When developing new medical devices, engineers are almost certain to use custom components, as standard ones frequently fail to meet their specific requirements. Custom components, such as fiber optic pressure sensors, are typically the only way to address unique design constraints, achieve the necessary precision and performance, and drive innovation that differentiates products in the competitive medical device market.
Nevertheless, engineers must carefully manage factors that can lead to extra delays and costs when choosing their custom pressure sensors. Poor communication with the supplier regarding requirements can result in performance issues and additional development costs. Unsecured supply chain and lack of scalability can also make transitioning to mass production inefficient and expensive.
Consequently, adequate support and proactive collaboration are essential to mitigate these risks and avoid setbacks. Let’s investigate how Resonetics can assist you and make your development easy.
How Does Resonetics Facilitate the Development of Your Custom Fiber Optic Pressure Sensors?
Manufacturing Processes and Equipment Adapted for Rapid Prototyping
At Resonetics, all sensors are manufactured in-house using advanced micro-manufacturing equipment, enabling the rapid and cost-effective prototyping of custom products. Even the sensitive element of the pressure sensor—the micro-optical mechanical system (MOMS)—can be customized to deliver enhanced accuracy and fine-tune the sensitivity within a specific measurement range.
Resonetics’ lead time for manufacturing a sensor from scratch is impressively short—less than a month. This stands out in an industry where competitors often depend on external suppliers with 12 to 20-week lead times and costly minimum order quantity requirements.
In short, Resonetics’ manufacturing processes and equipment are adapted for prototyping, offering cost efficiency and quick accessibility. Since the same processes and equipment are used for prototyping and mass production, customers are assured of receiving the same product when transitioning from one stage to another.
Multidisciplinary Team Dedicated to Rapid Prototyping
Resonetics has a dedicated team of engineers and operators specializing in rapid prototyping. With easy access to all necessary production equipment, they can assemble, calibrate, test, and connectorize prototypes in close collaboration with the engineers developing new medical devices. They provide valuable advice and support to ensure the success of the new development.
Building on this expertise, the Resonetics team can customize all the parameters of the fiber optic pressure sensor that interact with the catheter, such as pressure range, material composition, response time, sensor geometry, and fiber optic length. These customizations ensure the pressure sensor meets specific application requirements and integrates seamlessly into the catheter.
Dual Capacity of Prototyping and Mass Production
When choosing a pressure sensor manufacturer for their new medical devices, it is helpful for engineers to distinguish those focusing on mass production versus prototyping. In essence, manufacturers specializing in mass production focus on high-volume, standardized products with limited customization, emphasizing cost efficiency and economies of scale. In contrast, prototype manufacturers prioritize small-batch, highly customizable products using flexible processes to support rapid prototyping and iterative design, often at higher per-unit costs. Catalog sellers, on the other hand, do not manufacture but buy and resell pre-made components, offering limited or no customization and focusing on quick delivery from stocked inventory.
Resonetics is a versatile manufacturer, combining the flexibility of small-scale, highly customizable prototype production with the efficiency and scalability of large-scale manufacturing. Using advanced processes and equipment, under the same roof, the Resonetics team can seamlessly transition from creating unique prototypes for design validation to producing standardized products in high volumes. During the prototyping phase, Resonetics prioritizes scalable processes that can be efficiently utilized for mass production.
Prototypes at Competitive Costs and Within Reasonable Time Frames
With Resonetics, engineers developing new medical devices get custom fiber optic pressure sensors tailored to their specific requirements, delivered at competitive costs and within reasonable time frames. This is rarely the case with off-the-shelf components.
This level of customization not only optimizes technical performance but also empowers Resonetics’ customers to develop unique medical devices that will lead the market and leave competitors struggling to catch up.