ISO 17025 accredited

Philadelphia Laboratory

An engineer in Exponent's Philadelphia lab performs tests on medical devices as part of our Medical Technology & Assessment Program.

Advanced Testing of Medical Devices and Technologies

The Exponent laboratory team in Philadelphia helps clients test and evaluate biomedical devices and technology solutions through our global network of in-house labs and relationships with third-party labs. Our scientists and engineers develop test protocols focused on client need with extensive expertise in mechanical testing, biotribology, and medical plastics and metals characterization.

Our Accreditations, Facilities, and Equipment

Our Philadelphia facility is proudly recognized as an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory (A2LA Certificate 2561.01). Additionally, the laboratory is fully compliant with 21 CFR Part 58, U.S. FDA Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).  

Exponent experts at the Philadelphia lab

Mechanical and Durability Testing Facility 

Biomaterials, medical devices, cadaveric, and animal models 

The mechanical testing facility is equipped with servo-hydraulic load frames (displacement range: microns to millimeters, load range: millinewtons to kilonewtons) and electromechanical frames (displacement range: millimeters to centimeters, load range: millinewtons to kilonewtons).  

The lab offers customized durability test equipment dedicated to evaluating coronary and peripheral stents as well as heart valves. Our custom small-force, small-displacement load frames are used for testing applications requiring gram-force and micron-displacement resolution. 

We have capabilities to functionally evaluate spinal, cardiovascular, and orthopaedic technologies; assess the durability and perform wear testing of these devices; conduct accelerated aging protocols; and use cadaveric models to evaluate medical device technologies.  

Spine wear testing at Exponent's Philadelphia lab
Spine wear testing

Biosafety Level 2 Suites 

Specimen storage, dissection, and procedure suite, including fluoroscopy  

This facility contains a full-service cadaveric storage, dissection, and procedure suite to prepare tissues for evaluation of medical technologies. The suite is equipped with a fluoroscope, a tissue band saw, and all the necessary universal precautions and disposables needed to carry out cadaver-related activities.  

The lab is also equipped with freezer and refrigerator storage for both human and animal samples. Exponent conducts all its cadaveric testing using IRB reviewed tissue collection and test protocols. 

Microscopy Facilities 

Optical microscopy, surface interferometer, FTIR, microCT, access to ESEM  

The microscopy facility has digital imaging microscopes with a variety of lighting options, as well as macro- and microscopes with wide ranges of resolution and fields of view. This includes environmental scanning electron microscopy complete with elemental analysis (EDS). In addition, we have surface interferometry and FTIR spectrometry, complete with microscope and ATR attachment. 

Exponent staff has access to area academic SEM and ESEM facilities. Access to microCT, MRI, X-ray, CT, and SEM/EDS facilities is also available through local academic and regional third-party labs and remote-view systems in other Exponent labs. 

SCOPE OF ACCREDITATION TO ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Exponent's Philadelphia laboratory successfully completed the A2LA evaluation process and is ISO accredited. Our lab is certified to test medical grade plastics, metals and biomaterials, medical consumables, tissues, and medical devices in conformance with the U.S. FDA Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Regulations.

Our lab is certified to perform the following tests: