1796 – English physician-scientist Edward Jenner inoculates eight-year-old James Phipps with matter from a cowpox sore – proving that inoculating a person with cowpox pus can create smallpox immunity.

1800 – Harvard physician-scientist Benjamin Waterhouse performs first smallpox vaccinations on his four children.

1813 – U.S. Vaccine Agency established – then and now, continues to ensure safety, efficacy of vaccines.

1820 – Drastic decrease in smallpox mortality after vaccination begins.

1879 – French biologist Louis Pasteur develops technology for attenuated vaccines (uses weakened viruses).

1926 – Gaston Ramon, a veterinarian at the Pasteur Institute in France, develops diphtheria toxoid; working independently at the Wellcome Research Laboratories in London, physician Alexander Thomas Glenny does likewise.

1946 – Influenza vaccine approved for civilians.

1957 – Polio vaccine made widely available.

1971 – Combination measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine released after the individual vaccines were released in 1963, 1967, and 1969, respectively.

1990s – Scientists begin exploring how to simplify vaccines using mRNA, discovering it can create a stronger immunity by training the immune system to make antibodies and killer T-cells which kill cells infected with an intruder.

2017 – BioNTech clinical trial in Germany shows mRNA vaccine effective against melanoma.

2018 – Modern plant opens in Massachusetts to manufacture mRNA vaccines for cancer clinical trials.

July 2020 – Moderna publishes Phase 1 and 2 clinical trial results of COVID-19 vaccine.

August 2020 – Pfizer-BioNTech publishes Phase 1 and 2 clinical trial results.

December 2020 – U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues Emergency User Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

February 2021 – FDA issues EUA for viral vector COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen.

Source: Northwestern Medicine -

Vanta implantable neurostimulator

Medtronic plc received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Vanta, a high-performance recharge-free implantable neurostimulator (INS) with a device life of up to 11 years. It uses Medtronic’s AdaptiveStim technology for personalized pain relief that adapts to the patient’s movement or body position using a built-in accelerometer. AdaptiveStim technology automatically adjusts stimulation to maintain each patient’s optimal dose. The Vanta neurostimulator also provides full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) access with Medtronic SureScan technology.

The Vanta neurostimulator represents a 10% increase in longevity compared to PrimeAdvanced, Medtronic’s previous generation recharge-free device, while also being 20% smaller with a more rounded, ergonomic contouring for enhanced comfort. https://www.medtronic.com

Articulating instruments for Senhance Surgical System

Asensus Surgical Inc., a medical device company digitizing the interface between the surgeon and patient for a new era of Performance-Guided Surgery, received FDA 510(k) clearance for 5mm diameter articulating instruments, adding to the Senhance Surgical System technology platform. Articulating instruments increase access to difficult-to-reach areas of the anatomy by providing two additional degrees of freedom. These instruments have previously received CE Mark for use in the European Union.

Adaptable soft jaw

Adaptix Soft Jaw is engineered to be a one-size-fits-all alternative to standard, single-application aluminum soft jaws, using adjustable fingers and interchangeable tips to grip a variety of parts during machining. The fingers easily mold into place to conform to the shape of the target part and are then locked in place. This configuration process takes minutes, instead of hours, on average, with traditional soft jaws. The Adaptix fits directly onto a vise and is currently compatible with Kurt and Schunk brand vises, with other vise compatibility planned in the near future.

Norgren Workholding
https://www.norgrenworkholding.com

Connected digital inspection platform

Exalta, a smart device for reliable quality control of medical devices, integrates conventional microscopes with cameras into a connected digital inspection platform. The quality process becomes a digital approach where manual steps are minimized, resulting in fewer errors and easier traceability.

Exalta’s guided step-by-step work instructions safeguard consistent visual inspection across multiple operators in accordance with standard procedures. Data is stored during inspection and reports are generated automatically. The approval workflow allows users to track documentation with an audit trail and prepare for 21 CFR Part 11 regulations and GxP guidelines.

Leica Microsystems
https://www.leica-microsystems.com

Fully sealed air chuck

SMW-Autoblok’s AcuGrind air chuck features a built-in actuating cylinder (no hydraulic cylinder required) for extreme tolerances during turning and grinding applications. It provides accuracy to 0.000078" and is ideal for miniaturized components found in medical industries and applications requiring precise tolerances. It performs I.D. and O.D. clamping using a boring ring and pin. Its case-hardened base jaws allow for extra rigidity and repeatability within 0.002mm.

Available in 80mm to 250mm sizes, AcuGrind comes fully sealed as part of the Proofline Series chucks, greatly reducing overall maintenance. Permanent lubrication helps maintain consistent grip force throughout shifts.

SMW-Autoblok
https://www.smwautoblok.com

Index Corp. adds distributor in Virginia, Carolinas

As part of its continuing revitalized sales and service initiative, Index Corp. has partnered with Lexington, South Carolina-based Machinery Solutions Inc. to cover North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

“Our distributor network plays a vital role in providing a high level of responsiveness at a local level,” says Cris Taylor, president and CEO of Index in North America. “We are very selective in choosing distributors and Machinery Solutions that meet the high standards we set for our partners. Their addition to our network will be a significant sales and service asset to Index customers in the southeastern U.S.”

https://us.index-traub.com
http://www.machinerysolutions.com

Guill Tool’s in-house rheology lab

Seeking to obtain better results and minimize the time between testing and production, Guill Tool & Engineering built its own rheology lab at its facility in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The lab features several key machines that ensure optimum results when testing materials, especially new compounds to be extruded. The testing equipment includes a hybrid rotational rheometer, a differential scanning calorimeter, and a thermal conductivity meter.

Guill is now equipped to test its customer’s materials and work with them to create extrusion tooling that will ensure a competitive edge. Accurate simulation and interpretation by extrusion experts greatly reduce the number of reworks needed, as the tooling is more likely to produce a good product at the outset. In-house testing also speeds the turnaround on test results, reducing delays during the tool design process and offering better control over the processes and test parameters.

The rheology lab processes standard materials, custom formulae, and is equipped to mix plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, and all types of rubber and silicone.