Designing a new medical device is a bit more complicated than designing a toaster or an automotive cooling system. Besides the issues common to any product—feasibility, usability, and design for manufacture and assembly—there are also issues of biocompatibility, sterilization and FDA regulations to deal with.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for many hard-to-treat and life-threatening infections, including pneumonia and blood poisoning. MRSA is especially troublesome in hospitals, prisons and nursing homes, where patients with open wounds, invasive devices and weakened immune systems are at greater risk of infection.
MENOMONIE, WI—Drug device manufacturer Phillips-Medisize plans to open a new 80,000-square-foot assembly plant here. Expected to create 100 jobs, the factory will assemble high-volume, pre-filled, drug delivery systems.
Overall, 2016 has been a pretty good year for U.S. manufacturing. In every industry covered by ASSEMBLY magazine, manufacturers were investing in people, plants and equipment.
Light is critical for our health and well-being. In the morning, bright light helps us wake up and feel alert and energized. At night, dimmer light cues us to go to sleep. Equally important, the right type of light enables hospitals to provide surgery and other essential medical services 24/7.
LOGAN, UT—Boston Scientific’s medical device factory in Cork, Ireland, and Rexam’s beverage can factory in Querétaro, Mexico, have been named the winners of this year’s Shingo Prize for operational excellence in manufacturing.
Robots are used in many large hospitals to deliver supplies and assist doctors with delicate surgical procedures. In the future, robotic surgery will become the routine rather than the exception.
Incompatible thermoplastic polymers can be welded by using polymer blends that are compatible with both components.
September 8, 2016
Ideally, every component in a plastic assembly would be made from the same material. However, cost, functional and aesthetic requirements often dictate that a mix of materials be used.