Medical Design Briefs - September 2021 - 6

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I NS I DE STORY
For surgical procedures requiring irrigation, pumps are one of the more significant medical
device components, and pump selection is paramount to operational success. Watson-Marlow
Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) specializes in fluid management, offering over 60 years' experience
in high-quality components for medical devices. MDB spoke to Rodd Turnquist, National
Sales Manager US, OEM Division, WMFTG, to find out more about selecting the best pumps for
medical devices and accelerating time to market.
MDB: Why are peristaltic pumps the
best choice for medical devices?
Rodd Turnquist,
National Sales
Manager US, OEM
Division, WMFTG
Rodd Turnquist: Peristaltic pumps
have several operational advantages
for surgical devices over traditional
positive displacement pump designs.
Fluid is fully contained within the
tube, allowing straightforward setup
with single-use, presterilized tubing
that gives total hygiene and guaranteed
integrity, re moving risk of cross
contamination - essential in a sterile environment.
MDB: Can you elaborate on how these pumps work?
Turnquist: Peristaltic pumps are a type of positive displacement
pump. The pumps use the principle of peristalsis as the
basis for their design. Peristalsis, in a biological sense, is a
series of muscle contractions that moves food to different parts
along the digestive system. Rollers or shoes in a peristaltic
pump compress the tube or hose as they rotate, creating a vacuum,
which draws fluid through the tube.
Nothing but the pump tube or hose touches the fluid, eliminating
the risk of the pump contaminating the fluid, or the fluid
contaminating the pump. The fluid is drawn into a pump tube,
trapped by the pumphead roller, and expelled when the next
roller passes over the tube. As the rollers rotate, a vacuum is
formed in the tube, pulling in more fluid for the next roller pass.
The complete closure of the tube when it is occluded
(squeezed) between the roller and the track, gives the pump its
positive displacement action, preventing backflow and eliminating
the need for check-valves when the pump is not running.
MDB: What are the advantages of WMFTG pumps for use in
minimally invasive surgery?
Turnquist: Precision instruments have facilitated the rise of
minimally invasive surgery, transforming patient outcomes.
Surgical ablation is used in many of these devices, requiring
precise temperature control to prevent scarring and unwanted
tissue damage.
The 400RXMD pump was purpose-designed to deliver a
range of precise pressure settings with a simple, robust design.
Innovative safety features include a new profiled tube holder
that ensures correct tube positioning, minimizing human error
and enabling rapid, trouble-free tube loading.
Understanding the changing needs of the industry alongside
extensive research and development ensures that the pump
meets the demands of surgical ablation applications.
MDB: How does the 400RXMD provide these benefits?
Turnquist: The ability to factory-set the pump means that the
pressure/flow profile can be fine-tuned to the requirements of
each application. The pump delivers flows up to 500 ml/min at
pressures exceeding 6 bar. Automated tube clamps and simple
lever loading enable simple tube-set changeover.
As the definitive OEM peristaltic pump for use in surgical
ablation systems, this pump specifically meets the needs of
catheter, cannula, or needle-cooling applications. We test every
pump to each customer's specific test protocol.
MDB: Why is customization important?
Turnquist: Customization plays an important role to optimize
functionality, and our engineers are uniquely placed to adapt
each pump's design. This includes compatibility with custom
tubing types and sizes, integration into the device, triboelectric
effect reduction, and branding.
MDB: What is the advantage of working with a pump specialist
throughout the design process?
Turnquist: All product needs are considered from the start:
performance, functionality, size, ease of incorporation, and final
appearance. This helps accelerate the process, increasing
potential ROI. It also means engineers are on hand to support
product testing, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
MDB: How does WMFTG stand out?
Turnquist: Our customers prioritize delivering high-quality
devices quickly to maximize return on investment. We understand
the industry and can accelerate time to market by choosing
the best pump and optimizing it for each application, focusing
on usability and fail-safe tubing interchange. WMFTG pumps
deliver repeatable, accurate performance, providing confidence
in reliability.
Our experience helps manufacturers meet U.S. FDA or
European Medical Device regulations, or meet the ISO 13485
medical device standard. Based on a strong foundation of
ISO9001: 2015, our quality systems have dependable change
management processes and product traceability. These, along
with a comprehensive design process, help customers maintain
regulatory documentation such as design history files and
device master records.
To find out more about Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group,
visit the full-length version of this interview, available online at
www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/InsideStory0921.
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