Officials for Carl Zeiss announce the appointment of Michael Kirchner as the new president for the Industrial Metrology group in North America. Kirchner succeeds Greg Lee, who retired after more than 30 years of invaluable contributions and leadership. Prior to this role, Kirchner had successfully established a manufacturing operation for Carl Zeiss Shanghai Co. Ltd. where he was general manager for over eight years. In 2012, he also helped implement manufacturing in India, lending his supply chain and process expertise.
   
Kirchner began his career with Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology as an intern in New York, NY, where he first met his predecessor, Greg Lee. Working his way through the company, Kirchner has held various management positions with increasing responsibility. These positions included product manager, regional sales manager, area sales manager, customer care manager, and vice president of service in North America prior to his last role as general manager for manufacturing in China.

“I am pleased and grateful that Michael Kirchner is succeeding me and leading IMT into the future. I have known and worked alongside Michael for many of the last 26 years and I couldn’t think of a more qualified and deserving leader to take my place,” says past president, Greg Lee.
 

Teleflex Inc. officials announce the expansion of the company’s portfolio of Hudson RCI respiratory solutions for the critical care infant as part of its Breathing, Made Easier campaign. The addition of the Babi.Plus Bubble PAP Valve for nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) strengthens the Teleflex respiratory product portfolio, which already includes the Hudson RCI Infant Nasal CPAP Cannula System and the ConchaTherm Neptune Heated Humidifier.

The Babi.Plus Bubble PAP Valve provides a convenient, economical means to apply positive airway pressure to critical care infants. The unique design delivers accuracy and stability throughout the course of therapy, allowing the clinician to focus more on patient care and less on the device. The Babi.Plus Bubble PAP Valve is low-maintenance, and the ergonomic design allows airway pressure to be easily set without the cumbersome time-consuming tasks typically associated with bubble devices.

The Hudson RCI respiratory solutions also include the Hudson RCI Infant Nasal CPAP Cannula System, which features soft, anatomically curved prongs that enhance patient fit and a luer fitting on expiratory connector that allows proximal airway pressure monitoring.

In addition, the unique components of the ConchaTherm Neptune System work together to deliver optimal humidification for the critical care infant while simultaneously maximizing clinician efficiency. The ConchaTherm Neptune Heated Humidifier features an adjustable airway temperature and gradient control that allows clinicians to customize therapy – maximizing humidity delivered while minimizing circuit condensation. The selection of breathing circuits, Concha Column and accessories are designed to support a wide range of ventilation strategies for the critical care infant.

“We are excited about the addition of the Babi.Plus Bubble PAP Valve to our comprehensive portfolio of respiratory solutions for the critical care infant,” says Cary Vance, president, Anesthesia, and Respiratory Division. “At Teleflex, we are committed to helping clinicians improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs through our Breathing, Made Easier initiative.”

VertiFlex Inc. officials announces FDA 510(k) clearance of two new products to its portfolio: The Totalis Direct Decompression System and UniVise Spinous Process Fixation System.

“These regulatory clearances represent important milestones for VertiFlex as we rapidly expand our portfolio of innovative interspinous technologies,” states Earl R. Fender, president and CEO of VertiFlex Inc. “We leveraged the unique benefits of our Superion Interspinous Spacer System and strong IP position, to develop these differentiated products to address two significant market opportunities. This accomplishment highlights the company’s core strengths and fundamental commitment to provide physicians with multiple options to best treat patients in the least invasive methods possible.” 

The Totalis Direct Decompression System is a unique set of surgical instruments designed specifically for performing minimally invasive direct decompressions of the lumbar spine. The system utilizes VertiFlex’ proprietary interspinous access platform and includes both reusable and disposable instruments to treat spinal stenosis by removing targeted bone and soft tissue. The Totalis Direct Decompression System was 510(k) cleared by the FDA in November 2012. 

The UniVise Spinous Process Fixation System is a spinal implant system designed to provide fixation of the spinous processes as an adjunct to lumbar spinal fusion. The system leverages the company’s core technology and intellectual property. The UniVise system is the least invasive spinous process fixation system available and was 510(k) cleared by the FDA in December 2012. 

The Superion Interspinous Spacer System (ISS) is a motion-preserving spinal implant system for the treatment of moderate lumbar spinal stenosis. Superion is the most advanced and least invasive ISS available or in development for performing indirect decompressions of the lumbar spine. The Superion implant is delivered from a posterior midline approach through a proprietary interspinous access system developed by VertiFlex. The small incision can be closed with a single suture and performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Once in place, it may reduce pressure on the nerves that cause pain and allow the return to a more active lifestyle. Superion has been CE marked since 2007 and is currently an investigational device in the U.S. Enrollment completed in the Superion pivotal IDE trial with 470 patients in December 2011. It has been implanted in more than 2000 patients worldwide. 

ThermoFlex LLC, manufacturer of thermoformed, vacuum formed and thermoset products, has expanded and added new equipment and product offerings.  The expansion includes the addition of a new 3-station, rotary thermoformer that will provide increased production and energy efficiencies with larger part-sizes than its current cabability.  The addition also includes several injection molding machines in the 150 to 700 ton capacity range that will increase its dunnage production capacity.

According to Greg Hancock, ThermoFlex vice president and general manager, “We’re excited about this expansion as it will allow us to better service and support the ever expanding Southeast U.S. manufacturing, automotive OEM and supplier markets providing a wide range of packaging, dunnage and material handling products”. 

The products ThermoFlex designs and manufacturers help its customers protect a wide range of parts and components from damage during shipping and in-process handling.