R&D Co-op at Pentax Medical

The Cambridge office for Pentax Medical was focused on developing new devices ahead of the market that were conceptualized based on surgeon interviews. Due to privacy issues, design samples and specifics from this co-op may not be posted. The office was also closed in March.

Background:

I worked on a small team with three engineers working on developing methods and devices for endoscopic closure. The project was in a conceptual stage with multiple potential paths. Concepts and prototypes were designed and tested.

Summary:

While working at Pentax I was able to design and test various concepts and parts. Since the work was designed to be implemented via endoscope, many parts and designs were fairly small, so communication with vendors and machinists was necessary to determine the best materials and processes to create parts. I developed test fixtures and methods to assess the items I designed and ordered or machined in house.

Examples:

• Designed, ordered, and machined parts to assemble test fixtures simulating internal tissue and structure to test component feasibility

• Used instron machines for various tensile testing

• Assembled various small steel parts via laser welding

• Met with vendors to discuss potential materials for various applications

• Consulted with contracted engineers and supported their designs and concepts

• Presented findings as well as new concepts and initial designs for further investigation

Process:

Designed both potential components and test devices for design applications to determine possible conceptual feasibility. Depending what the newest idea was, design or testing was required. The main focus of the work was taking concepts and creating prototypes that could be tested for variables such as suture strength, robustness, integration into existing systems, etc. I did a lot of assembling and testing both of my own designs as well as other’s.