Friday, March 29, 2024

How lasers are used in the manufacturing process of medical devices

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Today laser technology plays a key role in the manufacturing of medical devices. These devices often need to be small and non-intrusive, making advanced laser technology the best choice for cutting, drilling and marking them. Here we will take a further look into how lasers are used in the manufacturing process of medical devices and the benefits of this technology.

Lasers are used to mark medical devices like pace makers.

Image source: https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/6239779379_1bd9d4e3e6.jpg 

Marking medical devices

Laser technology is used to create unique device identifications on medical devices. These unique IDs make it easier to identify equipment and can be incredibly beneficial when products need to be recalled in order to improve patient safety. The industry and vendor specific ID markings are usually made up of long alpha-numeric strings, which may include the place and data of manufacture, aswell as things like the serial and part numbers for a particular device. Seeing as medical devices are more often than not small (with many being smaller than the average pencil) it takes precise and unparalleled laser technology in order to create the necessary markings. 

Advanced laser technology is able to produce markings without damaging the chemical makeup of a medic device which protects it from germ intrusion and corrosion. Laser marked surfaces have a resistant finish which will remain in a good condition, no matter how many times they have been cleaned and sterilised over the years.

Lasers can be used to mark everything from sensitive medical devices like catheters and insulin pumps, to products made of silicone and polyamides, which people struggled to mark in the past. 

Cutting medical devices

Diode lasers suitable for industrial applications are commonly used in the production of medical devices. The fact they offer such a precise energy output, helps to improve the reliability and quality of the medical devices. Today laser system developments can be configured by users, allowing them to select the pulse shape of the laser. This makes the laser more flexible and user-friendly, allowing for optimal precision.

Laser technology is used to cut medical stents. These are small, lattice-shaped tubes that are made from metal and are inserted into the arteries to restore blood flow. In order for medical stents to work properly their edges must be smooth and they must be completely sealed as to avoid infections from occurring. The fact that the tubes have such tiny diameters (usually between 1mm and 10mm in wall thickness) means that precision is required during the cutting process. Fibre lasers are the recommended choice for this process. Their pulse frequency and duration helps to significantly improve user control.

Welding medical devices

Nd: YAG pulsed diode lasers are often used to weld intricate and heat sensitive parts of medical devices such as pacemakers and electrical devices containing batteries. Seeing as these devices are implanted in the body, they need to be hermetically sealed. To do this a high peak-energy pulsed laser is used to create the seal without damaging the device.

Drilling medical devices

Pulsed Nd: YAG lasers can also be used to drill tiny and precise holes in medical devices. This includes the holes in those long and thin hypodermic needles you see at the hospital, as well as other drug delivery devices.

Ever wondered how they create the hole in hypodermic needles? The answer is using pulsed Nd: YAG laser technology. 

Image source: https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/3021193208_5b5ab5fc85.jpg

Conclusion

From reading this article, you will see just how important the role of laser technology is in the medical device manufacturing process. If you are looking to invest in laser technology then visit the range of Industrial lasers solutions from JK Lasers.

Not only is it used to cut and weld the devices, but it is also used to mark them without causing damage. Laser technology provides supreme accuracy and versatility, enabling medical device manufacturing companies to make continuous cost-savings, whilst producing products of the very highest standards.

Image credits:Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge (UNN)&stevendepolo

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