Archives

Archives

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Failure Isn’t an Option
When choosing a printed circuit manufacturing partner, OEMs must be more selective than ever. 
(March, 2010)
Performing a Patent Search
The following are a range of online resources that can be used to search for existing patents: USPTO. The official U.S. patent database enables searches for issued patents and patent applications. Features of the site include both a quick and full patent search. Full-page images are also avai...
(March, 2010)
Best Practices: Designers and Patent Attorneys Unite
Laying the groundwork for success means designers should involve a patent attorney early in the product design phase. 
(March, 2010)
To Assess or Determine? Unraveling the D-Value
Understanding the difference between assessing and determining a D-value is important when testing biological indicators.
(March, 2010)
Best Practices
 Medical device manufacturers have much to gain by using social media, such as increased access to patients and users. The benefits, however, are tempered by restrictions that FDA has placed on companies. Therefore, OEMs must be diligent and careful in their use of social media. Some best pract...
(March, 2010)
Overcoming Concerns about Outsourcing to Asia
Carefully evaluating five major factors will help OEMs make a more confident decision about manufacturing in Asia.
(March, 2010)
Fixing the 510(k) Process: Overhaul Would Be Overkill
Recent events—including media attention on what some have called inconsistent application of the process—have triggered FDA to take a look at the 510(k) process. And although a review of the process is good, care must be taken to avoid overdoing it. The process does work as it was intend...
(March, 2010)
Practitioners Interviewed
For Part 4 of Mastering the Clinical Investigation, several experts were interviewed. Their full biographies are as follows. Virginia Perry is president of Perry D’Amico and Associates. She has 25 years of experience in the industry, having served at Nellcor, Baxter Health Care Corp., Amer...
(March, 2010)
Private Equity Firm Acquires CTW
A CTW technician explores in-house tooling and fixture fabrication. Boston-based private equity firm Riverside Partners has acquired contract manufacturing company CTW Inc. The acquisition of the CTW, which focuses on...
(March, 2010)
Norman Noble Offers Alternative to Thermal Laser Manufacturing
To create precise features in materials such as bioabsorbable polymers, shape memory metals, and alloys, Norman Noble Inc. (Highland Heights, OH) has introduced Noble UltraLight. Noble UltraLight is an ultrashort pulse laser that doesn’t generate any heat-affected zone. It offers an advance...
(March, 2010)
Product Policy Aims to Meet Regulatory Rules
SABIC’s regulatory structure is designed to help OEMs manage material changes without sacrificing productivity, says Tom O’Brien. SABIC Innovative Plastics has created a comprehensive healthcare product po...
(March, 2010)
BeamOne Expands to Meet Complex Device Demand
BeamOne provides sterilization services to the global medical device market. Pictured is the company’s process conveyor system at a facility in Costa Rica. As medical devices are becoming more complex, steriliza...
(March, 2010)
BIT Group Begins Production at China Facility
As part of its quest to enhance its medical technology prospects in China, global contract manufacturer BIT Group (Ludlow, MA) has ramped up production at its new facility in Kunshan, China. The company has ordered manufacturing equipment to support its efforts, including two milling centers and a l...
(March, 2010)
Altrika Tests the Market for Novel Materials
Altrika’s primary goal is to develop innovative materials for the biomedical market. UK-based Ilika Technologies (Southampton), a materials discovery specialist, has created a company to focus on developing nove...
(March, 2010)
Creganna Acquires Tactx Medical Inc.
Creganna (Galway, UK), a supplier of technologies and services to medical device and life sciences companies, has acquired Avalon Medical Services Pte Ltd., which trades as Tactx Medical Inc. and is located in Campbell, CA. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The consolidated company wil...
(March, 2010)
Bio-Chem Fluidics Receives Chinese Business License
Production and sales begin at the new Shanghai factory. Bio-Chem Fluidics is ramping up production for its Asian customers after being granted a Chinese business license. The license is for the company’s new ...
(March, 2010)
Flextronics Eyes the Disposables Market
Dan Croteau, president of Flextronics Medical, says the acquisition of SloMedical will enable the company to be more competitve globally. During the past year, Flextronics (Singapore) has made significant strides to ...
(March, 2010)
Sandvik Invests in Rapid Production for Prototypes
Sandvik purchased this advanced DMLS machine to help it quickly create working prototypes. To provide rapid production offerings to its customers, Sandvik (Sandviken, Sweden) has invested in an advanced direct-metal l...
(March, 2010)
Costa Rica Site Boosts Global Growth
The MedTech Group Inc. (South Plainfield, NJ) is increasing it global reach by adding an injection molding facility to its location in Heredia, Costa Rica. The company began operations in the country in 2004. Last year, it established a second site to provide injection molding for medical devices. T...
(March, 2010)
Prent Poised for Growth on Two Continents
Prent Corp. (Janesville, WI) is opening two new facilities to enhance its presence in the global packaging marketplace. The company provides thermoformed custom packaging for the medical device industry. In Shanghai, Prent China moved into a modern facility that specializes in thermoforming oper...
(March, 2010)
Mocon Partners to Form Mumbai Testing Lab
The Mocon-certified lab in Mumbai offers testing services for medical device packaging. Indian medical device OEMs have often relied on universities for their packaging needs, but now they have a new option. Mocon (Mi...
(March, 2010)
Making Connections with Tubing and Suppliers
Tubing connectors are often a forgotten piece of the development puzzle. Several tips can help OEMs find the appropriate part and partner.
(March, 2010)
Mass Customization in Electrical Connector Design
Custom on-demand connector manufacturing enables design flexibility. OEMs that require customization for components should explore this option.
(March, 2010)
Reform Makes Industry Nervous
The results of a recent ASQ (Milwaukee, WI) survey were released, showing how device manufacturers feel about industry trends and challenges. Survey takers (234 device professionals) cited increased FDA regulations as the biggest challenge in the industry for the coming year. Additionally, the major...
(March, 2010)
How Well Do Your Outsourcers Serve You? Hint: They Could Probably Do More.
New programs from outsourcers adapt to the changing industry and seek to address OEMs’ current needs.
(March, 2010)