Ridge & Benchmark

Ridge Medical Designs understands the medical device industry. We recognize the end user’s clinical needs and balance those needs with the client’s design and resource constraints. We support all product development phases from concept creation through human clinical trials.

Chris Julian, President of Ridge Medical Designs and Benchmark Devices has worked with over 40 medical companies in his 20 years in the medical device industry. Chris has developed invaluable relationships with many of the key vendors in this industry.

We strongly believe that as industry consultants, Ridge Medical and Benchmark Devices are only as good as our last project. The SF bay area is home to the highest concentration of start up med-device companies in the world and it is really an interconnected industry. 90% of our work comes through repeat clients or references from past clients. Over the past 8 years, Ridge Medical has strived to acquire the necessary equipment and relationships to support very rapid turn around. Whether it be our latest generation FDM machine, Haas vertical mill center, or stocking all the right prototype materials and components, we consistently succeed in beating expectations.

General Capabilities
Ridge Medical offers services in product development, process development, project planning, manufacturing, product/process validation, and Intellectual Property Development.

Product Development
By understanding the clinical needs of physicians and our client's design requirements, we will translate the projects clinical challenges into robust medical products.

Process Development, Test Equipment and Fixturing
Ridge Medical and Benchmark have created medical device In-house Test and Process Equipment for many years. We have designed and fabricated medical device support equipment, from Clinical trial electrical adapters to computerized coil winders. We will shorten your product development cycle time by eliminating a third party, and bringing support equipment design and creation in-house.

Project Management
Chris Julian has more than 20 years experience working in the medical device industry. We understand the unique requirements of the industry and are experienced in driving projects from product concept thru market release.

Product/Process Validation
Ridge Medical has developed medical devices for many years and understands the unique regulatory requirements within the medical device industry. Ridge Medical can create a thorough test plan, develop test protocols, design and fabricate test fixturing, perform testing, and write final test reports. Risk management and FMECA documents also prove valuable prior to product development.

Intellectual Property Development
Ridge Medical has worked in medical device startups and larger established medical device companies. Working across industry lines from Implantable ICD’s to Robotic Surgery systems, we have helped create Intellectual Property in the form of U.S./International Patents. Working with our client’s corporate counsel, we will help secure the products future in the marketplace.

Device Technology Experience

Ridge Medical has varying degrees of working knowledge and/or experience in the following areas.

Fluoroscopic Imaging
Push/pull remote actuation system
Device packaging/sterilization
Tissue/bone cutting device design
Bone drilling/scrapping design
Exoskeleton device design
Vessel closure system design
Wound closure system design
Robotic/remote surgery
NOTES surgery planning/device design
Implantable silastic molding
Medical epoxy/cement systems
Nitinol design/processing
Remote suturing system design
Miniature multi-filar coils and winding system
Endoscope design
Radioactive brackytherapy seed handling/delivery system design
Trocar, cannula design
Cryogenic technology
Inflation/insufflation device design
Tissue/bone ablation system
Tissue healing
Magnetic materials and effects
Nebulizer technologies
Electrified instrument design
Laser welding, cutting, marking
Photo-chemical etching
Micro molding/machining
Polymer extrusion design
Implantable ceramics design
Steam generation technologies

MIM design
Implantable sensor design
Device delivery system design
Implantable polymers, elastomers, metal, epoxies
Hermetic package design exp
“Old World” surgical instrument design
Tissue dissection
Capital equipment design packaging design
Sterile drape design
Rigid and flexible camera
Vision system
Balloon design/processing design
Fluoroscopic marker design
Pacing cable/materials design
Titanium staple/stapler design
Remote tissue plication/fixation/stapling device design
Vacuum based tissue acquisition device design
Nitinol stent design
Stent delivery system design
Percutaneous delivery systems design
Catheter processes/design
Pacing/ICD lead design
Scalpel/trocar materials/design
Surgical scissor design
Hipot test system
RF Instrument design
Ultrasonic instrument design
Mono/bi-polar cautery design
Implantable Silicone Rubber Molding/Fabrication
Implantable Hermetic Enclosures
Laser/Resistance Welding

Clinical Experience
		Ridge Medical and Benchmark Devices will bring a broad range of technology, process and design experience to your med-device project. Our staff have been involved in the clinical research of a diverse range of medical devices. We have attended countless number of animal labs, cadaver, and live clinical procedures in North America and Europe. We have working knowledge in the following medical device specialties:
NOTES Devices and Instruments Handheld Surgical Instruments Endoscopic Beating Heart Stabilizers Robotic Surgical Instruments Reusable Surgical Scissors Minimally Invasive Cautery Instruments Implantable Hearing Devices Implantable ICD Defibrillation and Pacing Leads Tumor Ablation Devices Cryo Ablation Devices Cardiac CHF Devices Laparoscopic Surgical Tools Saphenous Vein Dissection Devices Spinal Surgical Implants & Instruments G.I. Endoscopic Devices Traditional & Robotic Endoscopes Obesity Devices	Bone Marrow Harvesting Devices Prostate Brackytherapy Devices Cardiac Implants& Vascular Devices PAL Stents Various Cosmesis Devices Cardiac Stents Gynecological Devices Breast Biopsy Devices Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement Devices Various Percutaneous Devices Wound and Vessel Closure Devices Drug Delivery Devices Medical MEMs Dental Instruments Medical Adhesive Delivery Devices Human Thermoregulation Control