Medical devices have greatly evolved from their early days. Now less bulky, and often serving a wider array of functions, today’s medical devices have led to an easier transition into the next stage of offered health services: remote monitoring. The unsung hero of these devices is medical wire, which functions like the arteries of most devices, conducting valuable resources and information back and forth to run the fine-tuned medical products in the market today.
Medical wire is generally made of precious metals and alloys such as platinum, iridium, tungsten, and stainless steel, among others, and are coated in a protective polymer which enables it to remain sterilized and long lasting. Along with transferring information and power, these ultra-fine wires are often capable of a plethora of functions such as monitoring temperature changes and vitals, providing muscle stimulation, and sending signals in catheter function.
One of the leaders of the industry, Sandvik offers a wide array of alloys, customizations, and coatings on its EXERA brand medical wire. Currently, the largest volume of its medical wire use is a glucose monitoring device which can also measure heart rate and blood pressure. This technology is being used to remotely monitor at-risk patients in prevention of ailments like heart disease and diabetes.
Sandvik, however, is not the only company contributing to the expansion of remote monitoring devices. MWS Wire Industries offers MediMicro Ultra-Fine Wire, which has been used to produce pain management devices and implants that allow for at-home treatment solutions. The company also manufactures polyimide tubing to cover medical wire which is used primarily in functions like neurological catheters, endoscopy, urological retrieval, and balloon angioplasty.
California Fine Wire, another medical wire company leader, has contributed to the manufacturing of multiple ventilators during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing its fine wire. The company, among its many offered variations of wire, also offers technology used in neural prosthesis which allows installed probes to process electrical transmissions for those who’ve suffered from spinal cord trauma and strokes.
With the new age of medicine becoming more and more remote in adjustment to COVID-19 and changing trends, these medical wire companies offer vital resources to the many remote devices that are now required to monitor and treat high-risk patients. With the evolution of this technology, the extension of at-home services will likely see a steady increase in coming years.
