MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS

Special Metals, Alloys Finding New Uses in Medical Device Manufacturing

 

Source: Medical Design Briefs

 

Diagnostic guide wires, minuscule screws for implants, complex surgical tools operated robotically—these are standard devices and equipment in the innovative and technology-rich medical arena, and sophisticated metals and alloys are regularly being used in their development, thanks to continuing advancements in medical technology.

“Titanium has been a consistent performer for a number of years, tantalum is emerging, and copper is re-emerging, while advancements in technology are creating a worldwide demand for a variety of other metals along with new versions of long-established standards. Niobium and nitinol are ideal for use in both internal and external medical applications.”

In this Best of the Web feature, author John Schmidt summarizes the metals industry’s “long history of innovation, development, and processing metals and alloys, in step with medical devices development,” including a quick guide on how these sophisticated materials are giving hope and life through their use in medical treatment.

 

Read more: “Special Metals Make Unparalleled Medical Devices Possible”

Photo caption/credit: A sampling of pacemaker-related components made of a titanium alloy / Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals

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Medical Devices Manufacturer Expands In-House Heat Treating Capabilities

A medical device manufacturer has upgraded its in-house heat treating capabilities with a dual-chamber furnace system, which will give the company the same pyrometry requirement in its medical device production as materials and parts produced for the aerospace and defense industry in terms of furnace/oven calibration, classification and performance requirements.

Richard Conway, DELTA H chief technology officer and founder

Straits Orthopaedics in Penang, Malaysia, commissioned DELTA H TECHNOLOGIES for a second dual-chamber aerospace heat treat (DCAHTTM) furnace system. The furnace system, controls, and software are designed for full compliance to the medical accreditation program “MedAccred” as well as the US FDA’s recent recognition and adoption of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aerospace Materials Specification 2750 (AMS2750) pyrometry standard.

Mr. TH Su, CEO of Straits Orthopaedics
Mr. TH Su, CEO of Straits Orthopaedics

“Previously medical device pyrometry standards varied somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer,” said Richard Conway, DELTA H chief technology officer and founder. “With the adoption of the well-established AMS2750 standard, there is a consistent requirement across the industry.  For DELTA H this is an exciting opportunity in a market that now has the same uncompromising demands for performance and accountability which our thermal processing systems are designed for.”

“DELTA H is making great contributions to our heat treating technology which is delighting all our customers,” Mr. TH Su, CEO of Straits Orthopaedics.

 

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Biotech Company Acquires Orthopedic “All-In-One” Kit Manufacturer

A biotech integrated healthcare holding company focusing on patient care acquired a manufacturer of specialty orthopedic surgery products and tools.

Generex Biotechnology Corporation has completed the acquisition of multi-million dollar Pantheon Medical – Foot & Ankle, a manufacturer of an  “all-in-one”, orthopedic integrated kit that includes plates, screws, and tools required for surgeons and podiatrists conducting foot and ankle surgeries.

Travis H. Bird, CEO of Pantheon Medical said, “We have built Pantheon Medical with a commitment to providing our surgeon customers with the highest quality surgical implants and tools in an integrated surgical kit for foot and ankle surgeries. Our standard “All-in-One” kits provide surgeons with an integrated kit of the implants, plates, screws and clips to perform 80% of their surgeries, and the kits can be customized for physician preference, offering convenience and performance at an economic price. We expect that Generex and the NuGenerex MSO will benefit greatly from our partnership and we look forward to bringing our FDA-cleared line of surgical products to the network.”

“We are happy to close the acquisition of Pantheon as we expand our surgical product portfolio that is focused on providing our MSO network with the surgical implants and kits that they routinely utilize in their orthopedic and podiatric practices. Pantheon not only adds immediate revenues and profits to the NuGenerex family of companies, but also brings significant upside opportunities for new FDA-approved product introductions over the next several years,” stated Joe Moscato, CEO of Generex.

Pantheon Medical – Foot & Ankle began operations in 2014 and has manufactured a line of FDA cleared orthopedic products. Over the next three years, the company will be developing and submitting several new product lines to the FDA, which will include cannulated surgical screws, surgical staples, and a proprietary Hammertoe System.

Photo Credit: medicaldevice-network.com

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Precision Medical Instruments Company with Heat Treating Capabilities Acquires Carbide Tool Manufacturer

A precision cutting company that uses heat treating in its manufacture of precision cutting tools, precision machined components and medical implants and instruments recently acquired a manufacturer of customized solid carbide drills, end mills, reamers, thread mills, and form tools.

ARCH Global Precision (ARCH), a Jordan Company platform company based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, has purchased Siem Tool Company. The Latrobe, Pennsylvania, company will join ARCH’s Cutting Tools division.

Jeff Cederstrom, ARCH Global Precision Divisional President of Cutting Tools
Jeff Cederstrom, ARCH Global Precision Divisional President of Cutting Tools

“We are excited to announce the acquisition of Siem Tool, as this acquisition further expands ARCH’s custom cutting tool product offering and deepens our bench of in-house technical application engineers who have a long history of successfully working with end-users to develop custom tooling solutions,” said Jeff Cederstrom, ARCH Global Precision Divisional President of Cutting Tools. “In addition, Siem adds ARCH’s first captive coating center that can be leveraged across the organization, plus Siem’s in-house coating infrastructure can accommodate further expansion in this area. The acquisition of Siem Tool supports our ongoing strategy of creating a market-leading custom tooling provider through the ‘ARCH Specials’ brand and product offering.  Furthermore, Siem brings proprietary carbide edge-prep technical application knowledge for further development of ARCH’s high-performance tooling.”

“I am pleased to announce the sale of Siem Tool to ARCH Global Precision,” said John Siemering, the former owner of Siem Tool. “After careful consideration of several potential acquirers of Siem Tool, the decision to sell the business to ARCH became apparently clear based on the strong cultural alignment between our organizations, ARCH’s commitment to support further growth and long history of successfully executing transactions. I am exceedingly confident that Siem will continue to grow and prosper under ARCH’s leadership.”

 

Main photo credit: ARCH video capture

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Irish Heat Treat Equipment Manufacturer Incorporates EDM Technology

 

Source: Machines4sale.com

 

A design and manufacturing company from southern Ireland recently acquired two pieces of equipment that allow them to better serve the heat treating world.

Ceramicx, a designer and manufacturer of ceramic infrared heating elements and complete turnkey infrared heating systems and ovens for industrial and commercial applications, recently purchased an Excetek wire EDM machine and an EDM hole drill from Warwick Machine Tools.

Ceramicx products and systems serve a number of industries, including medical, automotive, and aerospace. For such customers, they carry out processes requiring the use of controlled “radiant” heat, such as thermoforming, preforming, pressure forming, welding, non-contact drying, spot heating.

Founded by Frank and Gráinne Wilson in 1992, the company now employs 65 individuals.


Frank Wilson, Ceramicx Managing Director/Founder promotes his company's Excetek machines (Source: Ceramicx).
Frank Wilson, managing director/founder of Ceramicx showcases his company’s Excetek machines (Source: Ceramicx).

“We are application focused, so we use a little R and a big D to develop a working solution not just research a potential option.” – Frank Wilson


Read more: “Ceramicx Takes the Heat with Excetek EDM Technology”

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Precision Parts Manufacturer Acquires 2 Suppliers of Medical Device Components

A leading provider of precision parts recently announced the acquisition of two companies, both suppliers of tight tolerance, mission-critical components used in medical device, aerospace, and industrial applications.

MW Industries, headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, which engineers springs, specialty fasteners, bellows, and other precision components has acquired both companies from SW Holdings, LLC: Marox, a manufacturer of machined orthopedic implants, and Sussex Wire, a manufacturer of mini and micro cold-formed parts.

John Bagnuolo, Chief Executive Officer of MW Industries

Located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Marox produces precision machined orthopedic and spinal implants in a variety of complex geometries to leading orthopedic device firms. The company also manufactures components used on robotic surgery devices.

Sussex Wire, located in Easton, Pennsyvania, applies cold-forming and roll-forming manufacturing techniques to shape metal wire and special alloys into highly engineered, precision, micro-miniature components. These components play essential roles in medical device applications.

Both companies offer advanced engineering capabilities, material selection advice, and manufacturing know-how for creative solutions that shorten design cycle times and speed time to market.

“Adding Marox and Sussex Wire to our portfolio of medical solutions companies creates a set of technical capabilities and precision machining capacity that is unmatched in the industry,” explains John Bagnuolo, Chief Executive Officer of MW Industries. “Medical device OEMs and CMOs can rely on MW Industries for innovative, cost-effective solutions to their most complex design challenges.”

 

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Nitinol Tubing Center Launched to Support Medical Device Applications

A nitinol-based components manufacturer recently launched the High-Performance Nitinol Tubing Center of Excellence in response to increasing market demand for High-Performance Nitinol Tubing in challenging medical applications.

Confluent Medical (formerly Nitinol Devices & Components “NDC”) expects the center to support Nitinol component manufacturers for applications such as Transcatheter Heart Valves, Neurovascular, Electrophysiology, and Interventional Pulmonary.

The High-Performance Nitinol Tubing Center of Excellence has world-class internal capabilities that include high purity ELI Nitinol material; a wide range of Nitinol tubing sizes and tolerances; precise Nitinol tubing processes; and superior surface finish.

 

Nitinol Tubing Center Launched to Support Medical Device Applications Read More »

Heat Treating Melanin for Modern Biotechnology Applications

 

Source: Discover Magazine

 

In furnaces and ovens all over the world, most of the material being heat-treated at 1000°F or above is metal or a metal alloy, with a fair percentage being other materials like glass and ceramics.

Thermal processing is used to heat other materials, as well, though, as we all know, but perhaps one of the most unusual purposes is found at the source article for Heat Treat Today’s Best of the Web feature for today.

Our story focuses on researchers who have developed an annealing process for eumelanin, an electrically conductive type of melanin —  yes that natural chemical pigment that gives color to our eyes, hair, and skin, and which protects our skin from harmful radiation, yet which also can lead to cancer. Vacuum heating films of eumelanin at 1112°F (600°C) modifies its properties and makes it more useful for modern biotechnology applications and perhaps even to create devices to help treat Parkinson’s, control artificial limbs, and more.

The researchers have published their findings in an article titled, “Evidence of Unprecedented High Electronic Conductivity in Mammalian Pigment Based Eumelanin Thin Films After Thermal Annealing in Vacuum” in the journal Frontiers in Chemistry.

 

Read more: “High-tech Melanin Might Help Put Technology Inside Our Bodies”

 

Photo credit:

 

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Services Provider for Medical Tech, Device Sector Breaks Ground on Manufacturing Facility

A development and manufacturing services provider to medical technology and devices industries recently broke ground on a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Hudson, Wisconsin, with completion expected in late 2019 to mid-2020.

Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company, announced the new site is expected to support at least 230,000-sq. ft. of manufacturing space for FDA-regulated products. Founded in the town of Phillips, Wisconsin, over 50 years ago, Phillips-Medisize has multiple manufacturing sites around the world, including facilities for heat treating equipment such as continuous debind and sintering furnaces, batch furnaces, dedicated metal injection molding equipment, and metallurgical lab capabilities.

Matt Jennings, CEO and President, Phillips-Medisize

This new Phillips-Medisize facility will be situated on a 34-acre site in St. Croix Meadows development, representing the company’s single largest operation in Wisconsin with opportunity to expand.

“We are proud to invest in growing Phillips-Medisize’s manufacturing presence in our founding state of Wisconsin,” stated Matt Jennings, CEO and President, Phillips-Medisize. “Hudson has been home to Phillips-Medisize for the past 36 years, so we are excited to reinforce our commitment to the vibrant community with our St. Croix Meadows facility. We expect to support over 250 employment opportunities for area residents in jobs, ranging from skilled manufacturing to engineering. It also reaffirms our commitment to better serve customers as a global end-to-end provider of innovation, development and manufacturing solutions.”

“The St. Croix Meadows redevelopment is aimed at transforming the riverfront community,” said Hudson Mayor Rich O’Connor, who hosted the groundbreaking ceremony. “By creating employment opportunities with Phillips-Medisize, I hope to encourage young people to stay in Hudson.”

Groundbreaking of new manufacturing site for Phillips-Medisize in the St Croix Meadows area of Hudson, Wisconsin.

Phillips-Medisize is a provider of innovation, development and manufacturing solutions in pharmaceutical, diagnostic, medical device and specialty commercial market segments.

 

Photo caption: St. Croix Meadows developer Klint Klaas, Phillips-Medisize Vice President Dave Thoreson, and Mayor Rich O’Connor turn over soil at the ceremonial groundbreaking for Phillips-Medisize.

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Heat Treated Magnesium Alloy Improves Surgical Implants

 

Source: Orthopedic Design & Technology

 

Nikhil Gupta, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NYU Tandon

Researchers at three professional schools within a U.S. university recently collaborated in the development and testing of a heat-tempering process involving magnesium alloys that leads to stronger and less breakdown in the body following surgical fixation procedures, such as knee replacements and jaw implants.

The Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, along with NYU School of Medicine and NYU Dentistry, reported on the tests of a magnesium alloy that was subjected to a process called T-5 tempering, involving heating at 210 degrees Celsius for 48 hours.

“In our lab, we put both as-cast and the heat-treated alloy in a solution of sodium chloride to simulate body fluid environments. Not surprisingly, the as-cast version corroded a lot. However, the heat-treated version did not corrode at all,” said Nikhil Gupta, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NYU Tandon. “What we have discovered is that by employing heat treatment we can change the alloy completely from a degradable, resorbable structure to one that doesn’t degrade over time. In essence, heat treatment makes magnesium behave, in vitro and in vivo, more like titanium.”

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