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How to Get Published inMedical Design Briefs

Vendor-Contributed BriefsVendor-contributed tech briefs are

short articles that may be submitted bya company that has developed or per-fected a particular technology orprocess. These briefs information onhow the technology was developed, itsnovelty or uniqueness, specificationsrelated to how the technology oper-ates, and the commercial applicationsand uses for the technology. Briefs arewritten in a non-commercial, vendor-

neutral style and run 500-800 words with one high-resolution image

Application Stories/Case Studies

Application stories are case studiessubmitted by original equipment man-ufacturers that illustrate how a prod-uct was developed and used for a spe-cific application. The case study shouldhighlight novel product features, whythat technology was chosen for a par-ticular application, and its function inthe application. Application stories run1,500 to 1,800 words with up to three

high-resolution images with captions.

Feature ArticlesFeature articles focus on different

topics in each issue. They serve as acomprehensive overview of a technolo-gy, and are written in a non-commer-cial, vendor-neutral, tutorial manner.Companies wishing to contribute thesearticles should contact the editor fordetails. Refer to the editorial calendarfor a complete list of topics by issue.Upon acceptance, you will be given adeadline to send a 2 to 3 paragraph

abstract that outlines the topic of the proposed article several monthsin advance of the issue date. Feature articles run 1,500 to 1,800 wordswith up to three high-resolution images with captions.

New Product SectionsEach issue of Medical Design Briefs

includes a section focused on OEMproducts and services for the medicalindustry. E-mail a product releaseaccompanied by a high-resolutionimage to the editor. Products are chosenfor their technical merit and practicalvalue. Each month, the editor chooses aProduct of the Month that reflects themost significant introduction to themedical design engineering community.

34 www.medicaldesignbriefs.com Medical Design Briefs, January 2016

Linear Guides for the Next Generation of MedicalMachinesDemand for miniaturemotion componentsfollows trends.IKO International, Parsippany, NJ

Not too long ago, the motion systemsused in medical and lab automationequipment had technical requirementsthat were easy to satisfy. These lightlyloaded applications generally requiredsimple point-to-point moves with low tomoderate positioning accuracyrequirements.

With the exception of surgical robotsand some diagnostic systems, many med-ical machines still have modest position-ing accuracy requirements, at least com-pared to applications such as semicon-ductor and electronics assembly. Yet themotion axes in medical machines dohave to run smoothly and quietly, some-times at high speeds.

Medical motion systems have had tobecome more sophisticated in otherrespects to keep pace with two unfold-ing trends in the medical machine mar-ketplace.

� Choosing the Right Linear GuideOne of these trends is miniaturiza-

tion. Diagnostic equipment, DNAsequencers, and other types of automa-tion systems occupy less space than inyears past, and these machines increas-ingly require streamlined mechanicaldesigns. This ongoing shift creates astrong need for miniaturized motioncomponents, especially linear guides.

The other trend is an increasingdemand for reliability and low cost ofownership. Here too, choosing the rightlinear guide can make a big differencein how well the machine runs–and howmuch it will cost to keep running.

The next generation of medicalmachines, then, will need linear guidesthat are compact relative to the loadsthey carry. They will also need to runsmoothly with adequate precision. Andfinally, they will also need design fea-tures that ensure that the machine has along, trouble-free life.

� Trends in Customer DemandsCompact: Like many types of con-

sumer and industrial products, medical

machines of all kinds are shrinking. Totake one example, lab automation sys-tems have been scaled down to meet theneeds of smaller laboratories that haveless floor space—and budget—to spare.

There is an extensive range of minia-ture linear motion products availablethat can meet the requirements of size-constrained medical applications.Among them are the world’s smallestrecirculating ball linear guide, which hasa track rail width of just 1mm and a crosssectional height of 2.5mm, and a tinyball-spline guide, with a shaft diameter of2mm and a cylinder diameter of 6mm.

Smooth: In medical applications, oneof these functional requirements issmoothness. Many guides can move frompoint to point quickly, but not all can doso smoothly. Medical robots and labautomation systems in particular can beespecially sensitive to jerky motion. Inmany medical applications, smoothnesscounts for more than maximum speed.Smoothness also translates to less noise,and quiet motion components arestrongly preferred in any medicalmachine or diagnostic system used inproximity to patients.

When selecting smooth guides formedical machines, look for products thathave a low, uniform sliding resistanceover their travel distance (See Figure 1).

Maintenance-free: The cost of main-tenance, particularly lubrication needs,drives up the cost of ownership formany types of moving machines.Medical and lab automation machinesare no exception.

Manufacturers can supply linearguides with proprietary technology thatallow the units to operate for more than20,000 kilometers or 5 years without theneed to replenish the lubricant. A poly-mer reservoir can be positioned withinthe guide’s slider so that it comes in con-tact with the recirculating balls orrollers. Surface tension in the porouspolymer would then continually bringlubricant to the surface of the reservoir,allowing lubricant to transfer to the ballsor rollers as they pass by. This methodcan be much more cost-effective andcleaner than other maintenance-freemethods that apply lubricant directly tothe guide rails via a lubricating plate.

Lubricating plates, which remain incontact with the rails, can also haveanother downside. The plate canincrease the drag forces on the slider,driving up the guide’s overall resistance.

Reliable, long life: There are manyreasons why a linear guide can fail to liveup to its projected life cycle. Unabatedcontamination, for example, can short-en the life of a linear guide. So canexcess temperatures. So can mechanicaldesign or installation errors that causemisalignment between the sliders andrails. All these failure modes are possiblein medical applications, but the mostcommon and easily avoidable prematurefailures result from under- or over-lubri-cation of linear motion components.

This article was written by Yuichi Ikeuchi,Engineering Manager, IKO International,Parsippany, NJ. For more information, visithttp://info.hotims.com/61057-167.

Fig. 1 - Even when preloaded, linear guides can run smoothly, as shown by the uniform frictional resist-ance data.

Medical Design Briefs provides the engineering community with the latest medical technology and biomedical break-throughs from NASA, industry, and other R&D leaders worldwide. Articles and tech briefs focus on advances in technol-

ogy, materials, manufacturing, and regulatory issues that are shaping the future design of medical devices, components, and systems. Each issue reports on electronics, sensors, test & measurement, imaging, software, materials, mechanical compo-nents, manufacturing/prototyping, and much more. Opportunities to submit editorial content are outlined below. Note that articles are confirmed several months in advance of the issue date.

Cover ArtHigh-resolution full-color photos or computer-generated images for

consideration as front-cover art for Medical Design Briefs are welcomed fromarticle contributors in every issue. To be considered, artwork must be aninnovative, original dynamic image that depicts an application, product, ormodel of an object in bright, vibrant color. Special background treatmentsand lighting techniques may be used to highlight the subject. Contact theeditor for more details.

All material for editorial consideration in Medical Design Briefs should be submitted to Sherrie Trigg;Phone: 310-613-4933; e-mail: [email protected].

See the Medical Design Briefs editorial calendar for submission deadlines.

10 www.medicaldesignbriefs.com Medical Design Briefs, December 2015

Engineering thermoplastics areused throughout the consumerelectronics (CE) industry todaybecause they enable design free-

dom while also providing high per-formance capabilities. Although theindustries differ, with CE having fewerregulations and being faster to marketas an example, many of these existingmaterials can provide excellent solu-tions to medical device designers andmanufacturers who are challenged tocontinue bringing new and innovativeideas to the healthcare industry. Thisarticle focuses on the features andbenefits of high-performance plasticsused in consumer electronic devicesand their translatability to the health-care industry to help address similartrends and needs in medical devicesand equipment.

The increased availability of im -proved healthcare has been a con-tributing factor to longer life expectan-cies globally, which in turn has led to arising population growth. According tothe Population Reference Bureau(www.prb.org/wpds/2015), the popula-

tion estimate for 2050 is 9.8 billion, a 34percent increase (2.5 billion) from the2015 population estimate of 7.3 billion.Between 2015 and 2050, the proportionof the world’s population over 60 yearswill nearly double from about 12 per-cent to 22 percent, as reported by theWorld Health Organization (WHO)(www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs404/en). The continual rise in popula-tion, especially of the elderly, puts a strainon the existing healthcare infrastructureparticularly with challenges in accessibili-ty to hospitals and doctors. As a result, thedemand for cost-saving advanced medicaltechnologies that are available remotely,where the need for care exists, continuesto grow—from local clinics, to workplaceinfirmaries, to homes.

At the same time, urbanization and agrowing middle class have changed thehealthcare landscape, making medicalcare more affordable and available.According to the United NationsDepartment of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) (www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-urbanization-prospects .html),

by 2050, 66 percent of the world’s popu-lation will live in cities. A higher socio-economic status has enabled greateraccess to mobile communication tech-nologies, leading to the adoption and useof smart devices in our everyday lives—from financial transactions to home secu-rity monitoring. This trend has drivenhigher expectations for convenience andflexibility in medical services and hasresulted in a growing mobile health seg-ment, which includes equipment for self-testing and self-monitoring that is light-weight, portable, easy to operate, andcapable of data acquisition and transmis-sion. (See Figure 1)

Consumers Have Similar DeviceRequirements

These trends have led medical devicemanufacturers, which typically sell tohospitals and physicians, to a new set ofcustomers for remote and mobilehealthcare who need to be satisfied. Theconsumers who are buying portableelectronic devices, such as mobilephones, GPS systems, tablet and ultra-notebook PCs, are also medical patients

Materials Designed for Consumer Electronics Provide Insights for Medical Devices

Fig. 1 – Greateraccess to mobilecommunications

and the advance-ments of material

technologies arehelping to power

the growth of themobile healthcare

segment, whichincludes devices

that are light-weight, portable,easy to operate,

and capable ofdata acquisition

and transmission.

M

50 www.medicaldesignbriefs.com Medical Design Briefs, November 2015

Technological advancements are making medical devicesincreasingly feature-rich and miniaturized: two performance

characteristics that are inherently conflicting, thus requiringincreasingly sophisticated battery power management solutions.

Battery-powered devices span the entire medical spectrum,from surgical drills and power tools, to automatic externaldefibrillators (AEDs), robotic inspection systems, infusionpumps, bone growth stimulators and other wearable devices,glucose monitors, blood oxygen meters, cauterizers, RFID assettracking tags, and other remote wireless devices.

Application-specific requirements dictate the choice ofpower supply, including:• Reliability: patient wellness depends on procedure outcome• High power-to-size ratio: keeping the medical device small,

lightweight and ergonomic for ease of use and accuracy• Long shelf life: making sure the instrument in in working

order even after prolonged storage without having torecharge or replace the battery

• High temperature survivability: for autoclave sterilization• Cold temperature operability: for reliable operation in the

cold chain • Ability to supply high pulses: extra power needed to run

motors and communications circuits.

� Consumer or Industrial Grade?Certain devices will continue to be powered by consumer

grade alkaline and rechargeable batteries. However, indus-

trial grade lithium primary batteries are increasingly beingutilized in advanced medical equipment, as lithium chem-istry offers the highest specific energy (energy per unitweight) and energy density (energy per unit volume) of anyavailable chemistry. Lithium cells have a nominal open cir-cuit voltage of between 1.7 and 3.9V. Their electrolyte is alsonon-aqueous, permitting certain cells to operate in extremetemperatures.

� A Wide Choice of Primary Lithium ChemistriesAs Table 1 shows, several primary lithium battery chemistries

are available. For example, lithium manganese dioxide(LiMNO2) batteries are commonly used to power hand-heldglucose monitors. These cells are inexpensive, easily replaced,and good enough for most in-home applications.

Lithium sulfur dioxide (LiSO2) batteries deliver high pulses,especially at low temperatures, but add bulk due to their lowenergy density. These batteries also have high annual self-dis-charge rates.

Bobbin-type lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCL2) cells fea-ture the highest energy density, highest capacity, and lowestself-discharge rate, which is ideal for use in long-life applica-tions that require small amounts of current. Bobbin-typeLiSOCL2 cells can also operate at extreme temperatures (-80°Cto 125°C), making them suitable for autoclave sterilization.Specially modified bobbin-type LiSOCL2 batteries can with-stand temperatures as low as -80°C (with certain cells surviving

Powering Tomorrow’s Medicine: Critical Decisions for Batteriesin Medical Applications

LiSOCL2 w/hybrid Layer capacitor LithiumCharacteristics LiSOCL2 bobbin-type (PulsesPlus) metal oxide LiSO2 LiMnO2

Energy density (Wh/1) 1,420 1,420 680 410 650

Power Low High High High Moderate

Voltage 3.6V 3.6V – 3.9V 4.1V 3.0V 3.0V

Pulse amplitude Small High Very high High Moderate

Passivation High Fair Fair Fair Moderate

Performance atelevated temperature Fair Excellent Excellent Moderate Fair

Performance atlow temperature Fair Excellent Excellent Excellent Poor

Operating life Excellent Excellent Excellent Moderate Fair

Self-discharge rate Low Low Low Moderate Moderate

Operating temperature -80°C to 125°C -40°C to 85°C -40°C to 85°C -55°C to 60°C 0°C to 60°C

Operating life 20 years + 20 years + 20 years 10 years 5 years

Typical applications Bone healers, oxygen Automatic external Automatic external Automatic external Glucose monitors meters, devices that defibrillators (AED), defibrillators (AED), defibrillators (AED)

are sterilized, modifiable devices to be sterilized cauterizer, disposablefor the cold chain power tools, resuscitation

Table 1 – Primary Lithium Battery Characteristics.

From the Publishers of

Engineering Thermoplasticsfor Healthcare UseBenefits of Overmolding Technology Embedded Database Software to Manage RisksVote for Readers’ Choice Product of the Year

www.medicaldesignbriefs.com

December 2015

INSIDE: 2016 Product Buyer’s Guide page 28

74 www.medicaldesignbriefs.com Medical Design Briefs, December 2015

� TubeDyne Treating System3DT LLC, Germantown, WI, intro-

duces the TubeDyne Treating Systemdesigned to treat medical tube ends fora permanent bond to surgical instru-ments, housings, or other tubingincluding catheters. TubeDyne har-nesses arc plasma, which alters the sur-face energy on pebax and polyethylenetubing, creating a strong bond withadhesives, coatings, and ink. 3DT’s

TubeDyne uniformly and gently treats tubing within its self-contained,compact, tabletop unit.

For Free Info, Visit http://info.hotims.com/55596-169

� Thermistors for Medical MarketsSensor Scientific, Inc.,

Fairfield, NJ, designs, develops,and manufactures temperaturesensors for medical applications.Thermistor sensors are availablefor patient skin temperaturemonitoring, ambient tempera-ture monitoring, esophagealcatheters, and myocardial tem-perature probes. The company announces that its Sensor Scientific400 Series 2252 ohm thermistor is recognized as the de facto stan-dard in medical markets.


� MicroE Optira Series EncodersCelera Motion, Bedford, MA, introduces

MicroE Optira™ Series Encoders—the onlyencoder in its class to provide a resolution ofup to 5nm with all automatic gain control,interpolation, and signal processing carried

out in the sensor head. The Optira sensor head comes with two mount-ing options and a standard FFC connector that offers the flexibility anddurability required by designers focused on compact precision motioncontrol solutions.


� PM301 AC-DC Power SuppliesProtek Power North America, Inc.,

Hudson, MA, announces the PM301 Seriesof AC DC switching power supplies in a lowprofile package of 3 × 6 × 1.5 inches, capableof delivering 300 watts of continuous powerwith 10 CFM forced air or 200 watts at con-vection cooling. Product is available in openframe, L bracket styles, or factory configured with a cover-and-fanassembly. Supplies are specifically certified for IEC/EN/UL/ES/CSA60601 1 for medical applications.


� Multi-Market Electromechanical SwitchesPasternack, Irvine, CA, introduces a large

portfolio of in-stock general purpose multi-market coaxial packaged electromechanicalswitches for RF, microwave, and millimeterwave applications. These electromechanicalswitches are uniquely qualified for use innumerous applications including test &instrumentation and medical equipment.

The electromechanical switches consist of 134 connectorized designsthat are guaranteed for 1 million life cycles.


� Piezoelectric Mirror Positioning SystemNew Scale Technologies, Inc., Victor, NY, announces a new develop-

er’s kit in its M3 micro-mechatronic product line.The DK-M3-RS-U-1M-20 is a complete piezoelectricmirror positioning system with a galvo-scanner formfactor in only a 12mm diameter including the embed-ded closed-loop controller. Patented piezoelectricmotors along with position sensors, bearings, driveelectronics, and embedded firmware are integratedinto a miniature rotary stage.


� New Perforation CapabilityScapa Healthcare, Windsor, CT, announces

the launch of its new perforation capability forScapa Soft-Pro® Silicone Gel adhesives. Thenew capability allows Scapa Healthcare to offerits strategic business partners an expansive

range of skin friendly turn-key solutions for the advanced wound caremarket. Scapa Soft-Pro Silicone Gel is now available in a 2.8mm perfo-rated format. Material widths range from 90mm to 270mm.


PRODUCT OF THE MONTH� RF Module Optimized

for Implantable DevicesMicrosemi Corporation, Aliso

Viejo, CA, announces the availabilityof the smallest radio module it hasever produced. The ZL70323 is opti-mized for implantable medicaldevices such as pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, and neu-rostimulators—measuring just 5.5mm × 4.5mm × 1.5mm. Thenew radio module supersedes the company's ZL70321 and com-plements its ZL70120 radio module used for external devicecontrollers. Both modules are based on Microsemi's industry-leading ultralow power (ULP) ZL70103 radio transceiver chip,which supports a very high data rate radio frequency (RF) linkfor medical implantable communication applications.

The ZL70323 implantable module implements all RF-relatedfunctions needed to deploy the implant node in a MedicalImplantable Communications Service (MICS) RF telemetry sys-tem. The integrated antenna tuning circuit allows the module tobe used with a wide range of implantable antennas.

Patient health and device performance data can be quicklytransmitted with little impact to the battery life of the implanteddevice. The device operates in the 402–405 MHz MICS band.Multiple low power wake-up options are supported includingusing an ULP 2.45 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical bandwake-up receive option.


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www.medicaldesignbriefs.com

July 2015

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