeds without critical speed concerns. The slides have thicker and wider bases than the original, more compact RGS slides. Both series include direct sensor mounting systems and the RGSWX slides...

EMI-shielded vents and filters.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... EMI-shielded honeycomb vents, fan vents, quiet vents, and air filters are available from prototype to high volume in all shapes and sizes. In-house plating improves shielding effectiveness and environmental protection, while providing fast...

Power cords speed fabrication.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A male-bridge power cord assembly holds standard brass blades and a ground pin within a polypropylene housing and has all crimp ears facing in the same direction to accept 3-wires in a single step. Wires can be attached manually or by automatic...

Robotic gripper for labs.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The Smart Gripper 2.0 is intended for use in laboratories and other applications. The small, stepper-based gripper features accurate robotic-finger positioning and an adjustable grip force and requires no proprietary software or controllers....

Piezo actuators for micropositioning.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A line of cofired, piezoelectric ceramic, multi-layer actuators (PCMAs) are ideal for variety of applications, including optical, medical instrumentation, valves, nano and micro positioning, and position control. Thee efficient low-voltage and...

Embedded thermoelectric cooler.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The eTEC cooler is made from nano-structured thin film and works as a miniature, solid-state pump to cool hot spots on ICs. The device pumps as much as 400 W/[cm.sup.2], as compared to less than 10 to 20 W/[cm.sup.2] for typical bulk TECs....

Does the equipment meet regs? Testers tell.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... Independent EMC and safety testing for U.S., Canada, CE, and other global standards tell clients that equipment meets required regulations. Testing combined with certified engineering design and mitigation assistance streamlines the compliance...

Manifold for analytical devices.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The Series VV061 Cube manifold for analytical devices and electronic equipment combines a valve, printed circuit board, base, and fittings in a compact unit. The device uses 0.55 W in standard configuration and 0.23 W with a power-saving...

Nylon bristle brushes wipe away static.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... New high-density nylon brushes target applications in which static-prone material attracts dirt, dust., or powder. The nylon bristles are conductive and so remove static which holds containminent to materials such as substrates and plasties....

Software monitors data loggers remotely.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The Alarm and Readout Tool, a plug-in software module, works with the developer's HOBOware Pro software to notify users by e-mail or cell-phone text-messages when temperature, humidity, and other conditions exceed user-defined limits. The...

Wireless bore gage works 24/7.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The Ml Wave wireless bore gauge comes with a Li-ion battery that provides about 36 to 40 hours of use when fully recharged. When a full recharge (5 to 6 hours) is not possible, the gauge can be used in a "cycle, measure, and charge" mode (one...

A mobile metrology system.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The ScanShark mobile metrology system includes the developer's seven-axis portable CMM, a non-contact, laser-scanning probe, PolyWorks software, and a laptop or desktop computer for on-demand part inspection and reverse engineering, right on...

Strain-gage measurements by way of Ethernet.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... The smart 2612 Ethernet I/O module sends measurement data from up to four strain gauges simultaneously. The unit periodically measures on-board reference standards to update channel gains and offsets. Subsequent readings use the most recent...

A high-accuracy voltage reference.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A3ppm/C (max) temperature drift, CMOS voltage reference family has high output current features such as accuracy and system-performance levels previously found only in costly buried zener technologies. Although designed for next-generation...

Reusable earplugs keep more sound out.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... Rockets reusable earplugs are now rated to NRR 27, the result of reformulating the material with a new sound-dampening additive. Plugs with the rating include corded, uncorded, and cloth-corded varieties. An easy grip handle on the plugs allows...

Software makes better use of large 3D point clouds.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... FARO Scene V4.1 software is for viewing, administrating, calibrating, filtering and managing large, 3D point clouds collected with the developer's Laser Scanner LS. The portable Laser Scanner digitally recreates and records all of an object or...

Turn CAN into Ethernet.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... EtherCAN isa CAN-Ethernet gateway that converts from CAN into Ethernet to overcome the limited physical length of CAN networks. Because CAN technology was originally developed for the automotive industry, it has limitations for high-speed data...

Software quantifies design complexity.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... OntoSpace V2.0 software provides a comprehensive tool to manage and quantify the complexity of a design. The software now works with incomplete data sets that are often characteristic of field data. The software lets users compute the maximum...

Brushless dc micromotors.(DESIGNSolutions)
September 1, 2007... A family of Pittman brushless dc servomotors combines patented coil-winding geometry in a slot-less motor design to deliver more power using less energy. These "micromotors" are well suited to medical instruments, dental drills, and hand power...

Is patent reform the answer?(INDUSTRYViewpoint)
September 1, 2007... Problems at the U.S. Patent Office affect medical-device businesses on both sides of the patent fence. Businesses trying to protect their innovations must grapple with delays in patent examinations and uneven examination quality. On the other...

Seminar on EMR developments.(MEETINGS&Shows)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... Sept. 27 and 28-This two-day seminar provides a thorough update on developments in electronic medical records. This is a must for all healthcare providers, health information managers, HIT specialists, vendors, and others who want to stay up to...

AdvaMed Medical Technology Conference.(MEETINGS&Shows)(Conference news)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... Oct. 1 to 3-AdvaMed 2007: The MedTech Conference, a comprehensive international medical technology meeting and exhibition, will be held in Washington, D.C. This event brings together hundreds of international senior-level executives with...

2007 Medical innovation summit.(MEETINGS&Shows)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... Oct. 1 to 3- Join top executives from Cardinal Health, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, and venture investors, medical leaders, and journalists as they highlight developments, economics, and trends in cardiovascular technologies. Also featured will be...

Comsol Conference 2007.(MEETINGS&Shows)(Conference news)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... Oct 4 to 6-The Comsol Conference 2007 Boston is the third annual meeting highlighting work in the field of multiphysics and simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics. www.comsol.com/conference200 7

Titanium 2007.(MEETINGS&Shows)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... Oct. 7 to 9-Increase your titanium-market intelligence by getting first-hand information from experts. Meet over 80 exhibitors, gain timely and relevant information from over 50 presentations, and take advantage of the best networking...

TrackWise User Conference.(MEETINGS&Shows)(Calendar)(Conference notes)
September 1, 2007... Oct. 9 to 12-The sixth TrackWise User Conference includes presentations by industry experts and TrackWise customers, two full days of informative workshops led by Sparta experts and business partners, and networking events. ...