Medical Device Link.

SPOTLIGHT

Titanium products

A global distributor supplies a range of titanium products to the medical device industry. Its inventory includes 6AL-4V ELI, 6AL-4V and other commercially pure titanium grades, which are available in bar, sheet and plate. Metal preparation services such as shearing, water-jet cutting and deburring also are offered. Certified to ISO 9001:2000, the company offers materials certified to ASTM medical implant specifications. Documentation for various regulatory requirements also can be provided.
Vulcanium Metals Inc.
Northbrook, IL, USA
vulcanium.com

Wire forming

Equipped with advanced machinery, a manufacturer specialises in wire forming designs. It manufactures subassemblies and a range of critical medical components in close partnership with its customers. Typical applications include flexible circuits for medical equipment and devices used for cardiovascular, orthopaedic or ophthalmic surgery. The firm employs professionals experienced with CAD/CAM processes, photoplot production and various quality control procedures.
SED
Voutezac, France
www.sed.fr

Metal assemblies

A provider of laser machining services can precisely machine metal components. Primarily serving the medical product industry, the company can manufacture intricate assemblies by joining parts on multiple axes. Laser machining services offered by the ISO 9001:2000–certified company include welding, marking, drilling, ablating and skiving polymers and metals. The firm’s laser-joining fabrication methods can be tailored to the needs of catheter and stimulation-lead designers.
Avicenna Technology Inc.
Montevideo, MN, USA
www.avicennatech.com

Precision-machined stainless-steel parts

Custom-engineered parts machined from stainless steel, titanium and nickel-based alloys are suited for precision medical applications. The company offers parts in sizes ranging from 0.012 to 1.0-in. OD and it can produce components with tolerances to 0.0001 in. and concentricity to ±0.0005 in. with better than a Class 1 fit on threaded parts. Conforming to ASTM and MIL specifications where required, the firm’s machined parts can be produced with finishes down to 5 rms.
Eagle Stainless Tube & Fabrication
Franklin, MA, USA
www.eagletube.com

Laser marking

A company supplies the medical device industry with a range of laser marking equipment suited for use in product identification. Typical applications of the equipment include products such as metal implants, catheters and inhaler bodies. The Mistral Nd:YAG laser system offered by the firm produces clearly legible marks on a variety of metals including cobalt, stainless steel, chrome or titanium. The firm offers laser systems with power levels ranging from 1.5 to 120 W.
Kaye-Dee Marking Solutions Ltd
Sheffield, UK
www.kayedee.co.uk

CAM system

Optimised to meet medical device and implant manufacturing requirements, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system enables complex geometries to be formed with consistent high precision when hard metals are machined. The five-axis machining technology of the hyperMILL CAM system also can produce parts with smooth surface quality. The five-axis strategies provided by this CAM package, such as five-axis swarf cutting with barrel-shaped tools, reportedly result in short machining times.
Open Mind Technologies AG
Wessling, Germany
www.openmind-tech.com

Machining systems

To respond to the requirements of the medical and dental industries, a company that designs high-precision machine tools offers a range of machining centres that support simultaneous five-axis machining of complex, precision parts with a smooth surface finish. The manufacturer offers several versions of machining centres that offer the possibility to finish a part in one cycle. Systems are also available that can realise turning operations of up to 6000 rpm and can work from bar stock with a diameter of up to 65 mm.
Willemin-Macodel SA
Bassecourt, Switzerland
www.willemin-macodel.com

Precision drills

A variety of high-performance miniature drills features a diameter range extending from 0.1 to 6 mm. The drills are designed to provide high reliability in applications that require the production of deep high-precision holes in metals such as titanium alloys, titanium and surgical steels that are used for medical applications. The miniature drills are designed to produce holes with a smooth surface finish. The firm also offers a range of small- to medium-sized cutting tools.
Mikron Tool SA
Agno Bioggio, Switzerland
www.mikron.com