---
title: Ensuring Medical Device Reliability | TFC Europe
description: Medical Device manufacturers utilise Smalley Spirolox retaining rings to boost performance and safety. Read the case study here.
image: https://blog.afceur.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Medical-Devices-Retainer-Ring-Case-Study.png
---
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/)
- [ About Us ](https://www.afceur.com/about-us/)
- [ Contact Us ](https://www.afceur.com/contact/)
- [ Careers ](https://www.afceur.com/careers/)
- [ Quality ](https://www.afceur.com/quality-standards/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/de/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/pl/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/cz)
This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
- [ About Us ](https://www.afceur.com/about-us/)
- [ Contact Us ](https://www.afceur.com/contact/)
- [ Careers ](https://www.afceur.com/careers/)
- [ Quality ](https://www.afceur.com/quality-standards/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/de/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/pl/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/cz)
This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
- [ Our Companies ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/)
- [ AFC Europe Ltd ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#tfc)
- [ Forward Industrial Products Ltd ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#forward-industrial-products-ltd)
- [ AFC Seals & O-Rings Division ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#tfc-sales)
- [ EAP Seals ](https://tfc.eu.com/our-companies/#tfc-sales)
- [ SupaSeals ](https://tfc.eu.com/our-companies/#tfc-sales)
- [ AFC Industries ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#afc-industries)
- [ Vendor Managed Inventory ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/)
- [ Vendor Managed Services ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/#managedinventory)
- [ Inventory Management ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/#easysteps)
- [ Smart Vending Solutions ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/#vendingsolutions)
- [ Product Sourcing ](https://www.afceur.com/product-projects-sourcing/)
- [ Kitting ](https://www.afceur.com/product-projects-sourcing/#kitting)
- [ Technical Products ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#)
- [ Smalley Wave Springs ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/wavesprings/)
- [ Smalley Retaining Rings ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/smalley-wave-springs-retaining/)
- [ ARaymond Quick Connectors ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/araymond-quick-connectors/)
- [ O’Rings, Seals & Gaskets ](https://www.afceur.com/products/afc-seals-o-rings/)
- [ Custom Engineered Components ](https://www.afceur.com/products/custom-engineered-components-cec/)
- [ Resources ](https://blog.afceur.com/#)
- [ VMI Brochure ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AFC-VMI-Brochure-Digital.pdf)
- [ Blog ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Case Study ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Technical Products ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/)
- [ Smalley Wave Springs ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/wavesprings/)
- [ Smalley Retaining Rings ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/smalley-wave-springs-retaining/)
- [ ARaymond Quick Connectors ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/araymond-quick-connectors/)
- [ O-Rings, Seals & Gaskets ](https://www.afceur.com/products/afc-seals-o-rings/)
- [ Custom Engineered Components ](https://www.afceur.com/products/custom-engineered-components-cec/)
- [ Resources ](https://blog.afceur.com/#)
- [ Catalogue ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-afc-europe/ensuring-medical-device-reliability#)
- [ Download our Catalogue ](https://www.afceur.com/download-catalogue/)
- [ Order our Catalogue ](https://www.afceur.com/catalogue-landing-page/)
- [ Technical Brochure ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AFC-Europe-UK-Tech-Leaflet-Digital.pdf)
- [ Blogs ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Case Studies ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ E-Books ](https://blog.afceur.com/#)
- [ Ask The Expert – Wave Spring FAQ ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/ask-the-expert-wave-spring-faq?hsLang=en)
- [ Ask The Expert – Retaining Rings FAQ ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/ask-the-expert-retaining-rings-faq?hsLang=en)
- [ Smalley Technical Guide on High Rotational ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/high-rpm-retaining-solutions?hsLang=en)
- [ Revolox Self-Locking Ring Product Guide ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/revolox-self-locking-ring-product-guide?hsLang=en)
- [ Company News ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ News ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Company Brochure ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AFC-Company-Brochure-Digital.pdf)
# Ensuring Medical Device Reliability
Simon Ward
### Simon Ward
Simon leads the UK technical team and specialises in the design and development of Smalley wave springs and spiral retaining rings. With over 25 years of experience, Simon develops bespoke parts for major clients around the world and across a wide range of industry sectors. He is now widely considered the leading authority on Smalley products.
February 21, 2023
## ~Solving Burr Issues in Valve Design for Improved Performance and Safety~
#### Customer Challenge
A manufacturer of medical devices had plans to design a new anaesthesia machine used to ventilate patients with endotracheal tubes or supraglottic airways in place during general anaesthesia.
During prototyping, they tried using a conventional DIN 7993 round wire snap ring in the valve body. However, during the first test phases, it turned out that the ring’s residual burrs caused damage to the rubber coating in the valve. The damaged valve wall caused the ring to expand, twist and ultimately fall out.
#### AFC Solution
To solve the problem, AFC proposed a multiple-turn Smalley Spirolox retaining ring.
Smalley retaining rings are made by edgewinding, resulting in a circumferential grain structure, giving exceptional strength, dimensional stability, and a burr-free yet flexible solution. Before edgewinding, the round wire is processed through a rolling mill to achieve a flat state. The edgewinding process then takes the flat wire and coils it on edge. The result was a retaining ring with a smooth radius edge, which was required in this application, ensuring the valve’s rubber coating remained undamaged.
A further benefit of the edgewinding process is zero tooling costs, so whether it’s a prototype or production run, modifications can quickly and easily be made during any stage of the process, so custom rings get delivered fast and with No-Tooling-Cost™. This method also ensures that the production product is identical to the prototype for worry-free manufacturing.
Since the ring was to be used in a medical device, the material chosen was AISI 316. Due to its molybdenum content, the material has a very high temperature and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the surface is vapour degreased and ultrasonically cleaned. Thus, the material and the surface treatment fitted precisely into our client’s requirements and differed significantly from standard alloys of conventional stamped circlips.
#### Result
Thanks to the Smalley retaining ring’s unique properties, the customer could guarantee the process reliability of the valve and successfully launch the product to market.
For further information [click here](https://tfc.eu.com/technical/).
Please don’t hesitate to contact our expert team on [01435 866011](tel:01435866011) for further innovative engineering solutions.
For further information [click here](https://tfc.eu.com/)
Please don’t hesitate to contact our expert team on [01435 866011](tel:01435866011) for further innovative engineering solutions.
[ Contact Us ](https://tfc.eu.com/contact/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1A-RS-10882-ISO-9001-01-EXP-2027-02-23-AFC.pdf)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1C-AS9120-FS-615967-1-001-EXP-24032027-AFC.pdf)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1B-AS9100-FS-615967-2-001-EXP-24032027-AFC.pdf)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JOSCAR-Certificate-TFC-Limited-2025.pdf)
[ ](https://ist.org.uk/membership/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TFC-Ltd-BIAFD-2024-25-Exec-cert.pdf)
##### Contact us (UK)
- [ AFC Europe Ltd
Hale House
Ghyll Road Industrial Estate
Heathfield East Sussex
TN21 8AW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1435 866011
Email: enquiries@afceur.com ](mailto:enquiries@afceur.com)
##### Kontaktieren Sie uns (DE)
- [ AFC Deutschland
Technisches Zentrum
Kohlenstrasse 51 – 55
D-44795 Bochum
Deutschland
Tel: +49 0234 923 610
Email: enquiries@afceur.com ](mailto:enquiries@afceur.com)
##### Kontaktujte nás (CZ)
- [ AFC Europe Ltd
CTPark Hranice
Storage Unit A
Olomoucká 306
Hranice na Moravě 753 01
Česká Republika
Tel: +420 581 602 721
Email: enquiries@afceur.com ](mailto:enquiries@afceur.com)
##### AFC Europe Ltd
##### Follow us
-
-
© AFC Europe Ltd | Registered in England and Wales No. 00675195. | Registered Office: Hale House, Ghyll Industrial Estate, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8AW, UK. | [Privacy Policy ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TFC-Privacy-Policy-Aug-2024.pdf) [ | Terms of Sale ](https://www.afceur.com/about-us/terms-of-sale/)
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Simon Ward",
"url" : "https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-afc-europe/author/simon-ward"
},
"dateModified" : "2025-07-31T11:22:43.362Z",
"datePublished" : "2023-02-21T14:20:46.000Z",
"headline" : "Ensuring Medical Device Reliability | TFC Europe",
"image" : [ "https://blog.afceur.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Medical-Devices-Retainer-Ring-Case-Study.png" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-afc-europe/ensuring-medical-device-reliability",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://blog.afceur.com/hubfs/AFC%20Logo%20Positive%20RGB-1.jpg"
},
"name" : "AFC Industries"
}
}
```
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "WebSite",
"name" : "AFC Industries",
"potentialAction" : {
"@type" : "SearchAction",
"query-input" : "required name=search_term_string",
"target" : {
"@type" : "EntryPoint",
"urlTemplate" : "https://www.afcind.com/hs-search-results?term={search_term_string}"
}
},
"url" : "https://www.afcind.com"
}
```