Walter Helitronic Raptor and Helitronic Raptor Diamond grind and re-sharpen rotationally symmetrical tools. Raptor – Well-suited for shops that don’t require automatic tool support systems, automatic grinding wheel changers, or similar features, but still need flexibility for diverse types of tools.

• 15.4hp (11.5kW) spindle
• Up to 12.6" (320mm) diameter; 11.0" (280mm) length tools, including end face operations
• Walter Helitronic Tool Studio software for tool grinding efficiency

Raptor Diamond – Fine Pulse Technology produces tools with smoother, perfected exteriors and cutting edges along with super-fine finishes. Fine Pulse Technology finely finishes tools made from the most common polycrystalline diamond (PCD) types, from 10µm grain size to coarse-grained formulations. Diamond is suitable for shops that do not require features such as automatic tool support systems or automatic grinding wheel/electrode changers, but still need a high degree of flexibility in the working area for diverse tools.

• 15.4hp (11.5kW)
• Up to 15.7" (400mm) diameter, 10.6" (270mm) length tools including end face operations
• Standard HSK interface for electrode/wheel grinding

United Grinding North America Inc.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEXTREMITY

FDA 510(K) clearances

Nextremity Solutions Inc.’s upcoming DuoHex CH Cannulated Hammertoe System has an optimized array of implant threads for a variety of patient anatomy, a fully-guided cannulated system, and in-situ adjustment. DuoHex CH addresses hammertoe deformity in patients and provides surgeons with a two-piece threaded implant for optimum bone purchase. The design of the cannulated implants and instruments provides targeting and technique guidance for repeatable outcomes. Implant-to-implant rotational stability is made possible by the implant’s hexagonal locking mechanism.

Royal Philips Philips Biosensor BX100 is cleared to help hospitals monitor COVID-19 patients. The wireless, wearable biosensor adheres to the chest to collect, store, measure, and transmit respiratory rate and heart rate – the top two predictors of deterioration – every minute, as well as contextual parameters such as posture, activity level, and ambulation. The solution is CE marked and supports surveillance of higher acuity patients moving from intensive care units (ICUs) into lower acuity general care areas. Lightweight and disposable, the 5-day, single-use patch can integrate with a scalable hub to monitor multiple patients across multiple rooms.

STANDARDS

A proposed ASTM Int’l standard could provide functional ergonomic guidelines for exoskeleton design, construction, and use. ASTM’s committee on exoskeletons and exosuits is developing the proposed standard with guidelines to reduce the risk of injuries or illnesses resulting from repeated trauma or repetitive motions associated with exoskeleton use in industrial, military, medical, first responder, and recreational cases.

As we move forward through this COVID-19 crisis, let’s debate what we have done right and what we could do better in future pandemics.

One of the authors of this column recently had an elective procedure that had been delayed three months due to COVID. While the procedure was minimally invasive, the outcome was less than ideal.

At the start of the COVID response, the elective procedure was becoming necessary due to daily health challenges. However, amid forced postponements of these types of surgeries, our patient’s health continued to decline.

The internal pain was severe enough to raise blood pressure to higher levels than previously experienced, highlighted by a hypertensive crisis (190/115) in the middle of the night which led to our patient’s first 911 call and first ride in an ambulance to the local emergency room (made even more uncomfortable as no family member was authorized to accompany). By the time the procedure was finally allowed to take place, our patient was in significant daily pain and having difficulty eating. The good news: our patient is recovering and doing well.

Our patient got off somewhat easy.

Millions of patients worldwide have been severely, negatively impacted by similar COVID crisis choices. The National Cancer Institute predicted that there will be more than 10,000 unnecessary cancer deaths in 2020 due to under-treated cancers in the U.S. alone.

In June, the European Society of Cardiology estimated that more than half of heart attack patients were either not getting care or receiving delayed treatment, increasing cardiology related fatalities.

In orthopedics, GlobalData reported in June that approximately 80% of cases were being delayed or left untreated. Think about the impacts of someone with arthritis being unable to walk and forced into a wheelchair. It makes us wonder if the authorities made the appropriate decisions regarding elective procedures during this pandemic.

While we understand the concern about healthcare staff levels and personal protective equipment (PPE), in hindsight, it’s obvious those fears were misaligned. The reality in most states turned into hospitals laying off healthcare workers due to financial hardship caused by inoperable hospital areas. It’s possible some of these hospitals and care centers may never recover.

Ultimately, COVID crisis management led to a somewhat cruel irony – patients that needed care could not get it because their healthcare practitioners were furloughed, laid off, and unemployed – not because they were unavailable due to COVID. It’s possible that more people will suffer from a lack of access to care (including mental health) than due to COVID.

As experts prepare for the next pandemic, we sincerely hope this sad irony is included in their policy making consideration!

MedWorld Advisors

MedTech MindSet is a monthly column discussing opportunities in the medical industry. About the authors: Florence Joffroy-Black is a long-time medtech M&A and marketing expert with significant experience in the medtech industry and is now the CEO of MedWorld Advisors. She can be reached at florencejblack@medworldadvisors.com. Dave Sheppard is a former medical OEM manufacturer Fortune 500 executive and is now a principal at MedWorld Advisors. He can be reached at davesheppard@medworldadvisors.com.

1. When should a shop look at incorporating grinding onto a turn-mill center?

The most common barrier to grinding on a turn-mill is that many parts require heat treatment after machining, prior to grinding. The advantages of performing all operations on a single machine are largely negated if you have to remove the part midway through production for a separate process. Medical manufacturers rarely encounter this issue, as components use materials that don’t require heat treatment.

The chief concern for medical components is holding the part – many parts feature complex geometries better suited to custom workholding on a milling center. That said, a considerable percentage of medical parts can be held in a turn-mill and most are suitable candidates for completing grinding operations within the machine. A machine builder’s engineering department can validate a part’s suitability to this approach.

2. What benefits do medical manufacturers achieve by combining operations?

Many medical manufacturers must outsource grinding, so being able to complete production in-house on existing equipment saves on cost, speeds turnaround times, and improves quality control.

For those using dedicated grinding centers in-house, consolidating to a single machine streamlines production by eliminating part flow from machine to machine. Completing parts in a single setup removes the potential for inaccuracy from setting up a part multiple times. Additionally, removing one or more dedicated grinding centers frees up floor space, consumes fewer labor hours, and reduces cost per part.

3. How fast is turn-mill center grinding vs. dedicated grinders?

Cycle times for grinding operations can be reduced up to 50% on a turn-mill. When finishing a part on a separate grinding center, programmers must account for loss of accuracy introduced by moving it between machines. This includes leaving extra material on the part to be removed via grinding to meet required tolerances. If the part is being cut to completion on a single machine, the programmer can maximize material removal via turning and perform far less grinding.

4. What key features does a turn-mill center need to succeed with grinding?

It’s imperative the machine offers rigidity and accuracy to handle grinding. Without the requisite rigidity, you can end up with chatter, making it impossible to achieve the needed surface finish. Likewise, accuracy and thermal control of the machine are required to hold high tolerances. The machine should include a coolant chiller as well as active temperature control of its various components.

5. If a shop decides to move forward with this approach, what additional actions are needed in terms of hardware, training, etc?

Once the decision is made, integration is fairly straightforward. At INDEX, we typically offer customers turnkey solutions, so it’s fairly plug-and-play for machines dedicated to a single part or part family. Shops wishing to move additional parts to the machine on their own only need a basic knowledge of grinding processes, such as which wheels to use, appropriate cutting data, etc. Programming grinding on a turn-mill is no more complicated than programming the primary metal cutting operations.