Refurbished Medical Equipment

In recent years, a large aftermarket has emerged for medical devices and equipment that have been restored to safety and efficacy. The equipment is refurbished through a process of repairing worn and broken parts or replacing them with original parts, and updating software and electronics. Because no product specifications are altered during the refurbishment process, as for remanufactured products, refurbished products may be sold worldwide without obtaining special approvals. This has created a burgeoning international market in medical equipment and devices, distinct from the market in used—and unrestored—products, and remanufactured products.

The market is expanding at an annual rate of almost 8% annually. By 2017, annual sales of refurbished medical equipment are expected to reach almost $8.5 billion worldwide. Both OEM producers of medical devices and equipment and third party vendors are active in the market. Refurbished equipment is widely used in both developed countries and emerging economies, driven by pressure to contain healthcare costs and environmental concerns. An estimated one third of CT scanners in the US are refurbished.

The refurbishing process generally starts with inspection and de-installation at the site of the original equipment owner. The condition of the equipment is assessed and its performance history is reviewed. If the equipment meets the refurbishing company’s criteria, and if spare parts are available (and will remain available for at least a few more years), the equipment is de-installed by qualified technicians and shipped to a factory, in the case of OEM refurbishers, or to an engineering workshop.

At the factory or workshop, the equipment is fully disassembled, cleaned and disinfected. Parts are painted or their finishes are otherwise restored. All components are checked for wear and operability, and worn or nonfunctioning elements are replaced with original parts. All software and systems are updated. In many cases, systems will be customized to meet customer requirements. Finally, the equipment undergoes testing to ensure that it performs safely and accurately.

Once the restoration process is complete, the equipment is shipped to the purchaser’s site and installed. It undergoes an on-site testing process and, when necessary, safety certification. Some vendors provide training in the use of the new system. In most cases, refurbished equipment is sold under warranty and with a service contract.

An extremely wide range of medical equipment and devices are sold as refurbished, including diagnostic and imaging equipment, surgical equipment, monitoring devices and biotechnology instruments.

Lasers

Lasers are devices that amplify light by stimulating photon emission. By minimizing diffraction, lasers create a very narrowly focused pencil beam of highly coherent, high intensity light. The beam can be directed with great precision to any spot, where it heats the target area to the desired degree.

Lasers may use gas, chemicals or a glass rod doped with ions to generate the energy state required to stimulate photon emission. The various types of lasers produce light with different wavelengths and degrees of coherence, giving users the ability to choose the ideal tool for each application.

Chemical lasers provide very high levels of power and are generally used for military and industrial applications. Gas lasers vary widely in power and function based on which gas is used to power them. Helium neon lasers are used in optical labs and research, while CO2 lasers are for cutting and welding in industrial applications. Other gas lasers are used by hobbyists and for spectroscopy. Specialized gas lasers called excimer lasers are used for LASIK eye surgery as well as for semiconductor lithography.

Solid state lasers, which create photon-generating energy states by doping glass rods with various ions, are used for different purposes depending on which ions are used and the power and spectrum of the resulting beams. Neodymium lasers are used for cutting and welding metals as well as for spectroscopy. Very high power solid state lasers are used in optical fiber surgical devices. Extremely short pulses are directed through the optical fibers and used to resurface joints, vaporize cancers and dissolve kidney and gall stones.

Other specialized types of lasers that are used for diagnosing and treating medical conditions include diode lasers, free electron lasers, optical parametric oscillators and diode lasers. Used for surgical procedures, lasers provide greater precision than even the smallest scalpel, enabling surrounding areas to remain unscathed. Laser procedures result in less blood loss, less discomfort and less scarring than traditional procedures, and reduce the incidence of infection. Lasers are also used in medical imaging, hair and tattoo removal and angioplasty.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging utilizes high frequency sound pressure waves to detect and map anatomical structures within the body. The frequencies of the waves, generally between 2 and 18 MHz, are too high to be detected by the human ear.

Boston Scientific Medical Equipment

Boston Scientific develops and markets a wide range of medical devices and technologies, with a particular focus on developing technologies that are less invasive than standard solutions and therefore less traumatic, less risky, less costly and require less aftercare.

The company’s primary areas of focus include interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, endoscopy, cardiac rhythm management, women’s health and urology, neuromodulation, and peripheral interventions.

In the field of cardiac rhythm management, Boston Scientific product offerings include a range of devices that prevent and treat rhythm disorders and arrhythmias, as well as heart failure and cardiac arrest. The company’s products include pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, resynchronization therapy devices and remote monitoring solutions.

Boston Scientific electrophysiology products enable physicians to accurately diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias. The line includes devices for cardiac ablation, mapping and catheritization which integrate advanced technologies such as cryogenics and radiofrequency energy.

The company’s endoscopy line focuses on diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions of the respiratory and digestive systems, such as tumors, pulmonary and gastrointestinal diseases, renal disease and abscesses. Solutions include stents, biliary and urinary drainage, enteral feeding systems, hemostasis, cholangioscopy and balloon dilation.

Interventional cardiology is an area of particular specialization for Boston Scientific, which has been a leader in developing and marketing innovative less-invasive technologies in the field. Solutions for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction include drug eluting and bare metal stents, catheters, balloons, guide wires and coronary intravascular ultrasound.

The company has also developed stents and balloon catheters that are used to relieve blockages and prevent embolism formation in carotid, renal and lower extremity arteries.

Boston Scientific neuromodulation therapies focus on chronic neuropathic pain management through the use of microelectronic stimulators that are implanted in the spinal cord. The company is currently testing deep brain stimulation systems for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Urology and gynecological disorders including stress incontinence, kidney and bladder stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and excessive uterine bleeding can be addressed by Boston Scientific endometrial ablation, HoLAP, lithotripsy and urethral bulking and sling products.

Boston Scientific is active in markets throughout the world. As part of an effort to expand its presence in the Asia Pacific region, it is currently constructing a state-of-the-art manufacturing and healthcare provider training facility in China.

Infusion Pumps

Infusion pumps are generally used in hospitals, healthcare facilities and in home care settings to intravenously deliver controlled amounts of fluids containing nutrients and medications into patients’ bodies. They are designed to safely administer chemotherapy, analgesics and antibiotics.