Originally Published EMDM May/June 2005
Spotlight
Testing Equipment and Services |
Package-closure testing
Force and torque testing is offered for packaging design and production applications. The Vortex-i unit measures torque for screw closures, caps, and lids. The tests can identify slip and bridge torque of tamper-evident closures, determine the release torque of vacuum closures, measure the peak torque to open push-and-twist and squeeze-and-twist caps, and quantify the ease of opening screw closures. Mecmesin Ltd., Horsham, W Sussex, UK.
X-ray inspection system
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A transportable turnkey
x-ray inspection system
is fully self-contained,
weighs less than 300 kg,
and has a footprint of
0.7 x 1.1 m. The system,
which comes with two-dimensional
imaging software, can be upgraded to
incorporate three-dimensional capabilities.
Installation of the wheel-mounted system is
facilitated by its minimal footprint and weight. The
Windows XP–based operating system comes network enabled. Applications include aluminium casting inspection; testing of complex assemblies; product evaluation and investigation; reverse engineering; and batch, on-, and in-line inspection. Software upgrade options include application-specific modules, such as tomography. Image Scan Holdings plc, Melton Mowbray, Leics, UK.
Digital inspection system
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An eight-megapixel camera uses telecentric lenses to capture images of parts. Pattern-recognition software and image processing based on customer requirements are used to measure parts and find defects. The Sentry system is designed to take the place of an optical comparator or profile projector on the manufacturing floor or in quality control laboratories. The camera’s array format is 3500 ¥ 2300 pixels, with a 35 ¥ 23-mm actual sensor size. Lenses that span a magnification range of 0.3¥ to 10¥ allow the machine to handle part sizes from 3.5 ¥ 2.3 (with 0.3-µm precision) to 117 ¥ 77 mm (with 8.3-µm precision). Visicon Inspection Technologies, Napa, CA, USA.
Seal-strength tester
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A seal-strength tester that performs burst and creep tests accommodates a variety of open or closed packages. Optional restraining plates are available. A patented sensing element measures true internal pressure within the package tested. The system is sufficiently flexible to test porous and nonporous packages without extraneous parameter adjustments. An integrity tester allows for rapid visual verification of leaks in nonporous packages. A vacuum pump and test chambers in various sizes also are available. Acorn Equipment, Stanmore, Middx, UK.
Disposables testing
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A firm provides equipment for testing medical disposable products according to ISO 594, EN 1707, ISO 10555, and other standards. Gauging, ease of assembly, unscrewing torque, overriding torque, air and liquid leakage, separation force, and stress cracking are among the conditions tested. The firm also offers testing services. Melab GmbH, Leonberg, Germany.
Infrared thermometer and humidity indicator cards
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A pocket-sized, infrared thermometer provides precise LED target-ring
sighting and noncontact temperature measurement. Push-button
emissivity adjustment matches the emissivity of the surface being measured.
The temperature measurement range is from -50° to 500°C. The thermometer measures 6.7 ¥ 1.6 ¥ 1.4 in.
and features an easy-to-read LCD display. The company also offers maximum humidity cards, whose
blue crystals dissolve when exposed to the rated relative humidity for 24 hours. The 2.5 ¥ 4-in. cards
indicate maximum humidity from 50 to 90% in increments of 10% with an accuracy of ±5%.
Telatemp Corp., Fullerton, CA, USA.
Testing and validation equipment and services
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A UK-based company offers testing and validation equipment and services. The firm provides biocompatibility testing during the development phase, functional testing, shelf-life validation, and clinical trials. Tensile packaging- and product-testing equipment is available for use during manufacturing setup. A product-complaint management service decontaminates devices returned by end-users and examines them for functionality. Medical Engineering Technologies Ltd., Folkestone, Kent, UK.
Gas-testing system
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A gas measurement instrument is designed
to test hospital and home-care ventilators, anaesthetic gas delivery systems, and oxygen concentrators. The Certifier FA instrument tests ventilators for flow,
peak flow, volume, minute volume, inspiratory-to-respiratory ratio,
pressure, peak pressure, PEEP
pressure, barometric pressure, and oxygen concentration. The compact instrument can be recalibrated or
repaired at local after-sales service facilities
in Europe. An optional kit measures oxygen
concentration and air/oxygen gas mixture flows. TSI Instruments Ltd., Bristol, UK.
Copyright ©2005 European Medical Device Manufacturer
