Tag Archive for: Remington medical

Breathe Easier with Single-Use Bronchoscopes.

A bronchoscopy procedure is an endoscopic technique for examining the inner airways of a patient. It is performed for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. It involves a thin tube, a bronchoscope, being inserted through the nose or mouth and being fed down the throat into the lungs.

A procedure like this is typically performed to try and find the cause for an issue with the lungs, like a persistent cough or abnormal chest X-ray. This procedure typically has very few complications and, if they do occur, they are usually minor. Symptoms like difficulty swallowing, minor bleeding and fever are common. One of the primary concerns in this type of endoscopy is the risk of infection, and that is what a new study has addressed.

 

Are Single-Use Bronchoscopes Better Than the Reusable Alternative?

There was a recent study conducted and funded by 3M Company and supported by Healthmark Industries, that tried to assess the cleanliness level of reusable bronchoscopes after they had been cleaned and disinfected. The results of this study are especially vital to note because of the type of patient most often undergoing endoscopy procedures. By and large, patients having this procedure are already at high risk of infection from factors including:

  • Organ Transplant Status
  • Existing Critical Illness
  • Chronic Diseases
  • Immune-Suppression due to Malignancy

These risk factors make cleanliness and sterilization one of the primary concerns for any diagnosis or treatment tools. It was previously believed that reusable bronchoscopes would be more cost-effective since they could be sterilized and reused. However, this new study has shown a flaw in this strategy.

 

How Were These Bronchoscopes Tested?

This particular study was conducted across three large hospitals in the United States, which included two transplant centers. The researchers assessed 24 clinically used flexible tube bronchoscopes after they had been used and cleaned according to each facility’s methods and practices. The study found that all of the bronchoscopes were still contaminated in some way. They found signs of:

  • Retained Fluid
  • Brown, Red, or Oily Residue
  • Scratches
  • Damaged Insertion Tubes and Distal Ends
  • Filamentous Debris
  • Microbial growth, Including Mold
  • Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia
  • Escherichia Coli/Shigella

It was determined that two out of the three hospitals were using substandard reprocessing methods. However, even when strict guidelines were followed, the high-level disinfection was still not achieved. The results of the study recommended an update in quality management and reprocessing guidelines at all of the testing sites.  

 

Is Single-Use More Cost Effective than Cleaning Reusables?

One recommended, innovative solution for this issue is to simply switch to using single-use plastic bronchoscopes rather than continue to try and sterilize the reusables. According to a 2017 study, it is estimated that reusable bronchoscopes cost $424, and present a 0.7% chance of infection. While single-use technology requires on average $305 and shows a 0.0% risk of infection.

 

Reusing flexible endoscopes comes with costly hurdles like reprocessing and repairs. Since 2010, there have been steps forward in disposable bronchoscopes, and they have been through multiple generational stages. Each generation came with upgrades to the technology.

  • The 2nd generation was optimized for intubating.
  • The 3rd generation was focused on bedside bronchoscopy, had a suction channel, and came in three sizes; large, regular, and slim.
  • The 4th generation came with better image quality and a more durable design.   

 

To learn more about studies like this and other steps forward in medical device safety, look to Remington Medical. We have been invested in the disposable medical device industry since 1992.     

 

4 Reasons MedTech Outsourcers Should Look Closer At Cold Forming

MedTech outsourcers are feeling an increasing amount of pressure to deliver reliable, cost-reducing solutions for their customers while still maintaining positive business outcomes. This tension means that these outsourcers must find alternative sources for the traditional products that we need. They need a way to produce equal or greater performance at lower costs. This mission is a tall order for much of the medical device manufacturing community.

 

What Is Cold Forming?

The cold forming process involves a technique where the application of force with a punch to a metal blank staged in a die. The force of the punch exceeds the alloy’s elastic limit which causes the plastic to flow until the metal blank assumes the shape bound by the punch and the die. One of the benefits of this process is that it does not damage the original metallurgical structure of the raw material as other methods do. In fact, the result of this process is stronger formed parts.

This is not a ground-breaking new method. It has been around for many years, but it has been overlooked for some time. Due to its low visibility in the industry, cold forming has largely been ignored by medical device companies. In this blog, we are going to discuss a handful of the reasons that MedTech outsources should start to consider cold forging as an effective alternative.   

 

The Advantages Of Cold Forming

  • Cost Savings: No matter what industry you operate in, the cost of production must be considered as the main priority. One of the most significant factors in favor of cold forming is that fact that it basically eliminates scrap or wasted materials. This forming process compresses the raw material rather than removing the excess. Getting rid of wasted materials cuts back on the costs of energy, labor, and recycling.  
  • Dependable Supply: Cold forming machines are able to run 24/7, and only one operator can manage multiple machines at the same time. This means that there are rarely any issues with meeting the demands of back orders or late deliveries. Your supply chain will run smoothly and be able to adapt to increased demands quickly.
  • Clean Operation: Very little lubricating oil is needed in the cold forming process. This makes the machines easier to clean and upkeep less extensive. The forming process itself creates less waste than most alternatives as well. All of this also means that cold forming is a more eco-friendly process.
  • Increased Durability: As we’ve explained before, the process of cold forming compresses the raw material which increases the tensile strength of the product. Many consumables in the healthcare industry require durability for their use, and this process delivers a stronger overall product.

 

The Other Possible Solutions

There are several possible solutions to this issue. Each one has its benefits, but in this blog, we have focused primarily on one possible solution. We still believe it is appropriate to mention some of the alternatives:

  • Screw machining is a resource in the medical device industry that delivers high-quality, repeatable, and tight-tolerance products.
  • Additive manufacturing like metal injection molding or 3D printing is also another possibility.
  • Cold forming is an often overlooked possibility that offers several advantages and is the topic we focused on today.

The Final Verdict On Cold Forming

The motivation behind this blog is to promote all of the advantages of cold forming in the medical device industry. Our goal is to offer possible new product design alternatives to engineers in the world of outsourced manufacturing. Despite all of its benefits, cold forming has often been overlooked. This technique could be used to lower costs, reduce waste, enhance product yield, and raise quality.


To learn more about cold forming and the process behind other medical device manufacturing methods, reach out to Remington Medical today.