Medical Device Link.

Originally Published EMDM October 2002

WEB WATCH

eFunda (www.efunda.com) is an on-line engineering community where I go when I need to look up a scientific formula or conversion. With more than 30,000 pages of engineering information, the site serves as a comprehensive source for everything from beam-bending equations to the figures on the thermal conductivity of aluminium alloy 6061. It's easy to find exactly what I need, because all the information is grouped into subcategories that can be explored using a handy search function.

Wire Industry (www.wireindustry.com) is the most complete on-line resource I've found for locating suppliers of wire materials and processing equipment. My company does a lot of work with catheters, and this page is where I go when I need to find a list of companies that can help me meet a specific design challenge. Each company listing contains a physical address, phone number, fax number, Web address, and e-mail contact information to make getting in contact a breeze.

Fort Wayne Metals (www.fwmetals.com) is a company that supplies medical-grade wire products. Material spec sheets for the wires are featured on the firm's Web site, so I'll often visit it to determine if one of them can serve as a starting point for a new design. Among other information, the literature details wire composition, tensile strength, density, electrical resistivity, and a range of other mechanical and physical properties.

SMC Corp. of America (www.smcusa.com) hosts an on-line application that facilitates the selection, sizing, and construction of pneumatic automation products. Dubbed E-Tech, this program helps you find what you're looking for by browsing through the catalogue, entering part numbers, or specifying required features or operating loads. Each product listing contains photos, descriptions, and even 2-D and 3-D CAD files that can be downloaded or viewed directly from the site. Once you register with the company, you can save your work for future reference or for sharing with others.

Arrow International Inc. (Reading, PA, USA; www.arrowintl.com) supplies catheters for the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients. The company's devices are used primarily for patient monitoring, pain management, and accessing the central vascular system to administer fluids, drugs, or blood. The firm's fully implantable LionHeart left ventricular assist system is currently undergoing a Phase I clinical trial.

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