Originally Published MPMNMay2003

INDUSTRY NEWS

Valtronic to Develop Battery-Management Circuitry for Medical Implants

Zachary Turke

Power-system manufacturer Quallion LLC (Sylmar, CA; www.quallion.com) has selected Valtronic USA Inc. (Solon, OH; www.valtronic.com)to develop a miniaturized battery-management device for its future line of medical implants. Partially funded by a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Advanced Technology Program, Valtronic's goal is to design a small device capable of adapting Quallion's rechargeable lithium-polymer battery technology for electrical stimulation. If the project is successful, the technology could be used to treat the 6.6 million Americans who suffer from strokes, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, sleep apnea, limb paralysis, urinary incontinence, and similar maladies.

In business since 1982, Valtronic was selected for this project because of its history of developing novel microelectronics. "Few companies can supply the same level of functionality, microminiaturization, and robust packaging that we can," says Valtronic director of sales and marketing Gary Pinkerton. "For this project, we will use all our experience to develop a power source that fits inside an implant the size of a matchstick, lasts for 10 years or longer, and can be recharged from outside the body with no physical connections," headds.


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