Medical Device Designers Meet at MD&M West

Kathryn Tomiello, Staff Editor

The Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West exposition will celebrate its 24th anniversary this year. It will take place from January 29 to 31, 2008 at the Anaheim Convention Center (Anaheim, CA). Visitors can also attend the event’s conference for education and networking opportunities from January 28 to 31, 2008. Topics include factors to consider when designing medical devices, risk management, documentation control, and more.

Since 1985, MD&M West has given medical device manufacturers, engineers, and others a look at current and future trends in medical device design. At this year’s show, attendees will learn about the latest advances in medical-grade materials, assembly and electronic components, CAD and manufacturing, production equipment, automation and controls, packaging materials and machinery, as well as enterprise-wide IT, sterilization systems, and contract service providers.

Attendees can compare products for virtually every medical device and equipment application from myoelectric controls for rehabilitative devices to smart sensors and actuators for drug delivery systems.

A ticket to MD&M West includes complimentary admission to eight industry-related, co-located shows: WestPack, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, Electronics West, PLASTEC West, Green Manufacturing Expo, PTX West, and Automation Technology Expo (ATX) West.

Show hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 29th and 30th, are from 10 AM to 5 PM. Registration opens at 8 AM. Show hours on Thursday, January 31st are from 10 AM to 4 PM, and registration opens at 9 AM. Hall E opens at 9:30 AM every day. Conference hours are from 9 AM to 4 PM Monday through Thursday.

Canon Communications, LLC
www.devicelink.com/expo/west08

Here is a preview of exhibitors from MD&M and ATX West 2008.

Cross blocks for square and round tubes

J.W. Winco’s cross blocks for square and round tubes are for mounting perpendicular and horizontal rods through cross block holes. Socket cap screws secure them in place.
The blocks are made of black glass-filled nylon plastic, and the socket cap screws and hex nuts are stainless steel. Cross blocks hold 1/2 in. round tubing or 7/16 in. square tubing.
The company also manufactures adjusting rods in American Standard 303 stainless steel with a polished finish. The rods have a 1/2 in. diameter and come in several lengths, as well as blank type, with groove, tapped type, and milled flat type.

J. W. Winco, Inc.
http://www.jwwinco.com/
MD&M West, Booth #4535

Ø12 mm miniature step motor

MicroMo’s ADM1220 miniature step motor has an external motor-diameter of 12 mm and a length of 17.2 mm. Holding torque without current is 2.4 mNm, and high boost torque is to 4.1 mNm. The motor gives 20 full steps per revolution in full step mode; microstep operation at speeds from 10 to 6000 rpm; and 160 microsteps per revolution with a maximum error of +/- 0.2º.

MicroMo Electronics, Inc. and the FAULHABER Group
www.micromo.com
MD&M West, Booth #1615

Configurable component tech seminar

Misumi USA will display its single-axis actuators, linear guides, miniature slides, locating pins, linear shafts, rollers, and more.

Also, the company will conduct its Configurable Component Technical Seminar onsite to demonstrate the advantages of configurable components. Real-world examples will show how you can save time and money with configured components in small quantities, with no tooling costs, no minimum order requirements, and the option of same day shipment.

MISUMI USA, Inc.
www.misumiusa.com
ATX West, Booth #4257

Linear magnetic encoders

LM10 linear magnetic non-contact encoders from Renishaw have an IP68 readhead that rides at 0.1 to 1.5 mm standoff over a self-adhesive magnetic strip scale for high count positioning.

The encoders come in digital or analog output models with resolutions of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 µm. Maximum velocity for sinusoidal output is 25 m/s. Digital models position at 25 m/s for outputs at 100, 50, and 10 µm resolution; 20 m/s at 5 µm; and 4 m/s at 1 µm. Travel is to 100 m.

Renishaw, Inc.
www.renishaw.com/encoders
ATX West, Booth #4267

Retaining rings

Smalley’s light-duty, metric retaining rings are circular grain — coiled, not stamped. For dimensional stability, they eliminate gaps on the retaining ring surface. Installation and removal are easy. What’s more the stainless steel rings are a cost effective option to plated carbon steel. They also come in exotic alloys. The series is available for both internal (VHM) and external (VSM) grooves.