IRD is a manufacturer of custom precision glass, optics, and ceramic components for medical device OEMs and advanced healthcare applications. Working from customer drawings, IRD manufactures components for medical imaging, diagnostics, sensing, laser delivery, and minimally invasive technologies where precision, consistency, and reliability are critical.
IRD manufactures custom precision glass, technical ceramic, and optical components for medical device OEMs, diagnostic systems, surgical technologies, implantable devices, and advanced healthcare instrumentation. Our components are engineered for applications requiring biocompatibility, sterilization compatibility, dimensional precision, optical clarity, and long-term reliability in demanding medical environments.
IRD manufactures custom medical slides and microscope slides used in diagnostic imaging, microscopy, ophthalmology, endoscopy, and analytical medical devices. IRD components support medical researchers, diagnostic laboratories, and OEM device manufacturers requiring repeatable optical performance and precision fabrication.
Capillary slides parallel within 10 arc seconds; cuvettes assembled to a TWF error better than 1/10 waveIRD manufactures precision glass tubes and miniature glass components used in medical fluid handling systems, sensing technologies, and analytical instrumentation. Our precision fabrication capabilities support applications where dimensional control, material stability, and reliability are critical.
Custom glass, sapphire, and ceramic tubes; precision ID and OD control, parallelism controlled to arc-second levelsIRD manufactures custom micro-optics and miniature optical components for advanced medical imaging, sensing, and diagnostic applications: micro prisms, micro cylindrical lenses, miniature optical windows and lenses, and micro-scale optical substrates for imaging, sensing, and laser delivery systems.
Sub-mm dimensions for minimally invasive devices, diagnostic instruments, and imaging systems, with optical surfaces engineered for high transmission and clarityIRD manufactures precision glass, sapphire, and ceramic components used in implantable medical devices and long-term medical applications. Implantable-grade glass and ceramic components, sapphire windows and precision substrates, and miniature components engineered for biocompatibility, durability, and long-term environmental stability, including precision fabrication for implantable sensing and monitoring devices.
Hermetic sealingIRD manufactures custom ceramic probe tips, nozzles, cutting blades, and precision medical components engineered for thermal stability, durability, and controlled performance. IRD ceramic and optical components are used in surgical systems, diagnostic instruments, minimally invasive devices, and advanced medical technologies worldwide. When medical applications demand precision, material expertise, and long-term reliability, IRD delivers engineered components built for critical environments.
Surgical systems, diagnostic instruments, and minimally invasive devicesRepresentative components across the optics IRD manufactures. Geometry, material, coating, edge condition, and finish all vary with the print.
These are IRD's published capability limits across materials and geometries, not a grade every part ships to. Open the process that controls your critical surface and quote against that one.
IRD supports customers from prototype through full production. Our components are manufactured to tight tolerances and designed to deliver repeatable optical performance, dimensional accuracy, and long-term reliability in demanding medical environments. The customer is responsible for device qualification, biocompatibility, and sterilization validation.
| Attribute | Typical | Best case |
|---|---|---|
| Capillary slide parallelismCustom medical capillary slides | Print-defined | Within 10 arc sec |
| Cuvette transmitted wavefrontPrecision assembled cuvettes | Print-defined | Better than 1/10 wave TWF error |
| Tube parallelismWith precision ID, OD, and concentricity control | Print-defined | Arc-second levels |
| Micro-optic dimensionsMicro prisms, micro cylindrical lenses, miniature windows and lenses | Print-defined | Sub-mm |
| Surface finishPolished optical faces | Ra < 1 µin | Ra < 2 Å |
| FlatnessPolished optical faces | 1 wave | < 1/20 wave |
| Dimensional toleranceMachined and ground geometry | ±.005″ | ±.0001″ |
When application demands become more complex, material expertise matters as much as manufacturing precision. These are the controls IRD holds across a production run.
Different materials respond differently to environmental and operating conditions. Some materials are highly resistant to moisture and chemical exposure, while others are selected for optical clarity, thermal stability, strength, or scratch resistance. IRD supports customers in selecting the optimal material for each application based on operating conditions, durability requirements, optical performance, and manufacturability.
We help customers select optimal substrate materials and coating technologies based on durability requirements, optical performance, environmental exposure, and system compatibility. Precision machining, polishing, patterning, and coating of glass and optical materials are designed to maintain optical clarity, improve durability, optimize laser performance, and support repeatable results in demanding environments.
Probe tips, nozzles, ablating and cauterising tips, and cutting blades are made in advanced ceramics for their heat absorption, hardness, and ultra-fine grain structure, and they run at IRD Ceramics on equipment built for super-hard materials.
Precision glass tubes and miniature glass components are designed to resist chemical interaction and contamination, with flow-control geometries engineered to minimize capillary action and materials compatible with sterilization processes and medical environments. Inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) geometry, concentricity, and parallelism are controlled to arc-second levels alongside the bore.
A publicly traded medical equipment manufacturer needed precision tolerances together with a very smooth surface, controlled light transmission, and extreme durability, and was unfamiliar with both the benefits and the limitations inherent in glass. IRD devised a process to hold 5 µm parallelism between a polished surface and two 140 µm polished edge rails, worked closely with the customer's team on the real tradeoffs between glass and plastic, and then recommended, qualified, and implemented a new manufacturing process. The finished process exceeded the component's original lifetime expectation by 1200%. Unit cost went up; overall cost came down dramatically. IRD reported that the process moved into repeat production.
Talk to an applications expertIRD supports customers from prototype through full production. Our components are manufactured to tight tolerances and designed to deliver repeatable optical performance, dimensional accuracy, and long-term reliability in demanding medical environments. IRD components are used in medical devices, diagnostic systems, infrared sensing technologies, and advanced healthcare instrumentation worldwide.
The answers an applications engineer would give you on the first call.
Start a quoteTreat it as evidence, not a catalog value. It was held between a polished surface and two 140 µm polished edge rails on one published medical program, one demonstrated result on one geometry. Send your geometry and the team will tell you what it can commit to on yours.
Eight options are published for medical work: thin film, anti-reflective, high reflectivity, UV reflective, hydrophilic, hydrophobic, chemical strengthening, and heat strengthening. The substrate choice follows the environment, every glass reacts differently, some to moisture, some to acids, some scratch or fracture easily, so name the cleaning, sterilization, and fluid exposure the part will see.
IRD's quoting checklist: application, product type, volume potential and schedule, material, dimensions, surface quality, coatings, assembly, cleaning, and packaging. Attach the drawing. For a new design the technical team runs a no-cost Design for Manufacturability review before quoting, then estimates prototype and production volumes separately.
No. IRD manufactures to your print or performance requirement and contributes material, process, and manufacturability input, the design stays with your team. When a print calls for tighter tolerances than the application requires, IRD will flag the potential over-specification, since it can add unnecessary cost. Final optical design decisions remain yours.
Machining runs to 30″ × 16″ × 16″, polishing to 36″ diameter, grinding to 24″ diameter at 6″ height, lapping to 13.3″ diameter, waterjet to 40″ × 24″ × 2″, and dicing to 8″ diameter at .300″ thick. Larger geometry is quoted against whichever process controls the critical surface.
IRD applies basic anti-reflective and metallic coatings in-house for quick turnaround. Other coating requirements are handled through select, vetted coating partners. Name the coating target in the RFQ and the team will confirm the route before quoting.
IRD is registered with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, and controlled programs are manufactured and stored domestically across the Litchfield and Alexandria, Minnesota facilities. Both plants operate under quality systems certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 for ultra-high-precision glass, optical, and ceramic components.
Packaging is tailored to the part and can include multi-layer foam, custom corrugated packaging, gel packs for sensitive optics, and military-grade cases. Components are supported on edges or non-critical surfaces outside the clear aperture and held against shifting in transit.
Use these IRD references when reviewing custom medical glass components requirements.
The optical components inside an endoscope probe, and why manufacturers add sapphire windows to probes that would otherwise be replaced on a wear cycle.
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When medical applications require precision, durability, and consistent optical performance, IRD delivers components engineered for critical environments. Send the drawing with the device function, the sterilization route, any fluid or chemical contact, the optical requirement, the controlling tolerances, surface treatments, annual volume, and the documentation and traceability that have to travel with the parts. For a new design, the technical team runs a no-cost Design for Manufacturability review before quoting, then estimates prototype and production volumes separately.
Final capability is quoted to the drawing. Achievable tolerance depends on material, feature size, geometry, coating, and production volume. Or call 320.693.7217. If you are still deciding between glass, ceramic, and plastic, bring the application rather than a material, that comparison is part of the review.