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The Latest Developments in Medical Technology

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Submitted by AAP Marketing on
The Latest Developments in Medical Technology

Medical technology cannot compete with the blitz of new and increasingly critical diseases and disorders unless it constantly evolves and innovates its products. From the largest nuclear scanners and other complex medical devices to the smallest components like miniature endoscopes and the medical connectors  cable assemblies that accommodate them, health and medical technology remains the number one indicator of how well a country is able to meet or exceed the needs of the most vulnerable.

One of the latest developments in medical technology involves using 3D printing to predict leaky heart valves. Nearly 20 percent of U.S. adults over 75 years old have been diagnosed with an aortic valve blockage due to calcified deposits. Since most elderly patients are at risk of suffering severe complications during open heart surgery to implant correctly sized heart valves, 3D printing for examining valves is a non-surgical option that avoids such complications. It can also greatly reduce the chance of inserting valves that leak because they do not fit properly. Data from CT scans are used to produce the physical models of damaged aortic valves. A device called a "sizer" is then used to determine the exact size of the replacement valve.1

High Voltage Medical Connectors for Medical Devices Demanding Steep Power Output

High voltage medical connectors are essential for powering CT imaging and x-ray equipment, radiation therapy devices, robotic medical devices, and dermatological lasers. They provide voltagesfrom 1kVDC to 100kVDC to ensure equipment operates correctly. Oil-tight, panel-mount, right-angle, and in-line configurations are solutions available for medical devices needing high power outputs in addition to specific wire configurations.

Oil-tight high voltage medical connectors power medical equipment that use transformer oil as a dielectric. Polarized designs provide accurate orientation and enhance user safety when used in combination with multi-pin connectors.

Silicone over-molded high voltage medical connectors guarantee optimized bonding with the silicone jacketing found on some HV wires. These connectors help create flexible, small, and efficient HV cable assemblies. Multiple latching options ensure a secure connection is achieved via friction-fit, quarter-turn locking, wire snap-latch, or Pulse-Lok auto-latch.

Meeting the Growing Demands for Quality Assurance and Cutting-edge Medical Devices

The FDA has established strict rules regarding how manufacturers of medical devices must develop and implement quality assurance systems to ensure products meet or exceed specifications and requirements applicable to individual products. Quality assurance protocols used to regulate medical devices are referred to as Current Good Manufacturing Practices, or CGMPs.

Considering the severe financial and reputational consequences of using medical devices that are noncompliant with CGMPs, it is difficult to imagine anything more vital than obtaining compliant high voltage medical connectors, medical cable assemblies, and other medical device components. When examining medical device supplier options, businesses should automatically eliminate suppliers that only employ the minimum of quality assurance procedures needed to meet compliance requirements.

When searching for a component supplier, a medical device company should look for suppliers whose appreciation and adherence to strict quality standards matches their own. The reason for this is simple - predictable, superior quality demands proven experience with manufacturing medical devices, high levels of engineering expertise, and digital integration of business and quality systems. In addition, excellent medical device manufacturers will ensure that suppliers understand all aspects of their quality assurance systems as well as their system of process validation. The responsiveness of medical device suppliers, especially at the start of a B2B relationship, is further indicative of whether buyers can depend on a supplier for prompt acknowledgement of questions or problems arising during transactions.

Amphenol Alden understands the demands of medical device manufacturers in the landscape of strict regulatory requirements and constantly developing product technology. Our expertise, history, and excellent customer service capabilities uniquely position us to be a dependable and capable supplier of medical connectors and cable assemblies. To see how we fit into your new product technology, contact us today!

  1.  “Predicting Leaky Heart Valves with 3D Printing.” Wyss Institute, Harvard University, 10 December 2018, https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/predicting-leaky-heart-valves-with-3d-printing/.

 

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