Originally Published EMDM October 2002
WEB WATCH
Ryan PierceResearch and Development Engineer
Concentric Medical Inc.
Stanford Medical Device Network's eSource (http://esource.stanford.edu) is a directory of on-line resources that specifically target medical device designers. Conceived as part of the university's biomedical engineering curriculum, this site helps to simplify the task of knowledge management that is often a problem for our profession. Combining a Web portal with customized content, the page is a one-stop clearinghouse for trade journals, intellectual property information, and engineering data.
Science Made Simple (www.sciencemadesimple.net/conversions.html) is where I go when I need a quick and convenient way of converting units of measure. Of course as device designers, we all know that 3 Fr equals 1 mm, but this site is worth bookmarking for less memorable conversions. The page even includes a currency converter, which comes in handy when preparing expense reports. For a laugh, try using the site to compare apples to oranges.
Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary (www.intelihealth.com) is one of several useful medical dictionaries I've found on the Web. Hosted by InteliHealth, this dictionary has more than 35,000 entries, complete with pronunciation suggestions and hyperlinked cross-references when applicable.
Concentric Medical Inc. (Mountain View, CA, USA; www.concentric-medical.com) supplies interventional neuroradiology devices used to treat tumors and strokes. In addition to guidewires, guide catheters, and microcatheters, the company's product line includes thrombus and foreign-body retrieval devices, a detachable coil for treating aneurisms, and a drug-delivering embolitic particle.
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
