Microaire Surgical Instruments Jobs and Profile

MicroAire History

In 1977, American Safety Products located in San Fernando, California, manufactured three powered surgical instruments. Orthopedic surgeons used these instruments to operate on bone. The instruments, made with miniature vane motors, were powered by hospital operating room compressed air or nitrogen gas. The first three instruments, a drill, an oscillating saw and a reciprocating saw, quickly won praise from the surgeons who purchased them. The instruments were only 6 1/2" to 7" long (shorter than a conventional wooden pencil), about the diameter of a penny, and were operated by a fingertip lever, which gave the surgeon precise control and unobstructed vision. They also performed with a high degree of torque and ran smoothly without vibration.

Shortly after the success of these first three instruments, two additional instruments were introduced to the market. These were a wire-driver, used to secure bone sections with stainless steel wire, and a bone chisel. They were similar in size and shape to the first instruments, and operated in the same way.

In 1978, American Safety Products became a member company of the Marmon Group; and in 1979 the company name was changed to MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc. In 1981, MicroAire initiated the industry's first line of pre-sterilized, packaged, disposable burs, blades, and drills for its instruments. This was to be a major step in gaining market share and profitability.

Fueled by a steady stream of innovations that met the emerging needs of a dynamic health care industry,

sales grew rapidly for MicroAire. In 1985, MicroAire began production of electric powered surgical instruments. In 1987, an international sales department was formed for a growing export market. In 1991, a fiber optic cable for arthroscopy was produced. In 1992, MicroAire acquired the two-piece, non-hinged, silicone-free titanium great toe implant; and in 1993, a unique facial plating system was designed.

In 1995, MicroAire completed its corporate move from Valencia, California to Charlottesville, Virginia, and in 1997, MicroAire launched a microprocessor-controlled line of small power orthopedic surgical equipment. Features of this system include controlled rpm, torque limits, hand piece recognition and an irrigation system. 1998 was another important year with the acquisition of the carpal tunnel release system (CTRS) and the PAL-100, the first pneumatic powered instrument made especially for plastic surgery lipoplasty. In 2002 MicroAire became part of a family of medical and caster companies under Colson Associates, Inc. (link to Colson) Today, MicroAire has over 1,500 catalogue items that are sold worldwide. The company's cost-containment pricing and quality craftsmanship have kept MicroAire positioned as a top manufacturer in the medical device industry.