Roland DG and Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Collaborate on Medical Instrument Safety and Maintenance Support System Project; Selected as Proof of Concept by METI
Roland DG's medical instrument marking technology and digitally-controlled cell-production system to serve as a model of new solutions in medical instrument management
Irvine, Calif., Jan. 29, 2015 - Roland DG Corporation, parent company of Roland DGA, announced that their medical instrument traceability and maintenance support system project, run in conjunction with Japan's Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, has been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as a proof of concept among the "2014 Industry-Academia Evaluation and Pilot Projects" and will receive a grant to further pursue this project.
In recent years, efforts have been spreading to review medical instrument safety and management procedures in order to reduce the risk of infection inside hospitals and ensure patient safety. A worldwide trend is materializing among regulatory bodies that seek to have a comprehensive management system for special instruments in use at medical facilities. In the U.S., the FDA began multi-year phased implementation of UDI (Unique Device Identification) Regulation in September of 2014, which requires marking identifiers on medical devices, and Europe and Asia are expected to adopt the same kinds of regulation within the next few years. In anticipation of these requirements, Roland DG introduced the MPX-90M Direct Part Marking Device. The MPX-90M allows medical facilities as well as medical instrument manufacturers and suppliers worldwide to utilize a 2D data matrix which, with the help of a database, enables hospitals to check the history of a tool, including available stock, location and times used.
Working with the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine and its affiliated hospitals and clinic, Roland DG is using its MPX-90M medical instrument marking device to secure traceability. Roland DG is also lending its experience in manufacturing to raise the accuracy and efficiency of work involving the disassembly, sanitation, disinfection and reassembly of medical instruments, such as scalpels, tweezers, forceps and endoscopes. The aim is to build a model offering solutions to common issues all medical institutions are experiencing.
Seiji Yamamoto, MD, PhD, and head of the Collaboration Center for Medical Innovation at the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, sees this project as a solution to these problems. "The project we are working on with Roland DG will allow us to ensure the traceability of instruments and digitalize the maintenance processes, which we believe will increase the reliability of our work. In addition, we also hope to achieve more efficient and effective management of the hospital as a whole."
Kohei Tanabe, Roland DG's general manager of medical market development also has high hopes for the project. "With this project, we are honored to be able to bring solutions directly to the hospital floor," said Tanabe. "The traceability of medical instruments, maintenance of high quality standards and the safety of patients are some of the most important issues facing the medical industry, and we believe they will only grow more important going forward. While we are working with Hamamatsu University School of Medicine to make sure this project succeeds, we also hope to develop a system that can be used industry-wide and eventually bring value through digital solutions to medical facilities around the world."
For more information on Roland DG Corporation, visit www.rolanddg.com. To learn more about Roland DGA Corporation, Roland's MPX-90M, or the complete lineup of high quality Roland products, visit www.rolanddga.com.
*1 About the Roland MPX-90M
The MPX-90M is a desktop-size dot impact printer designed for the direct marking of medical instruments with UDI (Unique Device Identification) barcodes that make tracking and traceability possible. The MPX-90M quickly creates 2D DataMatrix barcodes to GS1* standards and imprints them with great precision on the surface of medical instruments in areas as small as one square millimeter. The machine uses dot peen technology, which offers superior protection against erasure and corrosion. A vice secures the instrument while a laser pointer indicates the area to be marked, meaning that no special training is required. For details, please refer to the following website:
http://www.rolanddg.com/product/3d/udi/mpx-90m/index.html .
* The GS1 DataMatrix is a standard for 2D symbols determined by the GS1 international body for barcodes, symbols and electronic data transfer, and it serves to give worldwide device manufacturers and medical facilities a way to display symbols on steel instruments. Information on item code, usage limits, lot number, serial number and more can be stored and read using a special scanner.
About Roland DG Corporation
Roland DG Corporation is a leading worldwide manufacturer of inkjet devices, milling and engraving machines, vinyl cutters and photo impact printers. Roland pioneered the development of Print&Cut technology and today is the number one brand of inkjet devices with more than 150,000 units* sold worldwide. More recently, the company entered the healthcare market with milling machines designed specifically for creating high-quality dental prosthetics, including copings, crowns, full bridges and abutments. Roland DG has also brought to market a new concept in 3D milling, the iModela mini 3D mill, which targets individuals in the growing hobby and craft markets. The company uses its proprietary production technology to manufacture products that are distributed worldwide. Roland products help businesses transform imagination into reality by adding value to creative processes.
* The total number of inkjet devices shipped from the company as of September 30, 2014.
About Roland DGA Corporation
Roland DGA Corporation serves North and South America as the marketing, sales and distribution arm for Roland DG Corporation. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG of Hamamatsu, Japan is a worldwide leader in wide-format inkjet printers for the sign, apparel, textile, packaging and vehicle graphics markets; engravers for awards, personalization and ADA signage; photo impact printers for direct part marking; and 3D printers and CNC milling machines for rapid prototyping, part manufacturing and the medical and dental CAD/CAM industries. Roland DGA is ISO 9001:2008 certified, and Roland DG is ISO 9001:2008 and 14001:2004 certified.