Joining Plastics in Medical Devices Problems and Solutions

Abstract

In designing a medical device where assembly is required, one must take into account not only the part design, but also the assembly process, the joint design and the level of process control. Factors, such as, material, part size, and geometry and end user requirements are critical and need to be considered to insure that identical results are obtained in the laboratory and the actual production environment. This chapter discusses some of the problems that can occur during the development process, along with possible solutions to rectify them. Today's medical device manufacturers are under tremendous pressure to bring products to market faster than their competition. It also explains that there are three considerations for medical plastics manufacturers: choosing the appropriate process and alternative methods, joint and general part design, and process control.