Critical components, technologies, and designs to consider for catheter delivery systems

By Mike Schultz, Spectrum Plastics Group, Vice President of Innovation and Development

Minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) that utilize steerable catheter systems represent an expanding market in the healthcare space. As the variety of catheter-based procedures continues to grow, with physicians and therapies demanding tools and technologies that increase access and performance, the steerable catheter market is wide open for innovation.

MIS procedures, especially cardiovascular and neurovascular applications, must often navigate tortuous pathways to gain access to more distal vessels and specific targeted anatomy. The success of these procedures depends on advanced catheter systems that deliver therapies to precise locations through narrow access points, such as the femoral artery. As MIS procedures become more delicate and complex, physicians require enhanced control and steerability of catheters to precisely locate and deploy the treatment without dama…

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Laser processing and its role in medical device manufacturing

By Matthew Nipper, Director of Engineering – Laser Processing Technologies, Spectrum Plastics Group

Laser micromachining is one of the highest-precision processes utilized in medical device manufacturing. In fact, lasers may be the only option to produce delicate features, especially in thin or sensitive materials. Lasers can cut micron-sized features quickly with sub-micron tolerances, without defects—thereby reducing or eliminating secondary finishing processes, shortening cycle times, and expediting time to market. Because of these advantages, lasers are quickly becoming the preferred method to micromachine miniaturized and/or complex parts and products for medical devices, in virtually any shape or pattern.

Medical device companies work with Spectrum Plastics Group on innovative product designs that require microscopic features that are best produced using laser machining—for example, catheters, medical balloons, and devices for neurovascular, cardi…

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