Coloured thermoplastics A compounder of specialty thermoplastics with eight manufacturing plants on three continents develops custom compounds in more than 60 different engineering-resin systems for applications requiring specific colour, conductivity, elastomeric characteristics, flame retardation, or high-temperature, shielding, structural, or wear resistance properties. An example of its ability to work with customers to engineer precisely the formulation an application requires is provided by a manufacturer that needed to comply with UK regulations regarding enteral feeding systems. A 700-series precoloured low-density polyethylene compound was determined to be suitable for providing the distinctive purple colour of the feeding-set strap that would alert hospital employees to its nature as an enteral rather than intravenous administration apparatus. In addition, the material offered the flexibility, nonbrittleness, and softness that was necessary for an end use that involved close contact with patient skin. RTP Co., Beaune, France.
Medical films and packaging
A specialist manufacturer of medical films and packaging for sterile devices can provide customized solutions consisting of standard or specialized products in small, medium-sized, or large production runs. Read More
Foil resistor An ultra-high-precision foil resistor provides an industrial-grade absolute temperature coefficient of resistance of ±0.05 ppm/°C from 0° to 60°C and ±0.2 ppm/°C from −55° to 125°C. Read More
US Market Entering the US Market: What Medical Device Manufacturers Need To Know
Anne Avidon
The United States (US) spends in excess of US$2 trillion annually on health care and accounts for approximately fifty-per cent of global health care spending. It is a lucrative market and an essential one for medical device manufacturers seeking to operate globally. This article looks at the three principal areas medical technology companies should consider when planning a US market entry strategy: regulatory approval, device reimbursement and device distribution. Read More
ASSEMBLY Five Facts About Assembly Equipment
Choosing a partner for medical device assembly projects, whether the process is semi or fully automated, can be a difficult experience. In this article, several vendors offer tips to ensure a smooth sourcing process.
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BIOMATERIALS Five Facts About Biomaterials
Sourcing biomaterials for the highly regulated medical device market is vastly different from shopping for industrial-grade materials. Following are some pointers from experts that may help you in your materials (and supplier) selection process. Read
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CONNECTORS Five Facts About Connectors
Selecting a connector for medical applications is closely tied to the use of the end product. The pointers below should help you find a connector supplier to meet your needs. Read
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EXTRUSION Five Facts About Extrusion
Tubing used in medical devices often has unique requirements that can push extrusion machinery to the limit. Here is what a few experts recommend you look for when sourcing equipment for making tubing in-house. Read
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FILTERS Five Facts About IV Filters
Filtration is a key part of various medical procedures where it is critical to maintain a sterile field that is free of bacteria and contaminants. When sourcing a supplier of IV and medical filters, you may find the following tips helpful. Read
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MOULDING Five Facts About Moulding
By working closely with the moulding engineer from the beginning of the design process to first article, "moulding concerns can be addressed during the design phase and not after the design has been approved, providing a much more efficient process," says Robert Ballard, Engineering Manager, Da/Pro Rubber Inc. (Valencia, California, USA).
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PACKAGING Five Facts About Packaging
Medical packaging covers an array of products ranging from peel pouches to blister packs and lidding materials. Whether you are outsourcing packaging services or buying packaging materials to assemble in-house, partnering with a company with a solid background in medical packaging should be your first priority. Read
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QUALITY CONTROL Five Facts About Quality-Control Systems
Quality control (QC) is a wide-ranging subject, covering everything from sensors to vision inspection and completely integrated systems. Below, you will find some basic pointers to consider when sourcing systems or services. Read
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SURFACE TREATMENT Five Facts About Surface Treatment
Surface treatment can be performed to make a medical device more compatible for a specific purpose, to render it antimicrobial, or to protect sensitive parts and electronics from corrosion and signal failure. Whatever your application, here is some sound sourcing advice from suppliers of surface treatment services.
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