Articles
The Lead
Designing Micro Parts with High Volume Production in Mind
June 5, 2013 | by Marty Cavegn, Sales Engineer, Top Tool | Comments
Most often, it seems medical device manufacturers are deciding between machining and molding for their component fabrication needs. However, there are alternatives that should be explored. Stamping offers an array of excellent advantages for designers who need micro parts made from metal materials.
A Laser’s Role in Medicine
June 7, 2013 3:18 pm | by Tracey Ryba, Product Manager—Lasers, TRUMPF Inc. | Comments
The use of lasers in the development of medical devices through to their actual usage in the...
Impact of Portable Medical Devices
June 5, 2013 3:27 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor, ECN | Comments
The portable medical devices industry is a fast growing world. With the advent of various smart...
Materials Impact Medical Device Design Trends
June 3, 2013 2:22 pm | by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT | Comments
There are an array of factors that impact the design of medical devices, from available...
It Begins and Ends with Testing
June 17, 2013 3:32 pm | by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT | WuXi AppTec | CommentsRegardless of the indication, the technology, or the manufacturing process, all medical devices face thorough testing regimens to ensure they function as designed. There’s no room for error with any medical device, whether a low-tech orthopedic knee brace or a life saving pacemaker. The patient relying on the device they are using needs it to work perfectly.
Bioabsorbable Polymers Will Offer New Possibilities for Drug Delivery
June 14, 2013 3:14 pm | by Uwe Winzen, Ph.D., Global Marketing Manager, Lubrizol LifeScience Polymers | CommentsA new formulation of synthetic, biochemically absorbable polymers is creating opportunities in the medical device and pharmaceutical fields. These “bioabsorbable polymers” are materials designed to dissolve into compounds that the body can safely absorb or eliminate.
UDI Inspection Guidelines
June 13, 2013 2:06 pm | by Jonathan Ludlow, Machine Vision Promoter, Microscan Systems | Microscan Systems, Inc. | CommentsNew unique device identification labeling rules are on the way for medical devices, so it’s best for engineers to be aware of what impact they may have prior to them being mandatory. This article looks at the main points behind the coming rule and the considerations for ensuring proper symbol quality and label/mark verification.
Adhesives: Managing the Skin/Device Interface
June 12, 2013 11:59 am | by Neal Carty, Ph.D., Research Associate, Vancive Medical Technologies | Vancive Medical Technologies™ | CommentsMedical adhesives are often relied upon to provide the critical linkage between the body and a medical device. To effectively interface the two, adhesives are called upon to manage a host of factors at play at the skin/device interface, such as moisture and movement, and also control the environment with respect to things like microbial flora, odor, or skin hydration.
Diagnostics: A Focus on Imaging, Portability, and Regulations
June 11, 2013 3:59 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor, ECN | CommentsDiagnostic technology covers a broad range of equipment, tests, and medical fields, and recent advancements in technique and materials means that innovations are widespread and growing rapidly. Though economic conditions are preventing huge advancements in diagnostic imaging—if hospitals can’t afford the new technology, there is no point in designing it—the medical imaging community is focusing on refinement, rather than redesign.
Coating for Consumption
June 10, 2013 2:19 pm | by Lonny Wolgemuth, Sr. Medical Market Specialist, and Juan Gudino, Medical Market Manager, Specialty Coating Systems | Specialty Coating Systems | CommentsIngestible medical devices offer a convenient, non-invasive method of delivering therapeutics, enabling diagnostic procedures, or performing imaging tasks. However, ensuring that the sensitive electronics within the device are protected is a challenge. This article will highlight a coating technology that is being used to guarantee such protection is provided.
The Symphony of Surgical Robotics
June 4, 2013 3:44 pm | by Phil Brown, VP & GM, Pro-Dex Inc. – OMS | Pro-Dex | CommentsSurgical robots are becoming more of a standard in operating rooms. As such, device designers are going to need to understand the motion control technology that makes them function. This article looks at the “sheet music” that offers the guidance to the “conductor” who is instructing the “instruments.”
The Science of Ceramics in Hip Joint Replacements
May 31, 2013 2:56 pm | by Yannick Galais, Commercial Manager, Morgan Advanced Materials | Morgan Advanced Ceramics | CommentsCeramic materials have been used for artificial joints since the 1970s, yet the need for smaller medical implants with more complicated structures has created exciting new opportunities for those manufacturing ceramic solutions for the medical market. As a result, detailed and complex ceramic components are becoming increasingly specified for a wide range of applications.
Ethylene Oxide Versus Radiation Sterilization
May 30, 2013 3:52 pm | by Wendy Wangsgard, Radiation Sterilization Study Director, and Courtney Lang, Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Study Director, Nelson Laboratories | CommentsEthylene oxide and radiation sterilization make up two of the most common forms of sterilization for medical devices. As the device is prepared for release to market, knowing which type of sterilization to use for each product can save time and money.
Considerations and Complexities of Catheter Design & Development
May 29, 2013 12:00 pm | by Sean Lynn, Engineering Manager, Teleflex Medical OEM | Teleflex Medical OEM | CommentsThe extrusion of medical tubing can be a relatively “simple” task or it can present a number of challenges; it all depends on the application, materials to be used, etc. This article will focus on single lumen tubing and take a walk through a selection of the options available to the designer from the simplest to the most complex.
Smart Body Worn Sensors and Actuators
May 28, 2013 4:11 pm | by Wayne Palmer, Systems Application Engineer, Analog Devices | Analog Devices | CommentsAs capacitive sensors integrate more with emerging technology, replacing more traditional buttons, design engineers are able to get rather creative with how they can design them into devices. This article reviews how capacitive sensing can be applied to determine the quality of the contact between a medical device’s surface and the wearer’s skin.
Wireless-Enabled Remote Patient Monitoring Solutions
May 24, 2013 2:25 pm | by Rajeev D. Rajan, Senior Director of Product Management, Qualcomm Life | Qualcomm Incorporated | CommentsThe remote patient monitoring field is a rapidly growing one given the advantages it offers for home healthcare, remote regions, and elderly care. However, with it comes a long list of considerations and critical issues for designers and engineers to keep in mind. This article offers a “bird’s eye view” of this sector and many of the factors on which to maintain focus.
E-Beam vs. Gamma Sterilization
May 23, 2013 2:39 pm | by Larry Nichols, COO, and Bob Starrett, CTO, NUTEK Corporation | NUTEK Corporation | CommentsMany of the sterilization issues concerning gamma and electron beam radiation are the same. This point is supported by the fact that both technologies are governed by the same ISO standards when applied to medical device sterilization—ISO 11137 and ISO 13409. Both technologies have been proven effective at sterilization and are accepted worldwide.
Replacing the Cadaver for Surgical Students
May 22, 2013 4:06 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor, ECN | CommentsSurgical simulators are an ideal solution for training surgeons with minimal risk to patient health and safety. This is particularly important when surgeons train for procedures utilizing arthroscopy because it requires the surgeon to perform the surgery while looking at a camera screen instead of the patient. This necessitates extensive training to ensure the doctor is an expert in the method.
3D Digital Process Aids in Skull Prosthetic Success
May 21, 2013 4:04 pm | by Bob Cramblitt | CommentsWhen Chinese exchange student Jiahone Guo suffered a cranial injury during a club soccer match, he thought "maybe I will go to see God," according to a report on WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Fortunately, due to timely surgery and a custom-made prosthetic skull plate designed by MedCAD, Guo is able to do almost everything he could do before the fateful match.
