Articles
Perspectives on Supplier Differentiator, Part II
October 19, 2012 2:10 pm | by Deborah Kacera, Daniel Rudolf, Dan Walsh, Christine Forcier, and Bill Leverich | Pilgrim Software, Inc., RBC Medical Innovations | CommentsThe next evolution is the focus on the supply chain and ensuring the detailed processes are in place and that products/processes provided by downstream suppliers are validated and real. With globalization as the post facto now, it will require more stringent supplier controls from the initial selection of suppliers through the monitoring phases. How will suppliers select and monitor their supplier base?
Perspectives on Supplier Differentiator, Part I
October 19, 2012 11:49 am | by Joe Rotino, Alan Walsh, Aidan Petrie, Carol Tucker, and Michelle Lott | Pro-Dex, Logic Pd, Ximedica, Vention Medical, Inc., Xeridiem | CommentsAs external industry influences like excise taxes, longer approval process time, and reimbursement pressures bear down on device manufacturers, development partners must look to areas of opportunity and how to best support medical firms in these pursuits. While opportunities such as the growing and aging population and emerging markets are getting a lot of play, it’s also important to realize that progress (i.e., technological advances) poses perhaps the most significant area of opportunity in transforming healthcare.
Searching for a Natural Rubber Alternative for Disposables
October 18, 2012 3:40 pm | by Philippe Henderson | CommentsMany medical device component manufacturers have to adjust their product formulations to meet growing market demand for protein-free alternatives to natural rubber and natural rubber latex (NR/NRL). As simple as this may sound, this change not only requires the use of unfamiliar raw materials, but also requires new processes and a certain amount of trial and error before manufacturers discover the best NR/NRL alternatives for their formulations. One thing they can agree upon is that not all NRL alternatives are created equally.
Applying Tech: Cardiovascular, Part II
October 18, 2012 3:27 pm | by John Beigel, Brian McPherson, Robert Hergenrother, Peter Gabriele, and Donald M. Garcia | Meder Electronic Inc., SurModics, Inc., Secant Medical, Inc. , Boyd Coatings Research, Inc. | CommentsIt’s not the journey, it’s the destination. In the case of interventional cardiovascular devices, both the journey and the destination are vital. These devices need to navigate the tortuous pathways of the vasculature in order to access and treat complex distal lesions. Getting there isn’t always easy.
Applying Tech: Cardiovascular, Part I
October 18, 2012 3:12 pm | by Andrew Cannon, Richard M. Rots, Mark Geiger, John Schmitz, and Sascha Weiler | Hoowaki Llc, Dimensional Control Systems, Interface Catheter Solutions, Aberdeen Technologies Inc., Trumpf Inc. | CommentsWhen a manufacturer picks up a cardiovascular device, they literally hold someone’s life. There is no room for flaws in the quality of this product, or any other in the cardiovascular realm. These devices are shrinking, while becoming increasingly advanced—more intricate parts achieve more complex functions, within a surface area that leaves only enough space for perfection. So the case has never been greater for quality assurance. Conducting risk analysis through variation analysis software can satisfy it.
Roundtable Q&A: Machining
October 17, 2012 5:06 pm | by Marty Cavegn, Steve Dicke, Pete Marut, and Trisha Mowry | Metal Craft Machine & Engineering, Connecticut Spring & Stamping | CommentsRepresentatives from machining companies serving the medical device community respond to questions including, " Why are machined components still a viable part option for medical devices over cheaper plastic ones?" " How have newer metals enhanced machined component offerings for medical device designers?" and " What impact have coatings made on the additional value machined components can offer?"
To Mold, or Extrude, That is the Question
October 17, 2012 4:39 pm | by Robert D. Schwenker and Aaron Updegrove | Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp. | CommentsSelecting the right tubing may not be as straightforward as some medical device designers may think. This article will explore molded and extruded silicone tubing and address two areas that product development engineers should consider when seeking a solution—material differences and manufacturing advantages and limitations.
Designing a More Patient-Centric Battery Holder
October 17, 2012 4:23 pm | by Tom Blaha | Memory Protection Devices, Inc. | CommentsPowering portable devices is a critical element in healthcare today as more and more medical technologies are used in the home or on the patient directly. As such, patients are responsible for the power supply (i.e., batteries) more often than a healthcare professional. As such, a new innovation in battery holder technology makes replacing them easier, which is most important for the very young and elderly.
The Role of Coatings in Orthopedic Instrumentation
October 17, 2012 4:07 pm | by Don Garcia | Boyd Coatings Research, Inc. | CommentsHigh-performance coatings are being used across just about every device sector and on a variety of devices. Coatings can make components and the devices themselves stronger, safer, and more cost effective. This article looks at PVDF coatings and the array of benefits they offer when used on orthopedic tools.
Perspectives on Evolution of Miniaturization
October 17, 2012 3:39 pm | by Steve Kuckworth, Jessica Willing-Pichs, Ian Hardy, Chad Marak, John Beigel, Trygve Olsen, and Chris Ault | Clariant Corporation, Ximedica, Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Littelfuse, Inc., Meder Electronic Inc. | CommentsAs medical devices migrate from the hospital to the patient’s home or workplace, two concepts will become increasingly important: manageability and security. Remote medical devices must often provide continuous care, regardless of their location. Consequently, IT teams will need to manage and control the devices remotely...
Roundtable Q&A: Contract Manufacturing
October 11, 2012 5:01 pm | by Mike Gaul, Al Hoffmann, Ruben Macias Jr., Tim Nakari, Chris Paolo, and Mike Treadway | Sparton Medical , Interplex Industries, Inc., Spectrum Plastics Group, Ximedica, The Tech Group, Inc. | CommentsRepresentatives from contract manufacturing companies serving the medical device community respond to questions including, "What is your best recommendation to ensure clear communication between the CM and the OEM?" "How do you alleviate concerns of the potential for you to work with a customer’s competitor?" and "How do OEMs benefit from CMs who develop products for other industries outside of medical?"
The Next Direction for Surgical Robotics
September 20, 2012 3:28 pm | by Kasey Panetta | Cambridge Consultants Inc | CommentsThe world of medical technology has always been a rapidly changing and evolving field. Solutions for long plaguing problems, like reducing human error by using more robotics, begat more problems like an increase in mechanical failure during procedures. Plus, throw in rapidly aging baby boomers, an increase in global population, and a surge in demand for specialized doctors and the problems grow exponentially.
Getting In Your Head: An Interview with Professor Edward S. Boyden
September 11, 2012 2:37 pm | by Jeff Reinke | CommentsProfessor Edward S. Boyden is probably one of the few individuals on the planet who is actually best described as a brainiac. Currently serving as the principal investigator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Synthetic Neurobiology Group, Boyden’s mission is to develop tools for controlling and observing the dynamic circuits of the brain.
Thermal Management: Solving Bigger Challenges in Smaller Devices
July 25, 2012 4:19 pm | by Michael Bucci | Thermacore, Inc. | CommentsDeveloping medical devices that are smaller yet offer more functionality is challenge enough. Designers, however, also have to deal with the additional heat that is generated from these devices. This article looks at a number of heat related concerns in today’s medical device designs and outlines a number of available solutions that can be used to address the problem.
Applying Tech: Implantables
July 25, 2012 2:58 pm | by Mark Russell, Tricia Rodewald, and Michael Klayman | Pro-Dex, Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. | CommentsHow are you influencing implantable devices?
