Induction Heating for Medical Device Manufacturing

Annealing steel tubes in an inert atmosphere

Induction annealing heats steel tubes to 2000 °F (1093 °C) in an inert atmosphere for very small areas within precise production tolerances. A two-turn concentrator coil is used to heat the stainless steel tube. The annealing process takes place in an inert atmosphere to prevent oxidation.

Annealing steel wire for a medical application

Induction annealing achieved the targeted steel wire temperature within three seconds. Ambrell performed a free laboratory test, designed a cost efficient, in-house process and connected them with an automation partner to maximize productivity. The client now has better control over their end product.

Annealing Stainless Steel Braids

Heating took just 2-5 seconds depending on the sample used, meeting the client's requirements.

Annealing a Stainless Steel Medical Wire

 Some process development may still be needed at the customer site once the induction system is delivered to account for the unique fixture/ handling techniques used 

Bonding a plastic handle to a surgical knife

Bonding handle of a stainless steel surgical knife into a plastic handle for very small areas within precise production tolerances

Bonding Steel Tubes to Plastic Tubes with Induction

Bonding with induction took just five seconds with our lowest power unit to deliver the bond just where it was needed.

Bonding a stainless steel needle to a plastic shank

A pancake/plate coil is used in this application. Ten assemblies are placed in the coil and power is applied for 1 second to melt the plastic to the stainless steel needle

De-bonding Stainless Steel & Carbon Fiber Assembly

Induction heating process is more environmentally-friendly without the use of noxious chemicals

Bonding Metal to Plastic for Dental Tools

Reliable bonds are produced when the diameters of the preassembled parts are consistent with little clearance before they are heated.

Bonding Metal Housings to Plastic Holders for Lenses

Induction heating improves processing quality by delivering uniform heat to two parts at once using a single-turn peanut' coil. Localized heat enables easy alignment of optical components during final assembly

Bonding Steel Cannulas

For each size cannula, the power delivered to the part was optimized to create a bond between the cannula and its bushing, without discoloring the steel of the cannula or causing the bushing to become opaque

Brazing steel orthodontic parts

A four turn helical coil is used to heat parts. Brazing paste is applied to orthodontic parts with a syringe...

Brazing steel dental tools

To heat a steel tip and shank assembly to 1300 °F (704 °C) within 3 seconds for brazing with induction heating instead of torch brazing.

Brazing a heat-sensing probe

A C-shaped steel susceptor is used to ensure even heating and for ease of loading and unloading the samples.

Brazing stainless steel medical tool parts

Induction heating is used to achieve client's goal to braze both stainless steel parts as quickly as possible with maximum repeatability...

Brazing stainless steel orthodontic begg brackets

A two turn oblong helical coil is designed to heat the steel brackets which are sandwiched between the two pieces of graphite.

Brazing carbide to steel for a surgical device

Compared to a stick-fed flame braze heating, induction heating provides consistently higher quality joints. This is critical for medical applications.

Fuse thermoplastic catheter tubes

Heating of the mandrel is from the inside out providing a smooth finish on the outside of the assemblies.

Heating Catheter Tipping Die

To heat an aluminum catheter tipping die to above 285 °F within 2 to 5 seconds for the forming of catheter material.

Heating a catheter tipping die

A two turn plate concentrator coil is used to heat the die. To measure the temperature on the ID and establish the time-to-temperature relationship...

Molding a teflon catheter tip

Heat a water-cooled steel mandrel to 700 °F (371 °C) to form a high quality Teflon catheter tip.

Plastic Reflow With Catheter Tubing

Heat a metal braid in a plastic catheter tube to 250 °F (121.1 °C) so that another catheter tube can be bonded to it.

Heating an aluminum-backed circuit board - solder reflow

Given the significantly faster heating time, induction improves throughput in this process and is a more efficient heating method than hot plate heating

Heating a copper end cap to melt wax

To heat a copper end cap to temperature for a wax reflow application; the end product is a temperature stat and the client is looking to cut their heating time in half...

Heating a nanoparticle solution to 40 °C

Heat a nanoparticle solution to get it to increase at least 40 °C for medical research/laboratory testing

Heating iron oxide nanoparticle solution

An eight turn helical coil is used to heat the vials. 0.0625 thick insulation is wrapped around the vial and the vial is placed in the coil. The optical temperature probe is inserted into the vial with the base of the probe located in the middle of the coil turns.

Heating susceptor for glass reflow (X-ray tubes)

A two turn helical coil is used for heating. Six graphite susceptors are placed in the nitrogen atmosphere with glass discs and a stainless steel holder.

Heating solutions in vials for cancer research

A four turn helical coil is used to heat the vial for 30 second intervals for five minutes with a temperature reading taken at each interval.

Bonding a Gasket to a Sombrero Nut

A multi-turn pancake coil is used to preheat the nut. It is then transported to the next station where it is pressed onto a gasket for bonding

Heat Setting A Shape Memory Alloy

Heat a steel die to 975 °F (523.8 °C) to set (cure) a shape memory alloy nitinol in the correct position.

Heating Steel Shafts for Forming (Medical Tools)

A custom-designed single position multiple-turn helical coil was built to generate the required heating for this application.

Heating Surgical Tools for Coating Burn Off

To heat surgical tools to burn-off the nylon coating; the client had been using a torch for this application. Within seconds of the power being turned on, the coating on the tool began to smoke and soon started to bubble.

Soldering brass and copper (medical equipment)

This process is completed in two steps that use a 3 turn helical coil. The first process is to solder the brass ring to the copper piece which takes 85 seconds...