The IVAM
IVAM is an international association of companies and institutes that specialise in microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials.
This 13-year-old association aims to open up new markets and set standards with its 242 members from 17 countries.
According to its latest survey, medical technology is top of the ranking list of the European MEMS industry’s most important target markets.
26 of the association’s members are exhibiting at this year’s COMPAMED.
Sensor technology
Sensirion is demonstrating the use of gas and liquid flow sensors in specific medical applications (e.g. anaesthesia, ICU, homecare ventilation, CPAP, medical diagnostics, analytics and drug delivery). For example, it is illustrating the use of its gas flow sensors in medical ventilation applications, and is discussing future sensor-based products that become possible thanks to its CMOSens technology e.g. implantable and disposable solutions.
Aceos GmbH is exhibiting three novelties: two new O2 sensors: ACE-Xmed2 with an ultra-fast response time (< 50ms), especially applied with respiratory applications for infants, and ACE-Xmed3 with a measuring range up to 60 Vol%O2 for patient monitoring; also, the ACE-DXmed1 – a plug&play sensor module to measure O2 and CO2
in spiroergometric applications simultaneously.
Tiny components
The Servometer Precision Manufacturing Group, LLC, is presenting custom electroforms, which are very precise, thin-walled, light weight precision components, that can be made as miniscule as 0.020î in diameter, with walls as thin as 0.005î, made of nickel, copper, implantable gold, silver, or a combination thereof, depending on application requirements. Servometer electroforms can be used as molds, precision tubing, precision nozzles and other lightweight, structurally rigid components in various applications, including both invasive and non-invasive applications within the medical industry.
Smart Products, Inc. is introducing its 101 Barbed Check Valve at the IVAM joint pavilion, which fits 1/8î ID tubing and is ideal for medical applications including blood pressure cuffs, kidney dialysis, post-surgery instrumentation, or any application where space is limited. Due to a spring-loaded design, the 101 plastic valve does not require pressure to close and can also be used as a pressure relief valve. A range of precise opening pressures from 2 PSI to 20 PSI are available. Also new is the 103 NPT Check Valve which mounts by screwing into a manifold. The thread size is 1/8î, and a choice of materials and opening pressures is available. Smart Products provides over three million possible check valve combinations with a modular, mix-and-match capability.
Measurement
Lasers for oxygen detection are being exhibited by eagleyard Photonics GmbH. The company has expanded its product portfolio by 760 nm and 763 nm Distributed Feedback (DFB) lasers in butterfly package. eagleyard’s new DFB lasers track down oxygen by the characteristic ‘fingerprint’ of the absorption spectrum. With narrow line width, the lasers can sense even residual amounts of oxygen, the firm reports. A mode-hop free emission guarantees a very precise gas analysis by means of absorption spectroscopy. The lasers are designed for applications in the medical, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Bonding technology
As a system supplier, PARItec GmbH is presenting micro technologies exemplified by the novel drug nebuliser PARI eFlow. This includes bonding technology with different materials such as steel, piezo ceramics, and plastics (e.g. polyimide) for medical use, as well as autoclavable or high-speed laser drilling for holes ex 2 µm diameter. ‘Micro fluidic systems are more and more common in medical technology. Such systems require new competences particularly in manufacturing technology,’ said Dr Roland Stangl, Director Microtechnologies of PARI Pharma GmbH.
This article was published on 11/14/2007