Stryker acquisitions; UMC Precision Manufacturing expanding

As Baby Boomers age and new medical devices are designed, manufactured, and brought to market, demand for contract manufacturing services continues to grow. A recent report indicated that the global medical devices contract manufacturing market was valued at $47.5 billion in 2017 and will increase 12.5% through 2026.

The report goes on to state that, “According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases accounted for an estimated 17.7 million deaths in 2015, representing 31% of all global deaths. Among these, an estimated 7.4 million were due to coronary heart disease and 6.7 million were due to stroke.”

This brings me to the first medical advancement covered this weekend…a stick assessing your heart. Read on… 

A stick to predict your risk of heart problems

A hand-held device with nano-sensors on the tip of the diagnostic stick measure heart disease biomarkers from saliva to accurately predict the risk of heart disease, failure or heart attack, then warn users via a simple app.

A deal led by Melbourne-based start-up, ESN Cleer, has just been signed to bring the technology to market.

RMIT University and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) are researching and developing the device for pilot manufacturing, with expectations to reach market by 2021.

ESN Cleer CEO, Leopoldt de Bruin, said the collaboration represented some of the best minds in medical device innovation, design, and manufacture.

"We're really pleased to be able to bring these strands together in addressing such a major global health challenge," De Bruin said.

The sensing technology, developed at RMIT's MicroNano Research Facility, was validated in the lab to measure biomarker concentrations a thousand times more precisely than levels in human body fluids.

"This marks a big step forward in technology for screening," says Research Co-Director of RMIT's Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group, Professor Sharath Sriram. "Often, blood tests are only conducted after a heart failure episode. Such reactive testing is too late, leaving people with debilitating illness or leading to deaths. Prevention is always better than cure, which is where this technology comes in, adding accurate prediction to the mix."

The IMCRC funding, which matches contributions from ESN Cleer, is enabling a $3.5 million project investment into addressing the challenge of manufacturing and large-scale production of these diagnostic swabs.

UMC Precision Manufacturing expanding

UMC Precision Manufacturing entered into a Letter of Intent with the City of Monticello Economic Development Authority (EDA) regarding the potential expansion of its facility at 500 Chelsea Road East, Monticello, Minnesota.

© UMC | https://www.ultramc.com

“Our current and future demand from key customers in the medical and aerospace industries are pushing the need to develop a new production facility to relieve capacity pressure at our existing site,” says Jaci Dukowitz, COO at UMC Precision Manufacturing. “The expansion will allow the incorporation of new processes, products, and customers. It’s an integral part of our next phase of growth and we’re excited to be embarking on this initiative.”

The expansion is expected to generate 60 new jobs within the first 3 years of the expansion and generate a new tax base through the construction of a new 40,000ft². The facility could eventually grow to approximately 85,000ft² with future employment at the site reaching 100 to 125 jobs.

Stryker to acquire Mobius Imaging & Cardan Robotics

Stryker signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mobius Imaging LLC, developers of point-of-care imaging technology, and its sister company, GYS Tech LLC (DBA Cardan Robotics), in an all cash transaction of approximately $370 million upfront and up to $130 million of contingent payments associated with development and commercial milestones. The acquisition provides Stryker’s Spine division with immediate entry into the intra-operative imaging segment and aligns with Stryker’s implant and navigation offerings.

© stryker

Mobius Imaging, founded in 2008, is focused on integrating advanced imaging technologies into medical workflow, which can enhance a clinician’s ability to obtain high-quality images. Its Airo TruCT scanner is a best-in-class mobile, real-time, diagnostic-quality CT imaging system. Cardan Robotics, founded in 2015, is working to develop innovative robotics and navigation technology systems for surgical and interventional radiology procedures.

And….ICYMI…recapping this week’s news:

Lasers enable engineers to weld ceramics
Researchers use an ultrafast pulsed laser to melt ceramic materials along the interface and fuse them together.

Software for diagnostics, fail-safe operation or robots
Researchers develop a software module to automatically diagnose defects in sensors, electric drives in a range of robots.

Boston Centerless appoints Impact Ireland ‹Metals› as distributor in Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom
The Boston Centerless / Impact Ireland ‹Metals› partnership will official roll-out to customers at the Medical Technology Ireland show in Galway, Ireland, September 25-26, 2019.

$100 GOM CT Challenge from Exact Metrology
Exact Metrology is standing behind the GOM CT scanner as being the most accurate industrial CT on the market, putting $100 challenge on the table