Surgery
Development Between Companies Brings a New Product to Market in Record Time
July 6, 2009 11:31 am | Articles | CommentsIn the fall of 2005, Bob Elson, vice president of engineering at Coapt Systems Inc, wanted to develop their design for a new cosmetic surgical device, known as the Surgiwire Incisionless Dissector, into a finished product ready for shipment to surgeons.
Fully Automated Inspection for Surgical Implants
June 3, 2009 6:27 am | Articles | CommentsRequiring 100% inspection and identification is essential for most products. Low-volume production often goes hand-in-hand with high costs, particularly if the variety of products concerned is also extensive.
Orthotics and Prosthetics Go Digital
May 8, 2009 12:19 pm | by David Chen, Ph.D. | Articles | CommentsDigital, 3D systems are enabling orthotic and prosthetic devices that provide a better fit and a shorter manufacturing time over more traditional solutions.
Pumping System Parameters to Consider for Your Medical Instrument
April 2, 2009 5:33 am | by David Vanderbeck | KNF Neuberger, Inc. | Articles | 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.
Expanding the Capabilities of Connectors
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Jaime R. Erickson | Disposable Instrument Co., Inc. | Articles | 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.
Getting to the Heart of Interconnects
March 17, 2009 11:14 am | by Bernard Cole | Articles | 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.
Acrylic Sheet Helps Put the Best Face on Flat-Panel Display
January 14, 2009 9:26 am | by Antoinette Spages | Articles | 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.
Needle Sharpener Keeps Phoenix on Point
December 5, 2008 7:03 am | Product Releases | CommentsPhoenix Medical Products, a contract manufacturer of various devices used in a number of medical markets, has one department devoted entirely to needle design, production, sterilization, and packaging, as this work has a unique set of challenges.
Dispensing the Facts on Valves
December 5, 2008 7:03 am | by Steven Young | Articles | CommentsDispense valves can be a vital tool in the assembly and manufacture of medical devices. However, choosing the correct type to use for a particular application may not always be abundantly clear.
Boning Up on Spinal Implants
December 5, 2008 7:03 am | by Will Curtis | Articles | CommentsThe ideal treatment for replacing a part of the body with an implant would be to restore the area to a natural state. Unfortunately, this is not possible with traditional materials used for spinal implants, which can cause issues for the patient in years following surgery.
Speed to Market or FDA Compliance? It Must Be Both
November 10, 2008 6:52 am | by Noel Sobelman | Articles | CommentsMedical device manufacturing companies don’t have the luxury of being able to choose between either focusing on speed to market or FDA compliance. Rather, they must address both equally.
Keeping Track of Surgical Instruments
November 10, 2008 6:52 am | by John Lewis | Articles | CommentsThe Project: Effectively read a 2D Data Matrix barcode off surgical instruments that differ in terms of reflectivity and shape. The Solution: Use an ID reader that employs an innovative combination of lighting, software, and optics to achieve success.
Concurrent Engineering & Outsourcing: Ingredients for Success
November 10, 2008 6:52 am | by Stephen C. Cooper | Articles | CommentsOutsourcing using concurrent engineering practices provides the hands-on approach for a company that enables it to gain the most in efficiencies from manufacturing. It can be used by virtually any company of any size and applied to any medical device, product, or component.
Design Talk: Where Will Lean Take Us?
November 10, 2008 6:52 am | Articles | CommentsBy Kevin Duggan Medical device companies have achieved significant improvement using lean techniques. Improvements in quality, productivity, lead time, inventory, on-time delivery, and cost have been obtained and further improvement continues each day.
Design Talk: Micro-Molding Devices and Components
November 10, 2008 6:51 am | by Jeff Randall, PE is vice president of engineering for MRPC. Visit MRPC at <a href="http://www.mrpcorp.com" target="_blank">www.mrpcorp.com</a>. | Articles | CommentsBy Jeff Randall, PE As medical technology advances and the demands on surgical parts increase, the need for high-quality, tight-tolerance components continues to rise.
Advanced Servo Control Helps Pump Accurately Perform Under Pressure
October 9, 2008 6:05 am | Articles | CommentsThe Project: Resolve the start/stop action of a hybrid piston syringe pump to achieve a steady and regular flow stream. The Solution: Use a servo controller and calibration table to dynamically vary the pump velocity as a function of requested flow rate and pump dynamics.
Perspectives on Going Green, Part I
September 10, 2008 8:33 am | Mega Electronics, Inc. | Articles | CommentsEveryone everywhere seems to be "going green" but is there real value in doing so or is it just a
Overview and Applications for Medical Device Motion and Actuation
August 12, 2008 8:14 am | Articles | CommentsThis article compares the specific characteristics of solenoids and motors, their common properties, and those attributes that make each of these electromechanical devices unique for a specific medical motion application.
RFID Solution Enhances Safety in Surgery
August 12, 2008 8:13 am | Articles | CommentsPatient safety is of paramount importance during a surgical procedure, while avoiding preventable errors during the procedure can result in significant cost savings.
PDT Focuses on Ergonomics with Latest Heathrow Scientific Pipette
August 12, 2008 8:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsProduct Development Technologies, Inc. (PDT), a division of TZ Limited was enlisted by Heathrow Scientific to develop their next generation pipette filler, the Rota-Filler 5000 (RF5000) Pipette.
Perspectives on First Step in Design (Part V)
May 22, 2008 11:49 am | Pilgrim Software, Inc. | Articles | CommentsThe idea has been thought up, the "napkin sketch" has been made, and the project is ready to move forward. So what's the first "real" step in the design process? This was the question for the participants in this month's Perspectives feature.
Designing for Obsolescence in Outsourced Product Development
May 8, 2008 8:42 am | Articles | CommentsElectronic components used in medical devices can often experience much shorter lifecycles than the products in which they are used. With the additional challenges that come from replacing a part in a finished device, it is best to be as prepared for this inevitable process as possible.
Laser Joining Technology Furthers Miniaturization Capabilities
May 8, 2008 8:42 am | Articles | CommentsMicrowelding provides the medical device industry with yet another manufacturing solution option that enables OEMs to achieve further miniaturization of their products. It can be an ideal alternative to additive joining processes for a number of reasons.
Justifying a Dispensing Robot
May 8, 2008 8:41 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe assembly industry is vast in its scope and incorporates many independent disciplines for device manufacture. A primary segment of the assembly process that is naturally designated for automation is dispensing.
Don't Get Stuck With the Wrong Adhesive Supplier
March 11, 2008 9:34 am | Articles | CommentsAdhesive technology is critical to many aspects of medical device technology, from securing components within a finished device to adhering wound care products or electrical pads directly to a patient's skin.
