Sleep Apnea Devices:Engineering Expertise Ensures Invaluable Designs At Low Costs

Friday, December 24th, 2010 at 5:39 PM

Engineering expertise is taking on an ever-more important role in designing for manufacturability in the world of metal stamped parts and springs. Particularly in today’s new medical devices and firearms, engineering expertise is invaluable in driving down manufacturing costs.

Expertise in prototyping parts to test and prove design concepts, suggesting ways to reduce secondary operations which reduces cost, and providing value engineering consulting expertise, are key engineering skills that ensure the success of projects. Each is built on a foundation of communications and two-way dialogue that opens up the lines of communication.

One example is a large medical device company, for whom CSS produces a stamped flat spring located underneath the water tank of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system used to treat sleep apnea. Working with the company, CSS developed an initial prototype, and worked through several design iterations before settling on a good design that could meet the requirements. A short run of 2500 proved the design, and more than 750,000 of the machines have since been manufactured.