Medical nitinol processing transforms raw nickel-titanium alloy into wire, coils, tubes and sheets for medical and dental device manufacturers. We previously covered nitinol's journey from the earth's crust through high-temperature melting crucibles and forging operations to create nitinol ingots and then smaller, more workable shapes such as … [Read more...] about Medical nitinol processing: How NiTi is turned into wire, tubes and sheets for medical devices
Advanced Materials
After recall and relaunch, Medtronic wants to go global with its catheter-delivered Harmony valve
Each Medtronic Harmony valve is sewn by hand to attach laser-cut pig tissue to the nitinol that makes this minimally invasive heart implant possible. Medtronic’s Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) design is paying off after engineers solved a delivery catheter recall and relaunched the system this year. The Harmony TPV uses pig tissue, … [Read more...] about After recall and relaunch, Medtronic wants to go global with its catheter-delivered Harmony valve
How Medtronic uses nitinol to improve the structure and effectiveness of heart devices
Tim Laske, VP of research and business development for Medtronic‘s cardiac ablation solutions business, discusses the challenges of designing devices for the heart and explores the properties of nitinol. The heart is often one of the most underappreciated aspects of human anatomy, and its atrial appendages are often overlooked even in cardiac … [Read more...] about How Medtronic uses nitinol to improve the structure and effectiveness of heart devices
Why Affera’s cardiac ablation technology is worth $1B to Medtronic
Affera started in 2014 with a simple goal that paid off when Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) bought the company for up to $1 billion this year. Achieving that goal, however, took some unconventional and sometimes difficult design choices, Affera founder and CEO Doron Harlev said. Newton, Massachusetts–based Affera's system diagnoses, maps and treats … [Read more...] about Why Affera’s cardiac ablation technology is worth $1B to Medtronic
Abbott sees the delivery system as a differentiator for its TAVR
A top Abbott executive explains how the company's FlexNav delivery system could make the Portico TAVR competitive. Abbott is aiming to claw away market share from transcatheter aortic valve replacement pioneers Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic. The Abbott Park, Illinois–based medtech company in September announced FDA approval of its Portico … [Read more...] about Abbott sees the delivery system as a differentiator for its TAVR
How a future-minded medtech engineer finds inspiration, innovation and creativity
The future of medtech is the focus of TE Connectivity’s Advanced Technology Group, a team of experienced engineers tasked with identifying trends and developing new technology for devices and challenges that might not yet even exist. Marie Ottum, principal R&D engineer in TE Connectivity’s Advanced Technology Group and global leader of the … [Read more...] about How a future-minded medtech engineer finds inspiration, innovation and creativity
Schott expands Chinese glass tubing plant
Schott recently announced that it has completed the next expansion stage at its pharmaceutical glass tubing site in Jinyun, China. The company completed construction at the site in just 15 months despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with production starting in November 2020. The plant is meant to create a solid production base for high-quality … [Read more...] about Schott expands Chinese glass tubing plant
Swiss scientists make ‘micromachines’ for self-deploying stents and more
Researchers in Zurich reported today that they have invented a manufacturing technique to build "micromachines" out of metal and plastic in which these two materials are interlocked as closely as links in a chain. These robots are so tiny that they can maneuver through blood vessels and deliver medications to certain points in the body — a goal … [Read more...] about Swiss scientists make ‘micromachines’ for self-deploying stents and more
How medtech contract manufacturers are managing during the coronavirus pandemic
From invoking their business continuity plans to marshaling their pandemic teams, medical device contract manufacturers are finding ways to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical Design & Outsourcing conducted an informal survey of manufacturers and other companies that serve the medtech industry. Here’s some of what we … [Read more...] about How medtech contract manufacturers are managing during the coronavirus pandemic
PolyOne touts medical-grade Versaflex
PolyOne recently launched its medical-grade Versaflex HC BT218 for biopharmaceutical tubing applications. Versaflex features weldability, kink resistance and tensile strength performance that is comparable to silicone and TPEs, according to the company. The material is commercially available in the U.S. "We're excited to add the new Versaflex … [Read more...] about PolyOne touts medical-grade Versaflex
