Med-Tech Innovation Product and Services
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Collaboration delivers an innovative device
Start-up, Endomagnetics has developed and patented an ultra-sensitive hand-held probe that is capable of detecting magnetic materials in the body. Use of SentiMag in conjunction with magnetic tracers eliminates the need for radioactive materials and enhances technology for applications such as breast cancer screening. Integrated Technologies (ITL), an instrumentation design consultancy and manufacturer, played a pivotal part in bringing the product to market. Endomagnetics recognised the potential of its magnetic sensor technology to revolutionise the ability of a practitioner to perform sentinel lymph node biopsy in 2008. The device would make testing possible virtually anywhere with hand-held equipment, with no dependency on access to radioactive materials. The first concept prototypes were developed between University College London and the University of Houston. This system was functionally similar to the target product, but required the use of a liquid nitrogen cooled sensor. Although effective for concept demonstration and initial trials, this was not practical for commercial use or manufacture.
A development and manufacturing partner was needed to help deliver a commercially viable product designed for ease of manufacture. Endomagnetics enlisted the help of ITL and the team took on responsibility to create a design for production prototyping and volume manufacture. The project won a joint £400k R&D grant from the UK Technology Strategy Board. This was matched by a £350k seed venture capital investment in June 2009 and the SentiMag programme was underway. Endomagnetics’ CEO Dr Eric Mayes said, “From a quality perspective, we sit under ITL’s established ISO 13485 medical device accreditation, so there is really no need for us to spend additional time or resources on achieving that for ourselves - this is a major advantage for us.”
In two years, the company had CE-marked manufacturing prototypes and the first four are now complete. The manufacturing
Free rapid prototyping report
Rapid prototyping bureau, Laser Prototypes has released a report on the medical applications of rapid prototyping to coincide with its presence at MEDTEC UK this April. The nonbiased industry specific report is aimed at enabling medical companies to better visualise the range of applications for prototyping technology.
Covering a wide variety of
prototyping technologies including stereolithography, 3D printing and vacuum casting, this report is comprised of a number of live applications and recent case studies. From surgical aids to the printing of human skin, the applications of rapid prototyping in the medical industry are ever evolving. Laser Prototypes is an ISO 13485 approved supplier of prototype models, with 20 years’ experience in the medical Industry. To receive
www.med-techinnovation.com
a free copy of this limited edition report email
roisin@laserproto.com quoting “Medical Report” or visit the company at its stand 1334 at MEDTEC UK, being held on 6–7 April at the NEC, in Birmingham, UK.
Laser Prototypes Europe Ltd tel. +44 (0)28 9096 0680,
www.laserproto.com
Seamless expansion
Runfold Medical raised new equity in 2010, which has enabled the expansion of the company’s new facilities in Fareham, the acquisition of Zimed Ltd and working capital to meet its burgeoning growth demands. The company specialises in complete supply chain solutions, product design and development, outsourced manufacturing, technology consulting and regulatory submissions.
Runfold Medical Ltd, tel. +44 (0)1428 751 999,
www.runfoldmedical.com
April 2011 ¦ 47
line at ITL is set-up for a number of additional units, which are
dedicated to early 2011 clinical equivalency trials. It expects to ramp up production for volume shipments into CE countries in the fourth quarter of 2011. “Europe is clearly our business entry point for SentiMag. This is largely driven by ITL’s
rapid achievement of the CE qualification for us, but is also a reflection of the very lengthy nature of US approvals processes. Our plan is to fully engage [with] these in 2011 in parallel with our production ramp in Europe,” added Mayes.
He continued, “ITL continues to act seamlessly as an integral part of our R&D team today and guides us on all manufacturing aspects too.” So what comes next for the partnership? Endomagnetics will need ITL to implement its logistics support, quality management, field support and product returns processes. It is expected that ITL will deliver the full supply chain and all product distribution: Endomagnetics will place orders on ITL’s logistics organisation, which will ship direct to the end customer. With qualified manufacturing facilities opened in China in 2010, ITL is well placed to support Endomagnetics’ manufacturing on a worldwide basis, when the time comes.
ITL is exhibiting at the MEDTEC UK show in Birmingham this April.
Integrated Technologies Ltd tel. +44 (0)1233 638 383,
www.itl.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54