Lasers are used in different ways for processing medical devices.
Laser marking machines with integrated vision systems emerged as an effective means of identifying medical components for marking unique device identifier (UDI) compliant codes.
Innovative laser technology has become the preferred solution for marking medical devices as it enables manufacturers to overcome marking challenges.
Zero-defect laser marking plays an increasingly important role in manufacturing medical devices since the FDA requires that beginning in 2016, most medical devices in the US contain a code for traceability.
The key to meeting the FDA identification requirements, while reducing production costs, minimising waste and improving product quality is a laser marking system combined with the software concept holistic enhanced laser process (HELP).
Apart from the marking of the medical product itself, HELP offers pre-mark verification prior to marking and post-mark validation right after marking.
During the unique post-mark verification process, the content of 1D and 2D codes such as Datamatrix [ECC200] GS1 compliant and graded can be directly read, which is indispensable for compliance with the new UDI set by the FDA.