Materials testing in the metals and plastics industries has become an increasingly significant part of Zwick’s activities. The same is true of medical engineering technology, the number of orders received from this field having doubled in the last four years alone.
22 July 2009 saw around 50 specialists from research and industry attend a symposium organized by Zwick in Ulm on the topic of ‘testing medical technology’. The event provided an opportunity to learn about the latest developments, trends and testing methods and attracted a number of expert guest speakers.

From the field of biomechanics, Dr Stefan Döbele, of the Munich University of Technology hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar, presented a study of recording micro-fracture movements, while Yannick Loosli Dipl-Ing. ETH (RMS Foundation, Bettlach, Switzerland) explained the effects of cement augmentation on the holding power of pedicle screws in osteoporotic vertebral bodies. Tests on surgical sutures, stents and a fully implantable artificial heart were described by Thomas Finocciaro Dipl-Ing of the Helmholtz Institute for Applied Medical Engineering at RWTH Aachen and Dr Annette Kettler (SpineServ, Ulm) reported on static and dynamic testing methods in biomechanics and implant testing.

The afternoon program featured various workshops in which testing specialists from Zwick demonstrated applications, methods and recent developments.

Whether for research, development, packaging or quality assurance, the focus of testing solutions is always on individual requirements, the majority of testing systems in this sector being tailored to a specific customer’s needs.

Zwick provides customized solutions for research into medical technology at universities and other educational institutes throughout the world, as at Tufts University in the US, where a Zwick testing machine is used by researchers developing silicone material for complex soft-bodied robots.

In addition to their use in university testing and research laboratories, Zwick testing machines are integrated into production lines to enable in-process monitoring and can also be used with automatic specimen feed systems. Their modular construction means that they can easily be expanded to meet the demands of new testing situations.

Zwick also provides a wide range of complementary services, including support for validation of testing systems in the form of comprehensive qualification documentation (DQ/IQ/OQ), followed by on-site implementation. Other Zwick services include DKD-accredited calibration, contract testing and advice on modernizations and retrofits.

A new catalog giving an overview of testing options for medical technology is available free of charge from Zwick; contact us for details.