Articles

Prepare for Validating the Injection Molding Process

October 21, 2011 10:37 am | by Rick Puglielli | Comments

Molding for medical devices involves critical processes that must offer repeatability, assurance of accuracy, and a high degree of quality. The following article will describe the basic fundamentals of the injection molding process that one needs to understand before developing an effective protocol for validating the injection molding process.

Polycarbonate Gives Sinus Therapy Device Strength and Striking Color

October 21, 2011 8:20 am | by Bruce Fine | Comments

The Challenge: Identify a material for use in an OTC sinus therapy device that helps to enable a successful product launch. The Solution: Use a polycarbonate plastic that is low viscosity and offers excellent flame retardance, toughness, stiffness, and heat deflection.

Acrylic Polymer Injection Molding Primer

October 20, 2011 12:45 pm | by Joseph L. Mitchell, Charles Rissel, and Mark Aubart | Comments

Medical devices are molded from acrylic polymers to meet the requirements of a broad range of applications. Many of these devices are complex and challenge the skills of the injection molder with complicated mold designs that are difficult to fill. These challenges can be overcome with the selection of the proper grade of acrylic polymer and appropriate injection molding parameters.

From Macro to Micro—Automated Microfluidic Sanger Sequencing

August 15, 2011 12:59 pm | by James Nelson | Comments

Microfluidic Sanger sequencing is a lab-on-a-chip application for DNA sequencing. Samples are typically in milliliter volumes—the ‘macro world’—and must be interfaced to a microfluidic system that handles only microliters. The process is relatively expensive when performed manually due to the expense of the Big Dye and the reagents required for the clean-up method. However, by integrating microfluidic technology with a highly reliable robotic system, reagent volumes can be drastically reduced, generating substantial cost savings.

Raising Product Design Standards and Efficiency through Outsourcing

August 15, 2011 12:39 pm | by Andrew Juneau | Comments

As the marketplace and economy continue to evolve, many engineering companies have turned to outsourcing for cost efficiency. Larry Goch, President of Redpoint Engineering, a mechanical engineering and design firm focusing on product design for its clients on an outsource basis, discusses the benefits of outsourcing.

Specialized Tubing and Machined Components for Medical Devices: Prototyping and Design Expertise Improves Manufacturability

August 15, 2011 10:37 am | by Alicia Puputti | Comments

As minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is performed more often, the highly engineered medical devices used in MIS are in greater demand. Metal tubing, in particular, has become a significant element of new MIS devices. For instance, the MIS procedure typically starts with a metal tube piercing the abdominal wall. It is through these ports that all subsequent devices pass. Designing for manufacturability (DFM) provides economical, quick-to-market product delivery to customers, and is a key to success for tube fabricators.

Advanced Adhesives for Medical Applications

August 15, 2011 9:58 am | by Jeremy Cooler | Comments

Fueled by continued growth in the medical and surgical device market to meet the demands of an aging population, research in adhesives for medical applications is generating new products with enhanced functionality, higher purity, and unique properties. For design engineers focusing on wound care, ostomy appliances, surgical drapes, and medical diagnostics, it becomes increasingly important to work with materials experts who can access a broad range of adhesives and materials to meet unique application requirements.

Optimizing Performance and Lowering Power in EEG Amplifier Designs

August 15, 2011 6:50 am | by Harry Holt, Matt Duff, & Bill Kolasa | Analog Devices | Comments

For over twenty years, CareFusion Nicolet has been pioneering developments in the area of EEG Diagnostic systems. EEG (Electroencephalography) monitoring is used in neurological analysis, for sleep studies, brain mapping, and ICU patient monitoring of cerebral activity. As continued breakthroughs in brain studies and EEG diagnostics are made, the EEG monitoring devices are expected to operate in new environments outside traditional clinical settings. These new environments lead to new design challenges, which are addressed.

Benefits of Using Laser and Electron Beam Welding Together

August 10, 2011 12:41 pm | by John Lucas | Comments

Proponents of either laser or electron beam welding present the singular praises of their favored technology, but often, the best solution is to use both together. Both processes are well suited to joining of components with complex geometries, and capable of meeting the most stringent industry demands for metallurgical characteristics of the final assembly.

A Brief Look at ECG Sensor Technology

August 10, 2011 11:48 am | by Salvatore Emma, Jr. | Comments

Biomonitoring electrodes have progressed quite a long way from early research into how they function during the 19th century. With ongoing innovations in both sensor and medical technology, as well as further understanding of the human body, these devices continue to evolve. This article briefly looks at the history of ECG sensors through to their future.

Roundtable Q & A: Contract Manufacturing

August 10, 2011 11:12 am | by Matt Giza, Brian Green, Eric Resnick, Tricia Rodewald, & Jake Rost | Suntron Corporation | Comments

Industry leaders Matt Giza, General Manger at Cogmedix, Brian Green, Engineering Manager (Texas facility) at Suntron Corp., Eric Resnick, VP of Engineering at West Pharmaceutical Delivery Systems, Tricia Rodewald, Director of Marketing & Strategic Alliances at Pro-Dex Inc., and Jake Rost, VP/GM of Medical at Sparton Corp. offering contract manufacturing services share their thoughts and comments on topics including selection criteria, quality control assurances, and benefits of outsourcing.

Micro-Sized Components for Medical Extrusion

August 10, 2011 10:14 am | by Fernando L. Lopez | Interface Catheter Solutions | Comments

Miniature-sized components are critical for medical devices being developed today. One important component fabrication option that enables tight component tolerances is extrusion. Whether for tubing or components, this process offers a number of benefits to engineers. This article reviews several distinct advantages of using this process that every engineer should know.

Designing Cutting-Edge Wearable Medical Devices

August 10, 2011 9:38 am | by Marten L. Smith | Comments

As healthcare moves out of hospitals and becomes more integrated with peoples’ lives, medical devices are evolving from portable equipment to wearable devices that are meant to be used continuously for extended periods of time. These new devices present designers with many new challenges. This article examines some of those challenges and offers examples of how they can be met.

A Dozen Words of Wisdom From the Test Lab

August 10, 2011 8:00 am | by Mark Francis | Comments

Ensuring a successful testing regimen of a medical device is a delicate matter of close communication and a common level of understanding between the OEM and the testing solution partner. To help achieve this, one lab has shared 12 tips to aid the manufacturer in understanding the best approach to take when working with a test partner.