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Originally Published January/February 2001

INDUSTRY NEWS

Welch Allyn Launches OEM Business Unit

Welch Allyn Inc. (Skaneateles Falls, NY) has established a business unit dedicated to the development and sales of subsystems and modules for patient-monitoring OEM applications. The formation of Welch Allyn OEM Technologies (Beaverton, OR), which was announced at the recent Medica trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, was spurred by the company's acquisition of Protocol Systems Inc. and its Pryon OEM subsidiary in August. "Pryon is a leading supplier of CO2 monitoring equipment, and this expertise has provided us with an avenue to offer a broad range of vital signs technology to OEMs," says marketing and communications director Grant Gibson, who fielded questions about the launch from the company's stand at Medica.

One-piece blood pressure cuffs developed for OEM applications have been shown to last more than 100,000 inflation cycles.

The convergence of Pryon's noninvasive blood pressure, ECG, and capnography subsystems with Welch Allyn's thermometry and blood pressure cuffs has created an "opportunity to shrink costs as well as product size for our customers," says Gibson. The POEM noninvasive blood pressure module that was introduced at the show is an illustration of how device manufacturers will benefit from the pooling of resources, he says.

"The POEM module is smaller, lighter, and draws less power than competing products," says Gibson. It incorporates a pneumatic design that is unique in products of this type, he adds. The palm-sized module consumes 4 W maximum power—17 mW in sleep mode—while providing a 6-second inflation rate. Weighing only 124 g, the product is available in two versions: the robust POEM Basic and an advanced module with Smartcuf motion artifact rejection algorithms. Smartcuf's capability to furnish accurate noninvasive blood pressure readings despite patient shivering, vehicle vibration, and other sources of motion artifact has been documented in an independent study.

A palm-sized noninvasive blood pressure module that consumes 4-W maximum power was introduced by Welch Allyn OEM Technologies at the Medica trade show.

One-piece blood pressure cuffs were also introduced for the OEM market by Welch Allyn at Medica. The one-piece design provides an alternative to traditional cuff-with-bladder combination systems, thus eliminating the need to remove, clean, or replace the bladder, according to the company. The latex-free cuffs are constructed of 200 denier nylon, and have been engineered to meet clinical standards for cuff sizing and fit as set forth by the Association of Medical Instrumentation and the American Heart Association. During tests, the cuffs lasted more than 100,000 inflation cycles; the one-piece construction and flat port tubing connectors that protect against leakage are among the features designed to prolong the product's life cycle.

"These products are only the first splash for Welch Allyn OEM Technologies," says Gibson, who notes that the development of smart modules is a particular area of focus. —Norbert Sparrow


Sensor with Syringe Packaging Applications Featured at Assembly West Show

A collision sensor that ensures the correct placement of syringes in trays and robotic systems suited for the assembly of small parts were among the products featured at Assembly West in Long Beach, CA, a smaller regional version of Assembly Technology Expo.

This collision sensor from Applied Robotics can be used with pick-and-place and other machines.

The collision sensor was one of the products on display at the Applied Robotics (Scotia, NY) booth. The dynamically variable QuickStop sensor can be used in welding and cutting applications or on packaging machines. Regional sales manager Stephen Quirini demonstrated an application in which the sensor was incorporated into a machine that placed syringes in a tray. When the machine accidentally slammed a syringe into the side of the tray, QuickStop immediately shut it down and sounded an alarm to alert the operator.

QuickStop operates on an air-pressure system. A regulated air supply provides positive, variable pressure to hold the sensor rigid during normal operation. If there is an impact, the air-chamber seal is opened, and a shutdown signal is immediately sent to the system controller. Features include dynamically variable trip points, permanent repeatability, and easy programming and resetting. The sensor is suited for use with robots, linear actuators, and pick-and-place machines.

Small robots like this one from Denso alleviate tedious assembly tasks.

Robots designed for the assembly of small parts and electronic components were featured at the stand of Denso (Long Beach, CA). According to Brian Jones, senior product manager, these robots alleviate the tedious, repetitive tasks that can lead to worker injuries. Several different robot models were demonstrated, including Models VS and TETRAM. The VS features a flexible, compact body, 652-mm reach, and high payload capacity, while the TETRAM has a 460-mm reach, pressing force up to 300 lb, and multiple-angle mounting. Jones told us an interesting fact: Denso is itself the world's largest user of small assembly robots, employing thousands of them in its manufacturing facilities to assemble the robots it sells.

Quickdraw Conveyor Systems Inc. (Burnsville, MN) showed off its belt-edge conveyors, which are designed for the accurate conveyance of PCBs, BGA flex arrays, MCMs, and ceramic substrates within electronic assembly, test, and inspection equipment. John Fresonke, a company sales rep, said that features especially beneficial to medical device manufacturers include the system's clean and quiet operation, which makes it suitable for cleanroom use. The belt-edge conveyors offer customer-specified or adjustable widths, many standard or custom rail lengths, standard or low-profile extruded rails, zone-control or product-metering options, and a variety of motors. Quickdraw offers a range of other types of conveyor systems, and, Fresonke explained, the company can not only customize its standard units but can also build them from the ground up for unique applications.

Readers may be familiar with >sortimat (Torrance, CA), a company that has been featured in this magazine and that is heavily involved with the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. Sortimat manufactures high-performance assembly machines and feeders for complex assembly processes. Being a systems supplier, the company offers a variety of solutions from simple stand-alone units to complex production lines.

Sortimat sales engineer Morrie Rice explained that, in addition to the need for an integrally hygienic product, medical applications typically require a modular design concept to allow for flexible manufacturing processes.

Examples of medical products routinely processed by sortimat machines include two- and three-part disposable syringes, drip chambers, infusion catheters, infusion and transfusion sets, two- and three-way stopcocks, aerosol valves, atomizer pumps, puncture pieces for aeration caps, and safety syringes and catheters. —Karim Marouf


Smart Products Inaugurates Cleanroom

Although Smart Products specializes in components for low-pressure and low-flow applications, the company's business strategy is anything but low profile. After almost doubling in capacity in 1999, the supplier of check valves, fittings, and pumps has announced the addition of a cleanroom to its facility in San Jose, CA. According to owner Doris H. Patterson, it's all a matter of keeping the customer satisfied.

A supplier of valves has installed a Class 10,000 cleanroom suited for molding and assembly operations.
"More and more of our business is geared to the device industry," says Patterson, "and we were missing out on opportunities by not having an on-site cleanroom. Our clients are making increasingly stringent demands," she adds, "and we are committed to responding to their needs." Suited for molding and assembly operations, the Class 10,000 facility is currently equipped with a 55-tn Milacron Roboshot electric molder. "We are forever adding capabilities and services," stresses Patterson, noting that the company has engineers on staff who can assist in product design and mold building. Offering more than 16,000 variations on check valve configurations, Smart Products can design a custom valve from stock parts, specifying all materials and fittings as well as the cracking pressure. A line of plastic fittings, and diaphragm and air pumps are also available.—Norbert Sparrow


Molding Facility Adds Multishot Injection Molder

The new Arburg machine provides multishot injection molding services to Distinctive Plastics' customers.

A single-source supplier of high-precision injection molding and tooling services recently announced the addition of a new Arburg 110-tn multishot injection molding machine. The new machine offers a 4–6.8-oz shot size capacity and is capable of producing close-tolerance parts that require multiple resins or colors within a single mold. With a total of 19 new, modern, and real-time–process-monitored machines in its plant, Distinctive Plastics Inc. (Vista, CA) offers custom multishot molding and tooling. The company is ISO 9001 certified and QS 9000 compliant. —Katherine Sweeny


Continuous Coating Process Applied to Stainless-Steel Needle Tubing

Using its proprietary continuous coating process, MCTec (Venlo, Netherlands) has developed a line of coated stainless-steel tubes that can be supplied in a range of diameters and lengths. The company announced its expanded product line at the recent MEDTEC exhibition and conference in Amsterdam.

Coated needle tubing can be supplied in a range of lengths.

"Our coating process is an alternative to conventional spray coating," says Hans Hanssen, technology director. The benefits of continuous coating, according to Hanssen, include a uniformly smooth finish and a constant diameter. "And because it is a continuous process, we can treat spools of tubing that measure 5000 m long," adds Hanssen. The treated metal tubing is suited for the fabrication of hypodermic and electrostimulation needles, PTCA hypertubes, and related devices. Needles are available in five different colors; they can be supplied straightened and in any length.

The company can coat both metal and plastic tubing with a layer of PTFE to promote hydrophobicity, or hydrogels to induce hydrophilic properties. In addition, anticoagulants and other medications can be added to the hydrophilic SlipSkin coating for localized drug-delivery applications.

The company supplies the North American market via Wytech Industries Inc. (Rahway, NJ), which straightens and cuts the tubing to customer specifications. Wytech has designed straightening equipment intended specifically for use with the PTFE-coated tubing. The process does not affect the coated surface. The firm has also developed a method to remove the coating at discrete locations along the length of the tubing for use as markers.

MCTec is a joint venture of cable manufacturer Belden Cable & Wire and Biomat, a division of the University of Maastricht holding company, in the Netherlands. The firm's core expertise resides in coatings for invasive medical devices. —Norbert Sparrow


Demag Ergotech Unveils Customer-Support Center

Demag Ergotech USA recently expanded into a new 26,000-sq-ft facility in Strongsville, OH, that will serve as its North American customer support headquarters. The company's injection molding machines feature 25–3000-tn clamping forces and have multicomponent and multicolor capabilities. "This new facility is set up not only to provide our customers with a state-of-the-art laboratory and machine preparation for on-time deliveries, but also to encourage employee interaction," says Rick Shaffer, vice president and general manager of Demag Ergotech USA.

Demag Ergotech's new Ohio facility showcases the company's products and provides global customer service.

The new facility is divided into several sections. The 6000 sq ft of office space is designed to allow engineering and process evaluation teams to interact with salespeople and to recommend the best equipment to fill a processor's needs.

The 7500-sq-ft showroom houses the latest Demag Ergotech equipment. At the recent open house, six machines were operating, including the new Elexis-E, Elexis-S, and a multicolor system. "Customers will have the opportunity to ship in molds for trial, compare machines, and evaluate variables to determine the best Ergotech solution for their processing requirements," says Adam Ferrell, product specialist.

Machine preparation and testing is conducted in a separate 12,500-sq-ft area which houses an extensive inventory of product lines for quick shipment. Water and electrical hookups are set up to accommodate simultaneous testing of four machines; all equipment is thoroughly tested before it is shipped from the facility. —Katherine Sweeny


Internet Update: "DotComs"

Electronic Components Site Expanded

A company specializing in interconnect hardware and components has expanded its Web site to allow users to check distributor inventory and locate specs by catalog number on-line. By visiting the Standard Products page at http://www.keyelco.com, users can source Keystone Electronics products by entering a catalog number on-screen, clicking the Check Stock box, and scrolling down a list of more than 20 authorized global distributors.

Other features on the site include the Check Inventory box that allows users to find part specifications and drawings. Orders can be placed on-line by clicking the banner at the top of the page. Also posted on the Web site is Keystone Electronics' 104-page catalog, in PDF format, that lists the company's complete line of products that includes brackets, battery holders, IEEE sockets and plugs, and PCB terminals. A cross-referenced table of contents helps locate items of interest more quickly.

On-Line Supply Chain Collaboration Solution Announced

A Web-based application enables companies to conduct business on-line without the financial and organizational burdens associated with traditional supply chain management solutions. The application service provider (ASP)–based supply chain solution, located at http://www.castalink.com, provides a link to businesses, customers, and suppliers in one extended enterprise.

As a hosted application delivered over the Internet, the ASP is quick to implement, easy to use, and requires no additional hardware, software, or technical expertise. Castalink's product suite, eCASTM, enhances supply chain demand management, increases product visibility, and extends communication among users. —Katherine Sweeny

Angioplasty Balloon Samples Available On-Line

Ultrahigh-strength, thin-walled balloons used for PTCA, PTA, stent delivery, and other dilation procedures can be viewed on the Internet. The selection of 2–25-mm-diam samples in as many as a dozen different configurations can be ordered from Advanced Polymers Inc. (Salem, NH) at http://www.advpoly.com. Shapes include standard configurations, conical, offset, tapered, stepped, and square. Samples are available for immediate delivery by return mail and custom orders are processed in as quickly as three to four weeks.

The company features balloons with 5–50-µm wall thicknesses and 15–400-psi typical burst pressures. All sizes, shapes, and specifications are visually presented for selection on the Web site. Ultrathin PET heat-shrink tubing, custom catheter assemblies, and custom extruded tubing are also available.


In Brief

GE Medical Systems (Milwaukee) announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Parallel Design (Phoenix), a supplier of transducers for medical ultrasound and other applications. GE also announced that it will establish a Global Transducer Technology Center of Excellence at Parallel Design's headquarters in Phoenix....Minnetronix Inc. (St. Paul, MN), a medical device outsourcing firm, has moved its corporate headquarters to the Snelling Office Park on Energy Park Drive....Southwest Mold Inc. (Tempe, AZ), a provider of engineering, precision tooling, and custom injection molding services, has received ISO 9002 certification from Underwriters Laboratories Inc. ...Intertech Development Co. (Skokie, IL) has acquired Camtech Automation (Elgin, IL). It plans to continue operation of Camtech in its present facilities as an Intertech Development Co. subsidiary. Both companies will gain expanded CAD-based design and engineering, manufacturing, technical support, and customer service capabilities....A supplier of enterprise-compliant management solutions for regulated industries, Qumas Inc. (Florham Park, NJ), has expanded and moved its U.S. headquarters from Summit, NJ, to a larger facility in nearby Florham Park....Coloplast (Marietta, GA) has joined the Global Healthcare Exchange LLC (Chicago), an Internet-based healthcare trading exchange with more than 35 members. Coloplast is a global leader in the therapeutic areas of ostomy, continence, and wound and skin care and maintains a focused effort on the acute-care, long-term-care, rehabilitation, and home-care markets.... Foster-Miller Inc. (Waltham, MA), a medical engineering design firm, has been approved by FDA as a registered medical device establishment.... AuctionMart.com (Bryan, TX) has formed a partnership with Medsite (New York City) to be the exclusive provider of previously owned medical equipment to Medsite members. The product selection available on AuctionMart.com is an extension of Medsite's core product offering of clinical tools and services.... A new plastic-to-metal joining technology has been developed through the cooperation of Coherent Inc. Semiconductor Group (Santa Clara, CA) and Gluco Ltd. (Leeds, UK). The technique centers around LaserBond, an interlayer material, that enables diode lasers to weld thermoplastic material, specifically polypropylene, to itself and to metals, including mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum....Command Medical Products Inc. (Ormond Beach, FL) has purchased Micro Med Inc. (Portsmouth, NH), the contract manufacturing division of Disetronic Medical Systems. With the ISO 9002– and EN 46002–registered Micro Med division, Command Medical Products will offer expanded custom manufacturing and production capabilities.—Katherine Sweeny


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