Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry

December 1997 MD&DI
Selected Contents

STERILIZATION:
Compatibility of Medical Devices and Materials with Low-Temperature Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma
by Leslie A. Feldman and Henry K. Hui

A new technique sterilizes a wide range of materials without the degrading effects of steam or the toxic residues of EtO.

YEAR 2000 SOFTWARE:
Converting Clinical Data Management Systems: The Year 2000 Challenge
by Sunil Kumar Gupta

Though easy to overlook, dates play a pivotal role in the compilation and analysis of clinical trial data. Current software will not process dates correctly in the next millennium, and manufacturers must act now to ensure that their data are not rendered invalid.

WASHINGTON WRAP-UP:
Rare Harmony Marks FDA Reform Bills on Hill
by James G. Dickinson

Also:
• CDRH Releases Review Update
• Lasergate Continues

R&D HORIZONS:
Advances in Neurology Stimulate FDA Device Approvals
by Greg Freiherr

Devices that stimulate the brain and nervous system alleviate the effects of a wide range of physical ailments.

BOTTOM LINE:
Setting a Profitable Sales Strategy
by Thomas G. Knight and Kelley Johanning

Surveyed medical device industry professionals share insights into how managed care has affected their sales strategies, including the tools and messages they now use.

HELP DESK:
Determining the Size of a Medical Device Market
by Andrew Jay

Calculating market size for a new medical device before starting a company requires researching preexisting and potential markets.

SNAPSHOT:
Small Can Be Better—It's a Matter of Choice

Allen Oelschlaeger finds excitement working for small companies.

EDITOR'S PAGE:
The Year 2000 Bug: Another Case of Millennial Madness?
by John Bethune

The millennium bug is real, but it's not the terrifying threat that some would have you believe.