Aluminium component processing
A company that specializes in processing aluminium sheets and profiles offers capabilities in manufacturing aluminium components; designing and manufacturing jigs, fixtures, and tools; and treating surfaces in a variety of ways. Serving the medical and laboratory technology industry, among others that use aluminium components, the firm performs high-speed cutting, forming, and assembly in creating aluminium parts. It can pretreat and anodize surfaces, the latter technique imparting a surface finish that is both decorative and protective and able to enhance a component surface’s functional qualities. Also, the facility is equipped to apply powder coatings, special colouring techniques, and screen and tampon printing. Logistics management is part of the service offering, as the company has a fully automated storage system. Piesslinger GmbH, Molln, Austria.
Piezoresistive pressure sensors
A range of piezoresistive pressure sensors for ranges of 0.25-in. H2O up to 150 psi is available from a manufacturer that employs third-generation electronics in its designs. Based on microelectromechanical systems technology, the differential, gauge, and absolute pressure sensors feature high performance stability and accuracy. Low-pressure applications are the manufacturer’s focus. It offers standard millivolt-, amplified (4-V)–, and digital-output products in surface-mount packages and with various types of temperature compensation capabilities. Also available are custom options that have special calibration ranges, alternative connectors, or custom features. RoHS-compliant sensors can be supplied. AllSensors-Europe GmbH, Inning/Ammersee, Germany.
Complex micromechanical parts produced by die-blanking are the specialty of a manufacturing company that also can help customers design components and works with them to optimize all the circumstances of production. Die-blanked, or stamped, parts for medical devices can be as thin as 0.02 mm. The company designs, optimizes, and manufactures its own blanking dies and production processes, thus ensuring that highly technical components are produced with high precision. Progressive dies and other tool components for cutting, stamping, bending, and rolling are modular, use hard metal inserts, and are reliable, flexible, and durable. Rapid presses can operate with force as great as 50 t and produce parts at speeds to 1000 strokes per minute and above. The ISO 9001:2000–certified company has expertise in electrical-discharge machining also, using electroerosion to make tools and to produce parts in small series. Meylan Frères S.A., Le Brassus, Switzerland.
A special check valve designed to be used in diagnostic equipment, respiratory therapy, intravenous administration equipment, blood filtration, medical disposable, and other similar applications allows flow in two directions, with backflow checking when differential pressure becomes negative. Employing floating-membrane technology that provides nonrestricted fluid paths, the selective-operation Haemovalve allows free flow with a very low differential pressure because it is normally open, but stops the flow when the mass of fluid crossing the device per unit of time reaches a threshold trigger. The self-actuating valve reliably prevents backflow at 4, 8, or 12 g/min, depending on the model. Easy to install, designed to facilitate the insertion and removal of IV catheters, and self-cleaning, the safe, dependable valve fits standard 3.2-mm tubing or standard luer fittings. It provides a good barrier to liquids and gas, is designed to minimize air entrapment, and allows quick system flushing. Haemotronic Advanced Medical Technologies S.p.A., Mirandola (MO), Italy.
A company specializing in medical packaging technology supplies custom pouches, sachets, and preformed blister packs. It also designs and manufactures the machines to produce these products, and offers contract packaging services. As a contract service provider, the company can pack medical devices either into dedicated blister packs using automated thermoforming lines or into bespoke pouches. Tooling for thermoforms and pouches, and for prototypes or production runs, is produced in-house. In designing packaging systems, the firm takes into consideration customer needs, product-related exigencies, volumes, and sterilization requirements. It is equipped to clean devices ultrasonically prior to packaging in order to provide assurance of near-zero contamination and bioburden. Inspection is carried out continuously throughout the packaging process, and the company makes its laboratory available to customers wishing to perform such evaluations as package validation via accelerated aging. Riverside Medical Packaging Company, Ltd., Derby, UK.
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