By using 3D printing, the soft-grasp infant myoelectric prosthetic arm (SIMPA) is less expensive to produce than conventional prosthesis and can be custom made to the individual child's required size without the need for traditional plaster casting techniques.
University of Lincoln
3D-printed sensor-operated prosthetic arm for toddlers
Prototyped by UK engineers, the 3D-printed prosthetic arm for toddlers is sensor-operated and designed specifically for children under two years of age.
The lightweight device with soft grip fingers uses an armband fitted with sensors to detect electrical signals naturally conducted by muscles. This enables the toddler to grip and pick up objects in much the same way as they would with a natural arm.
While muscle-stimulated (myoelectric) prostheses are routinely used by adults, this new smaller device, developed by a team at the University of Lincoln, UK, is the first of its kind to translate the same technology into dimensions suitable for a toddler.
Previously, as well as being expensive to build, producing prosthesis for children under two has been considered problematic as a child's fast growth rates mean that devices would need to be frequently replaced. By using 3D printing, the soft-grasp infant myoelectric prosthetic arm (SIMPA) is less expensive to produce than conventional prosthesis and can be custom made to the individual child's required size without the need for traditional plaster casting techniques.
Another issue with existing prosthetics for children is the high rejection rates. The early fitting of a functional myoelectric device has been shown to reduce this risk, which is something that would be made possible with the use of the new SIMPA device.
Dr. Khaled Goher, senior lecturer in the School of Engineering at the University of Lincoln and the lead engineer on the project, says: "Many traditional active prosthetics are unsuitable for toddlers as they are very time consuming to construct and heavy. Our proposed system would utilize a seven-channel pediatric armband with motion sensors allowing infants to benefit from and become familiar with active prosthetics, with evidence showing that the earlier the exposure, the more likely for the prosthetics to be accepted and used throughout life.
"So far, the device has been tested for grasp force and effectiveness using a range of everyday objects including toys, bottles and building blocks but the next stage of the project is to test the prototype design on toddlers. We are planning to use algorithm training which would utilize games to engage with the toddlers and attune the system to the 'grab' signals from the armband,” Dr Goher adds.
Toray's Raytela polymer optical fiber for minimally invasive surgery.
Toray Industries
What's next in wearables; Toray’s Raytela; UR’s cobot leasing program
Raytela polymer optical fiber negotiates 9mm radius bends; Apollo is the first wearable to help the body beat stress; DLL offers UR’s customers tailor made financing
Only 1 week left in January 2020, where did the time go? In a few weeks our medical device design and manufacture industry forecast issue will be out discussing how things will look in the next 3-5 years. The industry is solid and expanding. People need medical technology and orthopedic joint replacement is not just for Baby Boomers. Last year I had 3 friends under age 50 receive hip transplants; one is getting her other hip replaced this year. Also a nice start to 2020 was the permanent repeal of the medical device tax, helping manufacturers feel more stability in the decade.
Oh, and decade, some argue it’s not the new decade until 2021 – a battle of the 1’s and 0’s has ensued. Those saying the new decade started in 2020 claim they count 0-9; those saying it will start in 2021 count 1-10. Either which way you view it, welcome to 2020 where medical device and technology advancements are in high demand.
Toray’s Raytela polymer optical fiber
Toray Industries has met the increasing demand for high quality imaging in the minimally invasive surgical market with the Raytela fiber optic cable. It’s a very flexible and highly efficient transmitter of high intensity light so it requires less intensity at the light source. An additional special characteristic is the wider degree of light broadcasting at the distal end. These special capabilities result in significantly smaller diameter devices that require fewer light cables.
New devices developed to diagnose new disease indications must negotiate significantly more tortuous paths than previously capable. In addition to the smaller diameter, the Raytela optical fiber can negotiate 9mm radius bends and bend back upon itself 180° with no diminution in light intensity. As compared to glass fibers used in many devices, Raytela has more resistance to fracture and longer life.
Raytela is available in 4 diameters from 250µm to 1,000µm.
Apollo Neuroscience’s Apollo is the first wearable to help the body beat stress by rapidly restoring its natural equilibrium for better sleep, energy, and more. It doesn’t just track your body – it uses vibration to improve recovery from stress. Originally developed by physicians and neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh, Apollo’s gentle vibration waves signal safety to the body and improve HRV – all through the sense of touch.
Apollo is the first wearable to help the body beat stress.
Worn on the wrist or ankle, the wearable required a material that withstands everyday products – such as lotions, perfumes, detergents – as well as drops and daily wear and tear. Makroblend M525 PC+polyester blend from Covestro delivers the toughness and chemical resistance needed to create this durable yet lightweight device.
Zachary Williams, market development, Healthcare – Polycarbonates, Covestro LLC, says, “Makroblend M525 PC+polyester blend meets two important requirements – toughness and chemical resistance – to help Apollo users find balance with a strong and lightweight device that remains unchanged when exposed to a variety of personal care products.”
“Apollo is about empowering people to take control of their health – that’s why we chose Covestro as a partner,” says John Maholtz, COO at Apollo Neuroscience.
The device works in tandem with an intuitive app which, according to Apollo, features a variety of programs that help users:
Increase energy
Improve focus
Accelerate recovery
Support meditation
Deepen relaxation
Promote sleep
Universal Robots’ financial services leasing program
Universal Robots (UR) launched its new cobot leasing program in collaboration with DLL, a global vendor finance company, enabling benefits of automation without worrying about cash flow and seasonal fluctuations.
DLL offers UR’s customers tailor made financing and leasing programs designed to meet the needs of the modern manufacturing business, while enabling growth. As business needs change, customers will have the option to schedule payments to fit fluctuations in cash flow, upgrade to new equipment, or add cobots anytime during the contract term. At the end of the finance term, customers will have the option to buy the equipment for a fraction of the original cost, upgrade to newer technology, extend the finance term or simply return the equipment.
UR’s distributor network will work directly with DLL’s dedicated finance experts in each country to provide new payment and leasing options for interested customers. Through the experts’ specialized asset knowledge, flexible financing solutions and strategic marketing resources, they will support UR to execute the growth strategy. End users will continue to experience the benefits of working with UR, including its global reach, local support, service and maintenance, training offerings through its online UR Academy and global network of Authorized Training Centers, and UR’s extensive UR+ Ecosystem.
Registration is open for the March 11, 2020, BTG Labs webinar featuring Dr. Giles Dillingham, a specialist in surfaces, interfaces, and adhesive bonding.
GIE Media Inc./Today's Medical Developments Magazine
Free webinar: Plasma treatment for high-volume medical device manufacturing
Registration is open for the March 11, 2020, BTG Labs webinar featuring Dr. Giles Dillingham, a specialist in surfaces, interfaces, and adhesive bonding.
Plasma treatment can engineer surface properties of polymeric materials to promote adhesion and other characteristics. Now, recent development of atmospheric pressure treatment systems has made continuous, rapid plasma-treatment processes practical for cast, molded, extruded, and thermoformed parts. Medical device and electronics makers have been adopting these processes for surface engineering of materials at high rates.
At GrindTec 2020, full-line supplier Vollmer, will be highlighting its expanded range of machines for rotary tool production across the three fields of grinding, eroding, and laser machining. Shown for the first time at GrindTec in Hall 1 (Stand 1006/1027), the new VLaser 270 completes the trio. In addition, around a dozen grinding and erosion machines can also be seen live at the show. This will include the VGrind 340S, the VGrind 360, and VPulse 500, as well as the CHX 840, CHD 270, CHP 840, and CHF 840 models for circular saw machining. Vollmer’s trade fair appearance will be rounded off with the company's range of services, training, and IoT applications.
Vollmer is a full-line supplier The trade fair appearance of sharpening specialist Vollmer at GrindTec 2020 will exhibit in Augsburg as a full-line supplier while celebrating its 111 years in business. As a leading technology and service company, Vollmer develops sharpening machines and automation options for precisely machining cutting tools made from carbide and tipped with polycrystalline diamond (PCD). Vollmer's latest innovation is the VLaser 270 laser machine, one of the full-line supplier's trade fair highlights. Using the power of the laser light and linear drive technology, PCD-tipped tools can be precisely machined with the VLaser 270.
Vollmer will be bringing around a dozen sharpening machines and automation solutions to GrindTec that relate to eroding and grinding technology. The VPulse 500 and QXD 250 wire erosion and disc erosion machines will be on show, just like the VHybrid 360 combined grinding and erosion machine. Tool manufacturers can use the VHybrid 360 to both grind and erode carbide and PCD tools such as drills, milling cutters, or reamers in a single set-up. Three models from the VGrind family will be on show in Augsburg: The VGrind 360E basic model, the VGrind 360, and the VGrind 340S with linear drive for machining extremely small carbide tools. With two new optional features, the VGrind 360 optimizes productivity for tool manufacturers. Due to a higher processing speed, the material removal rate can be significantly increased while simultaneous replacement of grinding wheels and tools significantly reduces non-productive time.
Machines for machining carbide-tipped circular saw blades are traditionally well-represented at the Vollmer GrindTec stand. On the global grinding technology market, the Vollmer machines abbreviated as CHX, CHP, CHF, and CHD are some of the industry’s best-selling technology.
Service package and digital services At GrindTec Vollmer will also be providing information regarding its service package for training, finance, maintenance, and repair. With the digital initiative V@dison, the full-line supplier brings together applications for Industry 4.0 and IoT (Internet of Things) to connect people and machines. The Visual Support app provides an innovative new access path, which offers Vollmer customers the opportunity to connect directly with the Vollmer help desk. Installed on a smartphone or tablet, the app supports the machine operator online, allowing them to take and exchange live pictures of a machine using the video function. Vollmer will also be explaining how end users can connect various machines with each other via the IoT umati platform. The umati platform is based upon the OPC UA protocolthat was developed by the German Machine Tool Builder's Association (VDW), together with around 50 machine manufacturers.
Vollmer subsidiary Loroch, based in Mörlenbach, will also be represented at GrindTec 2020.
Loroch celebrates its 120th anniversary Vollmer subsidiary Loroch, based in Mörlenbach, will also be represented at GrindTec. Loroch, also celebrating an anniversary in 2020 – its 120th – displayed will be various Loroch automatic saw blade sharpening machines including the CNC-controlled PowerStar 850 sharpening machine and the fully automated K850 M evolution and KSC 710 models.
United Grinding North America's US headquarters
United Grinding North America
Manufacturing industry promotions, company sales
Markus Stolmar is United Grinding North America’s president/CEO; Romi names Clayton Andrello direct sales manager; NSL Analytical Services acquired by May River Capital; Rego-Fix names William Obras as GM Americas.
Stolmar was selected for this position after serving nearly 20 years in various leadership capacities within the company, starting as the product manager for the optical inspection equipment for Walter, then based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Stolmar relocated to the North American headquarters in Miamisburg, Ohio, in 2016 as vice president of tool division sales for the Walter and Ewag brands before being appointed as executive vice president in charge of customer care, finance, human resources, and operations in 2019.
Markus Stolmar, President & CEO, United Grinding North
Stolmar’s appointment to this role follows several years of rapid growth for the Ohio-based company that’s home to nearly 200 employees.
“I have always felt proud to work for United Grinding. It is an incredible honor for me to lead and serve this great company of ours. United Grinding North America has a beautiful new home [referring to the 110,000ft2 facility opened in 2017] and has grown considerably thanks to new and existing customers, talented employees, and our intense focus on helping our customers overcome some of their greatest manufacturing challenges,” Stolmar says.
Romi appoints Clayton Andrello as direct sales manager
Romi USA has appointed Clayton Andrello to direct sales manager. Based out of the company’s U.S. headquarters in Erlanger, Kentucky, Andrello is responsible for managing all of Romi’s direct sales efforts in the U.S. and Canada, with a focus on Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. His duties include developing sales and marketing strategies as well as customer development and support.
According to Rafael Boldorini, general manager at Romi USA, “Clayton is a dedicated and talented manager here at Romi and we’re excited about his new position. He has worked as both a service engineer and service manager, so he knows what it takes to help our customers succeed. While we continue to sell through distribution in the majority of the country, we are selling direct to customers here in the Tri-State area close to our headquarters, with Clayton leading the team.”
Andrello started with Romi in 2008 as a service engineer, then was promoted to service manager in 2014. As direct sales manager, he will now work more closely with Romi’s customers in the Tri-State area to help them solve their machining challenges.
“I hope to share with our U.S. customers, the Romi Difference,” Andrello says. “We have enormous resources and extensive experience around the world and we are solving our customer’s challenges with proven and reliable solutions. I’m working hard to raise awareness of the Romi brand and show the industry how unique and effective our machine tools are.”
NSL Analytical Services acquired by May River Capital
NSL Analytical Services has been acquired by May River Capital, a Midwestern investment firm with a unique approach to building businesses through partnership and collaboration.
NSL Analytical first opened its doors in 1945. Under the more recent leadership of Larry Somrack, the company has grown to approximately 75 employees serving more than 1,700 customers globally from two locations in Warrensville Heights, a Cleveland, Ohio suburb. Today, NSL’s chemists, metallurgists, and technicians help customers achieve the highest standards of product quality from the design phase to product launch; testing metals, alloys, plastics, composites, and ceramic materials in powdered, solid, and liquid form.
“The board and I carefully evaluated the next phase of development for NSL, our employees and our customers. We are pleased to be partnering with a group in May River that is like-minded and aligned with us on both the cultural values and the strategic path necessary to meet our collective goals,” Somrack says.
Somrack will continue with NSL Analytical as president emeritus. Joining the leadership team with Somrack will be Ron Wesel, Carey Lewis, and Andy Housley. Wesel, who will serve as chief executive, is a seasoned general management and commercial leader with a career built on leading global teams through transformational growth in small and large businesses alike. Lewis, who will serve in growth and development, brings significant experience guiding strategic vision in the testing, inspection, certification, and compliance industry, including with Eurofins Scientific, EAG Laboratories, and Underwriters Laboratories. Housley, who will lead finance and administration, began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP prior to leading global financial operations within Eurofins Scientific and EAG Laboratories.
Rego-Fix names William Obras as general manager Americas
Bill Obras, GM Americas, Rego-Fix USAManufacturer of Swiss precision toolholding technologies Rego-Fix AG has named William Obras as the company’s General Manager Americas in charge of Rego-Fix USA, Rego-Fix Brazilm and Rego-Fix Mexico. In his new position, Obras will play a key role in the implementation of the company’s regional management business concept, which will further strengthen sales and service support as well as customer responsiveness.
The new Rego-Fix strategy, together with the company’s various facilities, will foster more of a regional culture. This will intensify the company’s localized market support and ability to tailor its services and technological developments to meet the specific needs of manufacturers within these individual areas, while also being geographically close to those manufacturers for more collaborations.
Obras will oversee sales, marketing, and technical operations of the Rego-Fix North and South American facilities. In response to its increasingly global market, the company initiated a rebranding of its facilities within each region, incorporating the regional management concept. Obras’s responsibilities will also include financial and strategic considerations as they pertain to various American markets.
“The regional management business concept is an exciting new focus for us at Rego-Fix,” Obras says. “We continue to expand our localized presence in not only North and South America, but also throughout Asia and other key markets for Rego-Fix to provide customers with fast, localized service and support in addition to precision toolholding technology geared toward their individual manufacturing applications.”
During his 23-year career at Rego-Fix, Obras worked closely with President Andreas Weber, who now serves as the executive chairman of the company.
“Bill has been a cornerstone in our efforts to build Rego-Fix USA’s strong North and South America market presence. We now look to him as a catalyst for continued growth and market leadership,” Weber says. “Bill is an extremely driven executive with a proven track record, and all of us at Rego-Fix have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead our American efforts and contribute to the company’s success around the globe.”
Posted by Elizabeth Engler Modic
