IDEXX Laboratories selected fiber laser marking over other technologies like dot peen marking and ink jet printing to apply Data Matrix codes to its SNAP medical diagnostic devices. The laser marking allows the devices to be read by a diagnostic reader, improving accuracy and allowing veterinarians to correctly diagnose and treat illnesses in animals. Fiber lasers were found to produce high resolution codes that fit in the small available space and were easily readable, with high contrast and no smudging. The laser marking integrated the SNAP devices into digital workflows, freeing up technicians' time and improving diagnosis of illnesses in animals worldwide.

1. Lyme
disease
Heartworm
a p p l i c a t i o n r e p o r t
1 Industrial Laser Solutions FEBRUARY 2009 www.industrial-lasers.com www.industrial-lasers.com FEBRUARY 2009 Industrial Laser Solutions 2
COVERSTORY
A
fter researching and testing
various methods such as dot
peen marking, ink jet, and silk
screening to reproduce a Data
Matrix code on a polypropyl-
ene medical diagnostic
device, IDEXX Lab-
oratories selected fiber lasers as the superior
technology. Now many animals worldwide,
some who have previously suffered from
serious illnesses, can be correctly diag-
nosed and treated with a laser marked
medical device.
IDEXXLaboratories(www.idexxlaboratories.
com) of Westbrook, Maine, a provider innova-
tive products and services for veterinary, food, and
water diagnostic applications, is saving lives world-
wide with the use of the laser marked SNAP device to
diagnose serious life-threatening diseases. The compa-
ny’s companion animal and equine businesses combine
bio-technology with medical devices and infor-
mation and software to support veterinar-
ians’ efforts in providing quality care
of animals worldwide. Its food and
water businesses employ efficient
technologies for livestock and
poultry monitoring and ensur-
ing the safety of public water
and milk.
IDEXX also offers a range
of bench-top laboratory instru-
ments that analyze patient samples
for blood chemistry. Its VetLab software
integrates instruments, patient records, and
practice management software for a seam-
less information flow.
The innovative, diagnostic SNAP device
is used for the detection of Lyme disease,
Heartworm, Giardia, and Parvo, as well as
otherlife-threateningdiseasesincats,dogs,and
farm animals that can begin with parasites, distrib-
uted worldwide, that can infect most mammals and
cause significant threats to animals.
The device now provides many advan-
tages over traditional diagnostics, includ-
ing simplicity, low cost, and much higher
percentages of specificity providing opti-
mal health for animals. IDEXX’s patented in-
clinic testing device is based on state-of-the-
art ELISA technology. Each SNAP device is
coated with either an antigen or antibodies to
detect the presence of animal diseases: canine
heartworm, E. canis, Lyme disease and parvo-
virus; and feline FIV and FeLV. It is also used in the
dairy division for detecting beta-lactams in milk and with
the SNAP Reader for T4 and cortisol testing. The device offers
the industry’s fastest, most accurate, and easy-to-use method
for rapid testing (all devices provide results in less than
10 minutes).
The SNAP device was typically visually inter-
preted by the veterinary technician. IDEXX
sought to make this product compatible with
a diagnostic reader and required a means by
which the reader could visually identify the
device prior to analytical processing. After
researching various options for this process,
laser marking technology emerged as the supe-
rior option over other traditional methods, and the
Data Matrix was selected to provide high contrast on
thepolypropylenedevice.ThepolypropyleneSNAPdevice
is snapped to activate the fluid path, which provides results indi-
cated by color development.
After extensive testing to optimize results of laser parameters,
cycle times, and readability, Cognex Machine Vision (www.cog-
Animal health care is
advanced using fiber
laser marking
systems
Robin Barbero

2. Giardia
a p p l i c a t i o n r e p o r t
3 Industrial Laser Solutions FEBRUARY 2009 www.industrial-lasers.com
nex.com) systems and Lasit USA (www.lasitusa.
com) laser systems were selected as key compo-
nents of the integrated laser marking systems. Seven
systems are now integrated into a production line in
which a fiber laser is used to produce high-con-
trast Data Matrix symbols with additional laser
marked alpha-numeric characters indicating
the product name on each device. The instru-
ment reads the Data Matrix symbol to iden-
tify the product and interprets the developed
spots accordingly to provide diagnosis.
The Data Matrix is now used in applica-
tions for many industries such as the depart-
ment of defense, automotive, aerospace, tool-
ing,andelectronics.Industriesthatneedtoaddress
full life cycle traceability and automatically identify parts
throughout the supply chain operations can benefit
from this technology.
Unlike other types of marks, the data matrix
can be read even when more than 30% of it
is destroyed. Today there is a trend to extend
tracking through the full life of a part so that
it can be identified from the beginning to the
end of the cycle. Traceability also improves
quality by ensuring that processes are per-
formed in the correct sequence on respective
parts. In addition to eliminating human errors, PMI
(Direct Part Mark Identification) can be used in data
logging for safety, liability, warranty issues, regula-
tory requirements, and for permanent identifica-
tion on parts that are subject to theft or coun-
terfeiting.
When asked why laser marking was
selected over other technologies, Senior
Engineer Pete Boillard of IDEXX Laborato-
ries states, “After researching all our options,
the Data Matrix symbology was selected and
fiber based laser marking emerged as the
superior option. The benefit of the fiber laser was
that we could reproduce a high resolution data matrix that could fit
in a very small available space on the device (no bigger than 2.66
mm)andcouldbereadwithaCognexsystem.Additionallythelaser
eliminated any smudging and provided very high contrast with
excellent readability. Other technologies such as ink jet, dot peen,
and silk screening as well as CO2
lasers were initially researched
but results were not favorable and low resolution, smudging,
or low contrast eliminated those technologies.”
ThefiberlaseroffersmanyadvantagesontheIDEXX
production line. In addition to its high reliability and
long life of well over 100,000 hours for 24/7 use,
its compact footprint provides for the integration
of seven systems into a small area. Furthermore,
the 110 volt electrical requirements provide a green
solution over traditional Nd:YAG technologies, saving
thousands of dollars in electricity costs.
When asked about the real value of the laser technol-
ogy, Jim Ross, procurement manager at IDEXX Laboratories,
stated that: “The Lasit USA system creates a significant added
value to our customer by ensuring high contrast, consis-
tent results eliminating human error, and capturing the
results in the record. In addition the laser mark frees
the technician’s time, which improves the bottom
line for IDEXX customers, and provides a complete
integrated system for the veterinarian.”
With the SNAP device now machine recogniz-
able, a lab technician need only prepare this device
with the specimen and load it into the instrument. The
device is incubated and when ready, it is interpreted.
The results are loaded into the patient history for use by
the veterinarian. This little barcode takes the SNAP device and
brings it into the digital world.
The IDEXX SNAP device is now able to reliably identify
three times as many infected animals, many of which
are commonly misdiagnosed. In the past correct
diagnosis of many of these diseases has been a
challenge for many veterinary clinics because staff
members are often not optimally trained to iden-
tify these elusive infections. Because of the varying
expertise of different laboratories many infections
have gone under-diagnosed.
Lasit USA Managing Director Marco Ievoli states;
“Although we manufacture and tested several other lasers
such as our CO2
, green, and YVO4
, we found the best solu-
tion for the IDEXX line was the fiber laser. The small spot
size, the reliability, and the small footprint provided the
ideal solution.”
While we all enjoy knowing our pets are safe and
healthy, it is companies such as IDEXX that provide
us with the medical technologies to extend animal
life. ✺
Robin Barbero (robin.barbero@lasitusa.com) is executive
vice-president with Lasit USA, Branford, CT.