20Sep 2017 by sam tilkins
Tiny Medical Devices – Designing for Success (part 2)

Tiny Medical Devices – Designing for Success (part 2)

General, Isometric, News
Tiny Medical Devices – Designing for Success (part 2) VALIDATION Picture this – your medical device is designed and you’re ready to validate the tiniest component – the technology piece that enables your intellectual property. You dive in headfirst, knowing your part has +/- 5 micron tolerances on a plastic part. You start like any engineer would start – with a solid stack-up tolerance plan and <20% gage R&R – you should be fine, right? Consider this general micro molding rule of thumb – BEFORE you even design the injection mold. If you work backward with the numbers, you’ll have ~0.0004” total tolerance Total   10 microns = (0.000397”) Tooling = 20% of 10 microns = 0.00008” (wow, really? This is difficult to do but SO critical to hitting the final…
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28Jul 2017 by sam tilkins
The Merging of Medical Device Manufacturers and the Pharmaceutical Industry

The Merging of Medical Device Manufacturers and the Pharmaceutical Industry

General, Isometric, News
The Merging of Medical Device Manufacturers and the Pharmaceutical Industry As product technology advances and the general demand for healthcare expands, the industry line between medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies is being blurred as innovative products continue to emerge. Manufacturers are exploring new technologies that adhere to better patient compliance, improve product safety and utilize unique drug delivery methods. These new technologies include:- Small adhesive patches that are encapsulated and swallowed. Once in the body they dissolve and stick to the wall of the intestine to deliver time-released medication- Implantable devices that automatically run tests and dose medications- Transdermal patches that are embedded with micro-sized needles that deliver medication over a period of time As technology advances and healthcare treatments become more complex, the pharmaceutical and medical device industries…
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13Jul 2017 by sam tilkins
Micro Scale Manufacturing

Micro Scale Manufacturing

Isometric, News
The Big Trend For Small Devices is Drug Delivery One day in the late 1980s, Donna Bibber looked over the shoulder of a “mad scientist” colleague at Corning Life Sciences – he was working on lab-on-a-chip technology, and Bibber realized that it could be a game-changer. She is now Vice President of Isometric Micro Molding, which addresses the growing market need for expertise in device miniaturization. Isometric specializes in making and assembling tiny components, primarily for medical device companies. Some of the work is quite experimental – only around one approach in ten gets taken to the next level – and, as Bibber puts it, they have to “kiss a lot of frogs.” Bibber divulges the current trends and challenges in the world of the production of micro-scale drug delivery…
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07Jun 2017 by sam tilkins
Medtronic Executive Joins Isometric Micro Molding

Medtronic Executive Joins Isometric Micro Molding

General, Isometric
Isometric Micro Molding, Inc. announced today the hiring of Scott Robinson as Engineering Manager-Development. Mr. Robinson most recently served as a Program Manager and Engineering Manager for Polymer & Feedthrough Development at Medtronic Energy & Component Center (MECC) in Minneapolis, leading large development projects. Scott’s career spans over 20 years in medical device development where he has obtained 17 patents related to medical device components. “Scott brings an incredible depth and breadth of high precision medical device experience to Isometric, and will play a key role in helping us scale the company to unprecedented levels.” Donna Bibber, CEO As Engineering Manager-Development, Mr. Robinson will have accountability for the full development cycle of medical and drug delivery devices. He will also drive projects through tooling and molding development to validation, providing…
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26May 2017 by sam tilkins
Tiny Medical Devices – Designing for Success

Tiny Medical Devices – Designing for Success

General, Isometric, News
It’s highly likely that you, as a designer, will run across a part that makes your existing molding supplier sigh, cringe or even groan. It’s times like these that you need to listen to those body sounds and seek out experienced micro manufacturers that work on tiny dust specks every day. Tiny medical devices, micro parts with challenging geometry, wall thickness, L:D or L:T ratios, or multiple materials are welcomed by those experienced and versed in the proven process of success. This “Proven Process” is broken down into a series of proven steps that will fit most tiny medical component and assembly designs. We will break down this Proven Process in five key areas, easily remembered by the letters “V.I.T.A.L”: V: ValidationI: InspectionT: ToolingA: AutomationL: Learning These vital steps will…
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27Apr 2017 by sam tilkins
Miniaturized Medicine on the Rise

Miniaturized Medicine on the Rise

General, Isometric, News
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon (wait, yes it does) to understand the need for tiny devices that can maneuver in delicate tissue, tiny arteries, rigid ligaments, or membrane-like scaffolds. The trend continues and the corresponding need for micro components and assemblies that enable devices across all medical and drug delivery market segments. Some of these devices are as follows: Neurology:• Aneurysm Prevention• Robotic Surgery Devices• Cranial screws• Neuro stimulation• Drug Development Transfection Nozzles    Endocrinology:• Glucose Monitoring Needle Assemblies• Insulin Delivery Sheaths    Oncology:• Drug-infused membrane patches• Needle Arrays• Transdermal patches    Ophthalmology:• Macular Degeneration Laser Nozzles• Aspirators• Capillary Nozzles• Glaucoma Drains• Intraocular Implants• Punctum Plugs• Intraocular Slow Release Drug Delivery Implants Cardiology:• Catheter tips• Biopsy jaws• Robotic Surgery Devices• Ligation Clips Orthopedics:• Bio-resorbable implants• Biomimicry devices• Suture anchors•…
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10Mar 2017 by sam tilkins
Secrets of Success in Micro Molding – part 2

Secrets of Success in Micro Molding – part 2

General, Isometric, News
Micro Molding: High Aspect Ratio, Thin-Wall Micro Molded Devices Secrets of Success in Micro Molding - Part 2 The smallest components in a medical device or drug delivery device are often the enabling components of the device. Examples of these devices are Polymeric needles, catheter sheaths, microfluidic channels, endoscopic links, and PCR wells. As the components of these devices get smaller, the tolerances and wall thicknesses follow suit. Tolerances of +/- 5 microns (~+/- 0.0002”) and wall thicknesses of 25-250 microns (0.001”-0.010”) are common. Although challenges exist in creating these tolerances in both the steel mold and the micro molded components, the determining factor for wall thicknesses this thin is dependent on the aspect ratio, where the wall thickness is with respect to gate location and end of fill. The…
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23Feb 2017 by sam tilkins

Secrets of Success in Micro Molding – Part 1

General, Isometric, News
Secrets of Success in Molding - Part 1 Medical-device, electronics, and biopharmaceutical manufacturers need new micro-molded products to create tinier, less invasive, and/or space-saving micro devices. Micro-molded components can be as small as dust specks and/or have features that small. State-of-the-art micro parts can have molded features such as dimples around 3 microns in depth and diameter—more than 80 million of them across a surface the size of a microscope slide. The tiniest parts in an assembly are the ones most likely to be a challenge and are also usually the enabling component of the entire device’s form, fit, and function. Similarly, micro tooling created by micro machining is critical to these parts ever making it to validation. Many new advances in micro-machining technology are enabling the design and manufacturing…
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09Feb 2017 by sam tilkins

Proven Process for Extreme Precision Micro Devices and Implants

General, Isometric, News
Isometric Micro Molding is the only micro molding company in the world with 4 in-house key capabilities for successful micro molding: Micro mold building, Micro molding, Micro Automation, and CT Scanning Metrology.  These are the four key factors for controlling quality and delivery for micro molding and assembly success. This blog will cover all four elements over time to help the reader with risk mitigation of micro molding devices. Our first blog series will focus on the micro mold design and build. High volume micro molding requires a specialized and proven process before the first plastic pellet is melted. Plan, plan, plan, execute is key to each micro molding project’s success. Talking about the mold isn’t always a comfort zone for those seeking micro molded plastic parts, however understanding the…
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23Jan 2017 by sam tilkins

Isometric Companies Unveils Micro Molding Division

Isometric, News
NEW RICHMOND, Wisconsin, January 24, 2017  – Isometric Companies, Inc., a privately held corporation today announced their new micro molding division, Isometric Micro Molding, Inc. With this new division, Isometric Companies, Inc. extends its global leadership in precision micro solutions which include Isometric Tool & Design, Inc., a precision injection mold and automation fabrication company established in 1990. With 60 employees and 33,000 square feet of manufacturing space, Isometric becomes the largest medical-focused micro molder in the U.S serving the intraocular, vascular, neuromodulation, orthopedic, and drug delivery device markets. Isometric Micro Molding, Inc. offers substantial value to their customers through the vertical integration of their in-house micro molding, micro mold fabrication, CT scanning metrology, and micro automation services. Isometric’s solutions-based micro molding capabilities enable worldwide, disruptive technologies and devices for…
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