Medical Design articles from September 2008

Medical Design archives from September 2008

Forget the FDA. now congress has it in for you.(EDITORIAL)
September 1, 2008... In June, the U.S. Supreme court ruled on the case of Reigel v. Medtronic and decided (8 to 1) that because-Medtronic designed a pacemaker that met rigorous FDA requirements, the company should not be liable for a mishap that may have led to the...

Camera processor leads to shirt-pocket microscope.(MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF)
September 1, 2008... The same chip found in digital cameras can produce high-resolution images of cells, thereby turning it into a microscope a without a large conventional lens. Inventor and Caltech engineer Changhuei Yang says such devices could be made for about...

Nanotubes and a little voltage help regrow cartilage.(MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF)
September 1, 2008... Creating a surface that attracts cartilage-forming cells with electrical pulses is one way to regenerate cartilage, says Brown University nanotechnology specialist Thomas Webster. Placing carbon nanotubes around worn surfaces makes a naturally...

Tactile feedback to guide surgeons during knee implants.(MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF)
September 1, 2008... Invasive knee-implant surgery may no longer be necessary in early-to-mid-stage osteoarthritic knee disease. A new machine called the Mako Tactile Guidance System (TGS) eliminates the need for total knee replacements. The device mounts a cutting...

Smooth action on the back brings traction up to date.(MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF)
September 1, 2008... Most people will eventually deal with back pain from pressure on nerves in the spinal chord. Mechanical decompression is one treatment. Equipment that provides controlled decompression, such as, the DRX9000 from Axiom Worldwide, Tampa...

An Imax in the or?(MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF)
September 1, 2008... A 3D vision system for microsurgeries let's surgeons see procedures on a high-definition screen instead of having to hunch over and peer into microscopes. Some doctors call it Imax (the large concave-screen theaters) for the operating room....

Stem-cell market set to grow.(MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF)
September 1, 2008... A market-research report, Stem Cell Technology: Current Application and Future Directions from BCC Research, Wellesley, Mass., (bccresearch.com) says expect the domestic market for stem-cell technology to increase from $112.0 million in 2007 to...

Robotic suit helps some walk.(MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF)
September 1, 2008... A strap-on skeleton of composite braces, powered by dc motors at joints, and fitted with an array of sensors helps people who could not ordinarily stand and walk do so on their own. ReWalk, the semi-robotic suit from Argo Medical Technologies,...

Fantastic voyage may be closer than you think.(INDUSTRY VIEWPOINT)
September 1, 2008... Take a look around and you can't help but see the new and ever-changing trend of electronic gadgets in your daily life. A short list of them would likely include cell phones, computers, GPS systems, home theater systems, engine control systems,...

FDA looking for help monitoring implants.(FDA & REGULATIONS)
September 1, 2008... The FDA has proposed a program that would ask public and private databases to help study the efficacy of orthopedic implants, such as total hip and knee, hip resurfacing, ankle devices, and intervertebral disc implants. The Agency will soon...

'Sentinel' will not burden industry.(FDA & REGULATIONS)
September 1, 2008... An agency director says the FDA's launch of Sentinel, an initiative intended to transform the agency's post-market surveillance system of devices through public and private partnerships, will not further burden device manufacturers. "The...

Big changes in Canadian drug laws coming.(FDA & REGULATIONS)
September 1, 2008... The Canadian Federal government has introduced important changes to Canada's food and drugs laws in Bill C-51 to the Canadian House of Commons. The Act Respecting Foods, Therapeutic Products, and Cosmetics is intended to modernize and...

MDMA testifies on Globalization Act.(FDA & REGULATIONS)
September 1, 2008... President of Dynatronics Corp. and Medical Device Manufacturers Association Board Member Kelvyn Cullimore has testified on the FDA Globalization Act. The hearing, held by the House Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health, highlights the...

Norman Noble expands orthopedic manufacture.(BUSINESS NEWS FROM CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS)
September 1, 2008... Medical device contract manufacturer Norman Noble Inc., Highland Heights, Ohio (normannobel.com) announced the expansion of its orthopedic implant manufacturing operation. The expansion includes the addition of eight Willemin-Macodel 5-axis...

PolyOne opens Japanese branch.(BUSINESS NEWS FROM CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS)
September 1, 2008... A developer of specialized polymers and services, PolyOne Corp., Avon Lake, Ohio (polyone.com), has formed PolyOne Japan Ltd. The new company, based in Japan, will import products for use by Japanese polymer processors. "Our technical expertise...

Faro measures in Mexico.(BUSINESS NEWS FROM CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS)
September 1, 2008... Manufacturer of portable measuring equipment Faro Technoogies Inc., Lake Mary, Fla. (faro.com) will expand operations to Mexico. "The country represents an important market because there is limited penetration into its growing manufacturing...

Electric molding improves part quality and cost.(BUSINESS NEWS FROM CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS)
September 1, 2008... Urethane Processing Corp. of America, Peabody, Mass., (upcoa.com) has purchased its first all-electric injection molding machine from Engel GMBH to expand its capability in producing silicone parts. The new machine is more precise than...

How to off-shore to China.(BUSINESS NEWS FROM CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS)
September 1, 2008... Smart Sourcing Inc., Long Island, N.Y. (smartsourcing.com) has added a division that will let companies in the U.S. outsource medical-device manufacturing and assembly tasks to Asia using what the company calls its Support Sourcing program. SSI...

New dryers let Mack Molding work faster.(BUSINESS NEWS FROM CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS)
September 1, 2008... Plastic processor Mack Molding Co., Arlington, Vermont, (mack.com) reports that the speed and versatility of Maguire LPD vacuum-resin dryers have helped maximize the productivity of the company's new medical-molding cell. The cell is intended...

Think "hot runners" for injection molding tricky medical parts: the technology is key to producing quality plastic injection-molded parts with the shortest cycle times.(MEDICAL MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY)
September 1, 2008... Injection molding of moderate to high quantities of parts is best done with a multi-cavity mold and hot runner. A hot runner is a mold component that distributes plastic melt from the injection-molding machine to each cavity in the mold. ...

Need a small motor? think piezo for medical applications.(MOTION CONTROL)
September 1, 2008... You don't have to look far to find piezo applications. They are in houses, offices, and hobbies. Many handheld electronic devices including mobile phones and digital cameras use piezo technology to zoom and automatically focus lenses. Simpler...

How material suppliers help package designers: here's a raw-material supplier's perspective of the impact of ISO 11607 on rigid-medical packaging.(PACKAGING WRAP-UP)
September 1, 2008... The ISO 11607:2006 standard regulates sterile barrier and packaging systems. It is intended for the medical industry, healthcare facilities, and wherever medical devices are placed in sterile packages and sterilized. The standard has been...

Designing with a water soluble material.(DESIGNING WITH ADVANCED MATERIAL)
September 1, 2008... A recently developed starch based, water-soluble, and injection-moldable material shows promise in several medical areas. Design goals for the material were to provide cost-effective capsules for an animal-free alternative to gelatine (to avoid...

A model for device development.(R & D NOTEBOOK)
September 1, 2008... Researchers at the Stanford University Program in Biodesign have completed a one-year study that examined how medical technology is brought to market, approved for use, and enhanced over time. First results of this work were presented at an...

Composites and liquid-crystal polymers work where others cannot.(TODAY'S TUBING TECHNOLOGY)
September 1, 2008... Most medical tubing is made of clear and sometimes colored-plastic lines used on IV sets and other hospital fluid-management chores. But what if an application calls for something more rigid, nonmagnetic, or capable of handling higher...

The time is now to go lead-free.(ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS)
September 1, 2008... Medical electronics products have been exempt from the European Union's (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive since it went into effect July 1, 2006. However, compliance is right around the corner because medical electronics...

Dispensing cartridge mixes adhesives and other compounds.(INNOVATIONS)
September 1, 2008... Dentists must sometimes mix two-part adhesives in precise ratios well before it's necessary to place the material. A new dispenser from TAH Indutries, Robbinsville, N.J., (tah.com) the U-tah Nano, is a double-barrel cartridge that fits in...

What medical designers should know about rapid injection molding: it's a fast way to get plastic prototypes.
September 1, 2008... A manufacturing technique called rapid injection molding lets companies quickly get low-cost and dimensionally accurate prototypes as well as low-volume production parts from plastics. Examples of parts for the medical market include device...

Creative engineering updates traditional fabrications: updated methods with low-tech reputations shape high-tech hospital carts and sophisticated surgical devices.
September 1, 2008... A fabrication shop's functions can overlap a bit with those of machine shops, but fabricators usually focus on building structures and devices from steel and aluminum, rather than on machining parts. Hence, fabrication shops perform operations...

Color addition lets tubing "talk".(TECH SPOTLIGHT Tubing)
September 1, 2008... A manufacturer of medical and surgical products, Applied Medical Technology (AM), Brecksville, Ohio, (appliedmedical.net), chose an RTP 700 Series precolored, low-density polyethylene when recent revisions to U.K. regulations called for...

New R&D arm tuned to prototyping.(TECH SPOTLIGHT Tubing)
September 1, 2008... The R&D arm of MicroSpec Corp., EJS Extrusion LLC, is intended to serve medical-device prototype and development needs. Company researchers say it typically makes product to tolerances of [+ or -] 0.001 to 0.002 in. and it has produced...

Think Tygon for good flexibility.(TECH SPOTLIGHT Tubing)
September 1, 2008... Tygon S-95-E (formerly Tygon ECMO) tubing is a medical grade, clear, non-DEHP polymer that provides good flexibility and peristaltic-pump life, according to the manufacturer. The tubing is suited for contact with blood and meets USP Class VI...

Multi-lumen tube in a week and new resins.(TECH SPOTLIGHT Tubing)
September 1, 2008... Zeus Inc. provides prototyping for multi-lumen tubing, from a large selection of resins and with significantly fast turnarounds. Resins now include PTFE, Pebax, PEEK, FEP, PFA, Nylon12, THV, and others. The insulating properties of...

Tubing for all seasons.(TECH SPOTLIGHT Tubing)
September 1, 2008... Custom, extruded medical tubing from Teel Plastics has been used in IV sets and laboratory pipettes as well as antiseptic ampule and prefilled-syringe packaging. The firm says it was one of the first to manufacture multilayer medical tubing....

Stainless-tube starter kit for hypodermic prototypes.(TECH SPOTLIGHT Tubing)
September 1, 2008... A kit that cost about $250 features a large assortment of 300 series stainless steel hypodermic tubing that designers and laboratory personnel can use for test evaluation and prototyping. The kit is aimed at those who want to experiment with a...

Tube for high purity tasks.(TECH SPOTLIGHT Tubing)
September 1, 2008... AdvantaFlex tubing, intended for high purity fluid-transfer tasks, is manufactured from biopharmaceutical-grade thermoplastic elastomer for the medical, biotech, pharmaceutical, and critical-processing industries. The tube is said to be...

Controllers for touch screens.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The MicroTouch EX II 7000 series USB controllers, when mated with MicroTouch ClearTek II and ToughTouch II capacitive-touch sensors, provide high-performance, easy-to-integrate touch electronics. Features include improve levels of conducted...

Natural rubber gloves safe for allergy sufferers.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... FDA-approved examination gloves made with Yulex natural rubber do not contain proteins associated with allergic reactions to latex products from Hevea brasiliensis, and are naturally Hevea latex-free. With more hospitals becoming latex-safe and...

No-cost upgrade to laser cutting machine.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The CL-6 laser cutting machine provides a no-cost upgrade to the new GE Fanuc C200E resonator. The resonator produces 2,500 W for a higher cutting speed, yet at the same price, electrical input, and chiller load as the previous model. The...

A programmable tester for implants and tissue.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The ElectroForce 5900 BioDynamic programmable test instrument simulates the complex in vivo loading of spinal discs and other orthopaedic tissues such as cartilage and bone. Tissue substitutes often require advanced mechanical loading in a...

Database helps avoid hazardous substances.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Enovia Materials Compliance Central is a material database for companies such as medical OEMs that must deal with regulatory compliance. The database encourages proactive environmental-compliance strategies throughout a product's lifecycle,...

This developer's smallest belt.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... A 60-mm circumference belt with a 1-mm pitch for a portable blood-pressure-monitoring device is made of durable polyurethane. This clean running, nondusting, chemical resistant material can withstand temperatures of-40 to 176F. ...

Conveyor for moving medical packages.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... VarioFlow S chain conveyor includes a new wedge conveyor. It provides a compact footprint, and let users elevate or lower products quickly and easily with a minimum of construction. Flexible cleat chains gently secure products during vertical...

Wire EDMs for medical devices.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Fanuc iD Series wire EDM machines provide the needed cutting speeds, accuracy, and surface finishes for the production of medical devices such as orthodontic braces, joint-replacement component, and surgical knives, needles, and clamps....

More colors identify more test points.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... New colors that identify test points on high-density PCBs in medical machines expand the developer's line of devices, which replace wire-wrap posts and turret terminals. Test point in brown, green, blue, purple, and gray now add to the...

Thermocouple-measurement instrument features 48 inputs.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Easy-to-use, high-accuracy temperature-measurement instruments for medical tasks come in stand-alone boxes with 48 separate 24-bit resolution inputs, each with its own A/D converter and CJC, as well as a USB or Ethernet port for connecting to a...

Power supplies for rough environments.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The LS50 (50W) through LS150 (150W) series of ac-dc single-output power supplies cover widely used output voltages including 3.3, 5, 12, 15, 24, and 36V. The ac input-line quality is poor in some medical applications because factory equipment,...

Ball valve weighs 9 grams.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... A series of miniature ball valves come in standard shut-off, 3-way diverting, and 3-way mixing-diverting configurations. The valves are compact, lightweight, and provide a non-restricted flow for applications up to 250 psig. The standard...

Taking care of test equipment.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Complex servohydraulic testing systems require regular maintenance to ensure accurate and repeatable test results and avoid costly downtime. A four-point program includes an oil analysis, preventative maintenance, periodic oil changes, and...

Ball bushings for medical equipment.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Double-linear ball bushings come in round, square, and compact-flange styles for a variety of medical applications. Bushings are in 52100 bearing steel (with or without electroless nickel plated surface) or 440C stainless-steel cylinder and...

Video on switches.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... OLED SmartSwitch and SmartDisplay high-resolution programmable switches provide high contrast, brilliant pictures, 180[degrees] viewing angles, full color, low-power consumption, fast response times, and no backlighting requirements. Both...

Wall-mounted guide to engineering resins.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... A colorfast engineering-resin-selection chart provides a color-coded technical guide that details the developer's current five polymer groups, PC, ABS, PC/ABS alloy, Nylon, and specialty resins and alloys. The information describes over 50...

Gearheads now work twice as long.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Stealth Gen II Gearheads for medical equipment include higher radial load capacities (four times greater in some cases) than previous designs. The device also provides an increased service life (nearly double) with more durable bearing...

Embedded programming makes medical devices smarter.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... LabView 8.6 and new embedded hardware products let users deploy the latest FPGA, ARM, and single-board hardware. Improvements for embedded applications include decreased development time with desktop-simulation features, design algorithms with...

Cool lithium cell capable of 2,100 mAh.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The CGR26650A, a high rate lithium ion cell, uses a nickel manganese-based cathode material to deliver higher discharge rates and better temperature stability than comparative cells. In addition, a heat resistant layer provides safer operation....

Surface treatment for pacemakers and stents.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The AccuFlo micro-abrasive blaster uses glass beads to remove scratches and marks from the surface finish of pacemaker cans. The device also surface treats laser-cut stents to remove oxidation and pulse marks. This lets electropolishing...

Laser scanner for medical tasks.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The self-positioning, handheld ER-GOscan 3D laser scanner for orthotics, prosthetics, and related medical applications provides rapid shape acquisition and high measuring accuracy for the production of custom orthopedic devices. The...

Controller for adaptive optics.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The Multi-DM Controller lets users add adaptive optics (MEMS-based deformable mirrors that actively correct for image distortions) to microscopes as well as retinal and biological-imaging systems. The controller has 14-bit resolution, a frame...

Custom seals and gaskets.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Recent seats, seals, gaskets, washers, and related parts can be fabricated to customer specification from PTFE, PFA, and TFM. Components are chemically inert, unaffected by most corrosive fluids, and are suitable for operation from-400 to 500F....

How to choose the best sensor.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... A free guide shows how to define temperature-sensing requirements and choose a best sensor. The easy-to-use guide shows how to compare sensors, and obtains parts for testing and prototyping. The 163-page guide explains temperature sensors for...

Make the medical part, not just a prototype.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The FDM 900mc machine, intended for direct digital manufacturing, rivals the accuracy and repeatability of injection molding. The 900mc has an accuracy rating of [+ or -]0.005 in. or [+ or -]0.0015 in./in. whichever is greater. A study with...

LCD-screen protector inhibits bacteria growth.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... NuShield AM, an anti-microbial protective film, guards LCDs against scratches, glare, sunlight, and inhibits the growth of germs, mold and mildew that can cause odors and infection, including many antibiotic resistant strains. The film can be...

Boron in polyethylene makes a good x-ray shield.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... Borotron HD050 is a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) formulation enhanced with 5% elemental boron to provide extra shielding against neutron radiation. The combination of boron in a matrix of HDPE, a naturally hydrogen-rich material, works well...

Speed controller for brushless dc motors.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The DECS 50/5 speed controller for driving brushless dc motors without Hall sensors in medical devices has an input voltage range of 10 to 50 V. In continuous operation, an output current of 5 A of the power stage gives the business-card-size...

Software for quality functions lets users customize applications.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The 100% Web-based SmartDesigner-lets users of SmartSolve software design custom quality-management functions, or even new applications driven by new forms. The developer provides best practices in an out-of the-box quality-and-compliance...

Medically approved power adaptors.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... The Series FRM 024 electrical adaptors meets efficiency level IV in new CEC Regulations. Eight models are approved for medical applications per UL/CSA/CE. Specs include 3 to 27 V outputs, 90 to 264 Vac Input at 50 to 60 Hz, and 0.9 to 2.5 A....

Molder shoots silicon over thermoplastics.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... A two-shot silicone-thermoplastic is intended for molding medical devices. The technique lets medical OEM's design two-material components at lower costs and fewer assembly steps. Molding silicone and thermoplastic part as one improves part...

Flexible elastomer protects against microbes.(PRODUCTS & SERVICES)
September 1, 2008... A silicon-based elastomer provides built-in antimicrobial protection. StatSil lets product designers build it into medical devices to control microbes in or on the human body, and on devices such as catheters and wound drains. Momentive...

Workshop for reimbursements and 510(K) submissions.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... September 16 to 19 in Philadelphia and October 20 to 21 in Washington, DC--The AdvaMed MTLI courses called Reimbursement 101 will give an overview of CMS coverage, coding, and payment, and of other types of public and private-sector plans....

The history of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: past, present & future.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... September 21 to 23 - A special Cold Spring Harbor meeting on biotechnology is supported by the Laboratory's Genentech Center for the History of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/meetingsregistration.asp

Medical design and manufacturing Midwest.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... September 23 to 25 - The MD&M Midwest conference at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill. presents advances in medical materials, assembly, and electronic components. Other areas include CAD and CAM software, production...

The ASTM International Committee D14 on Adhesives.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... September 28 to 30 - The ASTM International Committee D14 on Adhesives meets twice a year with members attending three days of technical meetings. The Committee has jurisdiction over 132 standards, published in the Annual Book of ASTM...

Material science & technology 08.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... October 5 to 9 - A conference and exhibition address structures, properties, processing, and performance of materials. The conference's themes include electronic and magnetic materials, environmental and energy issues, fundamentals and...

Nanobiosensors at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... October 10 - This one-day course delivered in partnership with Cranfield Univ. will cover the application of nanotechnology to highly sensitive, miniature analytical devices using materials that are biological, biologically derived, and...

Instrumentation in dynamic pressure measurement.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... October 14 - Vibration, shock, and pressure-sensor developer Endevco Corp. has announced technical instruction for measuring dynamic pressures. Sections include Introduction to dynamic pressure measurement, Pressure measurement instruments,...

Cleveland clinic innovations summit.(MEETINGS & SHOWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... November 10 to 12 - Join Robert Rubin of Citigroup, Jim Tobin with Boston Scientific, Tim Ring from CR Bard, Karen Licitra at Johnson & Johnson, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Tommy...

You're covered.(RECOVERY ROOM)
September 1, 2008... On the way to a big meeting, Mike Chasan spilled coffee down his shirt, forcing him to stop and buy a new one. After the meeting, Chasan wondered where he could get something disposable to protect his clothes from this type of accident....

Colds and flu.(RECOVERY ROOM)
September 1, 2008... Before you know it, the cold and flu season will be upon us. Do you know what's fact or fiction when it comes to cold and flu myths? Take this quiz and find out. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Flu shots can actually cause the flu in some...