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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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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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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18Jan 2017 by sam tilkins

Why 100% Vertical Integration is Important for Micro Components and Assemblies

General, Isometric, News
Complete Vertical Integration : ON SITE and IN SIGHT MATTERS. Working with Isometric Micro Molding maximizes quality and reduces risk. Isometric Micro Molding mitigates customer risk by providing excellence in precision by vertical integration and full control of the tooling, molding, assembly, automation, and CT scanning processes- ALL right here on site and in sight. With extremely accurate tolerances, handling a micro part multiple times can accumulate error, cause product damage, and/or contaminate devices and implants.  Many micro molders outsource some portion of a project outside of their company, including the tooling, automation, and metrology.  This creates the risk of not only critical timelines and confidentiality, but it also creates the risk of missing critical datum structures established to provide micron-level component or assembly tolerances. Managing each part of the process in-house allows us to maximize…
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