According to the Freedonia Group, the demand in the U.S. for implantable medical devices will increase 8.3% annually through 2014. This growth will come through the development of new technologies and improved materials. The fastest growing product categories will include spinal implants, cardiac stents, and orthobiologics– substances that orthopedic surgeons use to help injuries heal more quickly.

Some of these devices will need implantable accelerometers, such as the Endevco® 12M series family of compact, high-sensitivity surface mount piezoelectric accelerometers. These devices do not require external power to operate. Weighing just 120 mg and operating in temperatures of up to +150° C, the accelerometers feature the proprietary Piezite-type P-8 bimorph sensing element, operating in bender mode. This material offers low base strain sensitivity, low pyroelectric output and high charge output for its size. Because of advanced manufacturing techniques and materials R&D, these units are routinely incorporated into implantable medical device designs to support such critical applications as patient activity indicators, cardiac pacemaker and defibrillator rate response, implanted pain management device monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose monitoring, artificial joint pressure measurements and external and implanted drug therapy systems.

Meggitt Sensing Systems
www.meggittsensingsystems.com

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