Lathe Suitable for the Manufacture of Stents and Dental Implants

Comco Inc. has introduced a microblasting lathe that can be used to treat the surfaces of laser cut nitinol stents. Dross and laser slag must be removed to create a uniform finish for better electropolishing results. Microblasting effectively removes these residues as well as microcracks, according to the manufacturer. The system can be used in the manufacture of dental implants, where roughening the threaded area of the dental implant increases the surface area for the tissue to take root, thereby improving the bond. Equally critical for this application, however, is maintaining a smooth surface on the apex of the implant to prevent bacteria growth. Microblasting provides the precision necessary to roughen the threads without damaging the finish on the apex.

The LA3250 lathe provides a platform for both R&D and production of these medical devices. Using up to four axes of motion and unique tooling, the LA3250 is able to process a range of parts.

Posted in medtechinsider

Ultrasonic Welder Uses Novel Technology to Deliver High Repeatability

A recently introduced servo-controlled ultrasonic welding system for medical applications from Dukane Corp.’s Ultrasonics Division is based on the company’s Melt Match technology, which delivers high repeatability, strong welds, simple validation calibration and low manufacturing cost compared to standard pneumatic welders.

The heart of the new ultrasonic welding system is Melt Match technology, a unique method that precisely controls the collapse speed profile during the weld. Collapsing too slowly may cause material degradation while collapsing too quickly may result in cold forming, according to Michael Johnston, national sales and marketing manager. Melt Match is unique because it precisely matches the collapse speed during the melt phase. As a result, the ultrasonic propagation penetrates deeper into the bond area and the affected heat zone is larger, resulting in superior bond strength. This contrasts to typical pneumatic welders that continue to travel during the hold phase, unlike a servo-controlled welder that can either stop and/or continue to collapse a specified distance and speed during the hold phase.

This high repeatability results in fewer rejects for manufacturers. In fact, testing shows that the average standard deviation for filter housing parts welded on a servo unit was 1.8% compared to 6.6% for those welded on a pneumatic machine.

The iQ servo-controlled welder also offers more consistent part height unlike pneumatic welders whose continuous travel during the hold phase may affect part height. The iQ servo welder “controls the entire process,” according to Johnston, and thus the collapse standard deviation of the iQ welder is three times better than that of a pneumatic machine.

Posted in medtechinsider, welding

Veridiam Medical Introduces Advanced Spin Welding Capabilities for Specialised Joining of Plastics to Metals

Veridiam Medical, a provider of assemblies, machined parts and metal tubular components engineered to meet the demanding requirements of medical device manufacturers, has added spin welding capabilities to its array of specialised manufacturing operations. The new spin welder allows plastic components to be quickly, cleanly and permanently attached to metal assemblies. The addition of this machine allows the firm to manage complex projects that require both metal manufacturing and plastic attachment, reportedly saving both time and money for their customers. Prior to the introduction of this new capability, Veridiam Medical would construct complex metal components, then outsource these to outside vendors for the assembly of the plastic portion. Plastics vendors, unfamiliar with medical device development, can include unnecessary features in their parts. The spin welder allows the company to integrate the manufacture of components entirely in-house, employing their  knowledge of medical device design and development. “We are trying to reach as far down the supply chain as we can,” says Veridiam Medical Project Manager, Dave Ibanez. “We can now reduce our customers’ supply chain needs by creating a ‘one-stop sourcing’ experience. This reduces both the number of suppliers our customers must engage and their lead time requirement.”

Posted in medtechinsider, tubing and related products

Quartz Crystal for Medical Telemetry Applications Offered in a Variety of Frequencies

Statek Corp. which manufactures high-reliability quartz crystals and oscillators for the medical market, has announced the availability of its extended product offering for the medical telemetry market. Foremost among products offered specifically for this market is the CX11 crystal, which is reportedly the smallest crystal available in the industry. The crystal features a 3.20 mm x 1.50 mm package size, and a height of 0.90 mm. This crystal is available in a frequency range of 20 MHz to 250 MHz, and in tight frequency stabilities at room temperature as well as tight frequency stabilities over the operation temperature range. Because it is targeted for medical telemetry applications, it also features low-power, low-aging, and high shock and vibration survivability. In addition to the currently-recognised medical telemetry frequencies of 24.0, 26.0 and 26.5 MHz, the manufacturer is open to supporting other AT-cut CX11 crystal frequencies for medical telemetry applications to comply with custom requirements. The manufacturer also supports a low-frequency version of the CX11 crystal, featuring the 32.768 kHz frequency as well as the 100 kHz to 180 kHz frequency range. Both the high-frequency and low-frequency CX11 crystals are available in a RoHS-Compliant and lead-free version. In addition to the CX11 crystal, the company also offers the 5.00 mm x 1.83 mm CX4 crystal and the 4.10 mm x 1.50 mm CX9 crystal in frequencies ranging from 14 MHz to 250 MHz for medical telemetry applications.

Posted in electronics

Invibio Receives Award for its PEEK-Optima Material

Invibio Biomaterial Solutions has been named an inaugural recipient of the Spine Technology Award in the category of biomaterials, bestowed in recognition of its innovative PEEK-Optima family of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymers. Invibio President Michael Callahan accepted the award at the 2009 Spine Technology Awards banquet, on November 9, in San Francisco.

Invibio introduced PEEK-Optima, the first in a versatile family of polymeric biomaterials, in 1999. Today, as Invibio celebrates the ten year anniversary of PEEK-Optima, the polymers are used to manufacture a variety of FDA-approved implantable devices for the treatment of various spinal conditions, diseases and injuries. To date, over two million devices comprised of PEEK-Optima polymers have been implanted in patients worldwide, according to the manufacturer.

Used in spinal fusion devices, and in the development of disc arthroplasty, dynamic stabilisation and interspinous devices, PEEK-Optima polymers provide biocompatibility with no adverse events reported in over two million implanted devices. In 2007, Invibio launched PEEK-Optima reinforced grades, designed to provide significantly increased strength and stiffness as well as a modulus similar to that of cortical bone.

The 2009 Spine Technology Awards were presented in eight categories: biomaterials, device technologies for cervical care, lumbar care, motion preservation of the spine, minimally invasive care, diagnostics and imaging, pain management and regenerative technologies. Surgeon judges evaluated entries for originality, clinical relevance and the likelihood that the technology will improve current standards of care.

Posted in Materials

Gas Plasma System Designed for Lean Manufacturing

The latest in a series of highly configurable high-throughput radio-frequency (RF) vacuum gas plasma systems features a universal architecture that suits it for lean medical manufacturing environments. Whether production circumstances call for high-speed automation, stand-alone processing, or cleanroom operation, the FlexTrak plasma treatment system from March Plasma Systems Inc. (Concord, CA, USA) is available for use in modifying the surface of medical device components through direct, downstream or ion-free plasma application. Gas plasma treatment is a fast, efficient method for cleaning, coating or modifying part surfaces, imparting to those surfaces improvements in bondability, lubricity, wettability, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or biocompatibility.

Posted in surface treatment