Database aids neurological device designers
Granta Design and ASM International, have released a new neurological module in the ASM Medical Materials Database. The resource covers materials used in neurological devices, combining engineering material properties and biomedical response data with neurological application information. It is fully integrated with the existing orthopaedic and cardiovascular data modules. This latest enhancement extends the range of devices for which the database enables device designers to make informed decisions. These decisions cover areas such as material selection, substitution, qualification, and regulation.
The new neurological data includes a representative and diverse sample of neurological devices and the materials (with specific grades, coatings, and more) used in those devices. Accessing this information, either through the online web portal, or from within a company’s in-house materials information system, is designed to provide:
Immediate access to essential materials information, including from previously approved (ie, 'predicate' devices) - reducing time, cost, and risk in design and certification, and offering new insights in the design process.
A means to screen, analyse, select, and source candidate materials and coatings for device applications and associated compatible drugs—including rapid selection against user-defined criteria.
The ability to trace all data back to published literature, FDA device approvals information, or manufacturers' datasheets and websites—users can open these directly from the database.
The database content represents thousands of hours of data acquisition, peer review, and verification. It details hundreds of material types, available from over 1000 providers, together with compatible coatings, drugs, adhesives, and processes. Coverage includes mechanical, physical, biological response, and drug compatibility properties. Each material is linked to devices in which it has been used.
Device coverage now includes more than 32,000 individual FDA approvals, as well as additional reference material. New neurological information includes records detailing nerve cuffs, dura substitutes, cranial orthoses, central nervous system shunts, cranial drills, ventricular catheters, bite blocks, intracranial pressure monitoring devices, electrodes, and nerve stimulators. Existing orthopaedic device coverage includes fixation, hips, knees, spinal, ankle, toe, elbow, finger, shoulder, wrist, cranioplasty, maxillofacial, and ossicular. Cardiovascular devices include artificial hearts, bypass devices, clips, defibrillators, filters, grafts, heart valves, hemostasis devices, pacemakers, patches, stents, and vascular embolisation devices.
Subscribers can access the database online.