Early history of medical devices and procedures. Minimally invasive and open procedures, techniques and devices, including mechanical and electrosurgical devices. Manufacturing methods for catheters, balloons, plastic and metal components. Design of metal device components including material selection and strength and deformation adequacy using material properties and classical mechanics. Selection of insulation materials for and testing of electrosurgical devices. Selection of medical plastics and design elements. Balloon and catheter burst strength. The Poiseuille flow equation and its use for fluid flow through catheters and vessels. Rapid prototyping techniques, advantages and limitations. Understanding of biocompatibility testing and accelerated age testing using the Arrhenius equation. Device sterilization methods and testing. Developing a project plan from brainstorming to product release for a new device.
Schaefer School of Engineering & Science
Department:
Mechanical Engineering
Program:
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Engineering
Richard Fortier is an Adjunct Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Schaefer School of Engineering & Science. Richard has more than 26 years of experience in R&D and product development. This experience spans medical devices, automation systems and special machinery, nuclear power plant design, aerospace guidance systems and academia. Richard’s most recent position in industry has been that of Chief Technology Officer with TDC Medical, a privately held full service provider of medical device design, product development and manufacturing. He is presently a consultant for the company.
He has worked on and directed medical device programs in many areas, including gastrointestinal, vascular, cardiology and orthopedics, and he holds several U.S and foreign device patents in these areas. Before joining TDC Medical, he was Senior Director of Product Development at MediSpectra, a venture backed company, where he led the development of a non-contact optical instrument for the detection of cervical cancer. Prior to this, Richard was Engineering Director & Director of New Product Development at MedSource Technologies (previously ACT Medical), another full service provider of medical device development.
Preceding ACT Medical, Richard was Vice President of Engineering for AXIS USA, where he played a pivotal role in starting this division of an Italian parent company and led the development of sophisticated automation systems. Other positions include Director of Mechanical Engineering at Cabot Corporation’s Engineering Division, Sr. Mechanical Engineer at Stone & Webster, Research Associate at AC Electronics Division of General Motors, Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University and Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
Richard holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts.
Experience & Service
General Information
Richard Fortier is an Adjunct Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Schaefer School of Engineering & Science. Richard has more than 26 years of experience in R&D and product development. This experience spans medical devices, automation systems and special machinery, nuclear power plant design, aerospace guidance systems and academia. Richard’s most recent position in industry has been that of Chief Technology Officer with TDC Medical, a privately held full service provider of medical device design, product development and manufacturing. He is presently a consultant for the company.
He has worked on and directed medical device programs in many areas, including gastrointestinal, vascular, cardiology and orthopedics, and he holds several U.S and foreign device patents in these areas. Before joining TDC Medical, he was Senior Director of Product Development at MediSpectra, a venture backed company, where he led the development of a non-contact optical instrument for the detection of cervical cancer. Prior to this, Richard was Engineering Director & Director of New Product Development at MedSource Technologies (previously ACT Medical), another full service provider of medical device development.
Preceding ACT Medical, Richard was Vice President of Engineering for AXIS USA, where he played a pivotal role in starting this division of an Italian parent company and led the development of sophisticated automation systems. Other positions include Director of Mechanical Engineering at Cabot Corporation’s Engineering Division, Sr. Mechanical Engineer at Stone & Webster, Research Associate at AC Electronics Division of General Motors, Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University and Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
Richard holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts.
