Articles
Perspectives on President Obama, Part I
April 2, 2009 5:33 am | Astrodyne Corporation | CommentsPresident Obama campaigned on the idea of change, addressing everything from foreign policy to healthcare. Change proposed by the federal government for healthcare often targets the way the FDA operates.
Piezo Motor Based Medical Devices
April 2, 2009 5:33 am | by Ralph Weber | CommentsPiezo motor technology is still in its relatively early stages of application development, but is already demonstrating the tremendous value and functionality it offers in medical devices. These motors are very small, yet enable long-range and precise motion.
Pumping System Parameters to Consider for Your Medical Instrument
April 2, 2009 5:33 am | by David Vanderbeck | KNF Neuberger, Inc. | CommentsSelecting the wrong pump for a medical instrument can lead to costly manufacturing delays, dangerous device failures, or even reputation-damaging product recalls. Therefore, it is critical that designers have the minimum parameters they need to consider in mind when making their choice.
Top Five Tips for an Efficient Outsourcing Partnership
April 2, 2009 5:32 am | by Chris Coghlin | CommentsWhile outsourcing in the medical device manufacturing industry is growing, there are still a large number of companies who have very little or no experience with this process.
Reimbursement
March 31, 2009 9:26 am | CommentsReimbursement is a critical issue for medical device manufacturers, but is it so important that it
Beyond the Ilities: What Makes Medical Technology Unique
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Rick Schrenker | CommentsAn Editorial By Rick Schrenker Rick Schrenker is the systems engineering manager in the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Biomedical Engineering. He can be reached at 617-726-7534 or raschrenker@partners.org .
Driving the Backlighting for Patient Monitors: Which Technology is Best?
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Tom Novitsky and Bill Abbott | CommentsCCFLs powered by DC-AC inverters have been dominant in medical patient monitors, but LED BLUs are on the horizon and gaining ground in terms of usage. The benefits of each differ across many areas, including functionality, reliability, and cost.
Optimizing the Processing of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPUs) for Maximum Results
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Cynthia Edgar, CQE | CommentsOvercoming typical TPU processing problems involving moisture and temperature can be a challenge when fabricating components or extruding tubing for medical devices. This article offers several tips to address these common concerns.
Creating Software Users Will Love
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Meaghan Beirne, Monique Gatner, and Dr. Melanie Rodney | CommentsA solid design can go a long way in the success of a product. Similarly, a solidly designed software solution that provides a true user-friendly experience can also lead to a very successful product.
Safety Critical Coding Standards Reduce Medical Device Risks
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Paul Anderson | CommentsSoftware is making its way into a variety of medical devices to help offer patients a higher degree of effectiveness from these devices.
Expanding the Capabilities of Connectors
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Jaime R. Erickson | Disposable Instrument Co., Inc., Colder Products Company | CommentsMany systems require a variety of different capabilities, such as air, fluid, and electronics, to be connected to a tool. As such, device manufacturers must ensure that each element is kept completely separate from each other. This can be especially challenging at the connection point.
Design Talk: Silicone Tubing—Benefits and Properties Overview
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Rob Wilkinson | Helix Medical | CommentsBy Rob Wilkinson Here's the bottom line up front-platinum-cured silicone is the exceptional choice for medical, pharmaceutical, and biotech tubing applications, as well as medical devices that require extended contact with tissues and bodily fluids.
Getting to the Heart of Interconnects
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Bernard Cole | CommentsThe Project: Connect the various subsystems of a left ventricular assist system with a solution that offers reliability and durability. The Solution: Utilize cable assemblies that enable easy, but not accidental, disconnects, and provide a comfortable feel for patients.
Inspecting Metrology Options
March 17, 2009 11:12 am | by Gary Hobart | CommentsEnsuring that the quality and accuracy of a finished product meets its CAD design is of paramount importance for the medical device manufacturing industry. However, how to facilitate that is not nearly as clear.
Acrylic Sheet Helps Put the Best Face on Flat-Panel Display
January 14, 2009 9:26 am | by Antoinette Spages | CommentsThe Project: Eliminate the issues that exist with the uncoated acrylic over the LCD flat-panel display on a cosmetic system. The Solution: Use an abrasion-resistant optical-grade acrylic sheet that functions like glass, but is significantly lighter and more durable.
