Adhesive Bonding of Plastics in Medical Devices, Part 2: Material Properties of Plastics

Part 1 of this article, which appeared in the December 2024 issue, focused on the factors and requirements for selecting adhesives for use in medical devices. Part 2 delves more into the material properties of plastics for medical device assembly.

Biosensors and Wearables for Health Insights

In a recent Medical Design Briefs podcast, Rob Batchelor, head of biosensors at Australia-based Nutromics, joined us to talk about continuous monitoring and biosensors for health insights. This article presents excerpts from that podcast.

MD&M West Show Preview

Previously known as Informa Markets Engineering (IME) West, hosting five co-located shows — MD&M West, ATX West, D&M West, Plastec West, and WestPack — these related industry sectors are now merging into a single unified show: MD&M West. The focus of the conference and trade show is not changing. Read on to learn more.

Nanofiber Patch for Psoriasis

Researchers have developed a patch for easier and more effective treatment of psoriasis. The method may also be used in treatment of other inflammatory skin diseases. The dry patch contains active ingredients for treatment of psoriasis reduces the frequency of use to once a day. Read on to learn more.

Bedside Blood Test

A new handheld, sound-based diagnostic system can deliver precise results in an hour with a mere finger prick of blood. The researchers used tiny particles they call functional negative acoustic contrast particles (fNACPs) and a custom-built, handheld instrument or acoustic pipette that delivers sound waves to the blood samples inside. Read on to learn more.

DNA Origami Sensor

A team has developed a general, modular strategy for designing sensors that can be easily adapted to various target molecules and concentration ranges. The new modular sensor has the potential to significantly accelerate the development of new diagnostic tools for research. Read on to learn more.

Device Detects Cancer in An Hour

Researchers have created a portable device that can detect colorectal and prostate cancer more cheaply and quickly than prevailing methods. The team believes the device may be especially helpful in developing countries, which experience higher cancer mortality rates due in part to barriers to medical diagnosis. Read on to learn more.

Toroidal Micro Robot Swims Autonomously

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in soft robotics. Their study introduces the first toroidal, light-driven microrobot that can move autonomously in viscous liquids, such as mucus. Read on to learn more.

Wearable Laser Monitors Brain Blood Flow

Researchers have developed a laser-based device that can be placed on the head to noninvasively monitor changes in brain blood flow and volume. The new device could one day help save lives by offering a direct and simple way to assess stroke risk based on physiological markers rather than indirect markers like lifestyle factors. Read on to learn more.

From the Editor - Bipartisan Legislation Could Fast-Track Breakthrough Medical Devices

The U.S. Senate's bipartisan legislation to expedite Medicare coverage of FDA-breakthrough-designated medical technologies and diagnostic tests could significantly impact the medical device industry and manufacturers, streamlining processes for breakthrough devices, enhancing patient access, and reducing barriers to market entry. Read on to see what Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content, thinks about the matter.

The Vital Role of TPE Tubing in Scalability and Rapid Deployment

This article explores the critical role that thermoplastic elastomer biopharmaceutical tubing plays in enabling scalability and rapid deployment — a duo of factors that can make all the difference in the industry. Read on to learn more.

Cardio Imaging Device Combines Two Modalities into Single System

This article presents how Conavi combined the two standard intravascular imaging modalities into one — the Novasight Hybrid™ System, the first and only intravascular imaging system to combine co-registered IVUS and OCT in a single system. Read on to learn more.

A Step Toward Safer X-Rays with New Detector Technology

Researchers have taken a step toward safer x-rays by creating a highly sensitive and foldable detector that produces good quality images with smaller dosages of the rays. Read on to learn more about it.

Hourglass-Shaped Stent Could Ease Severe Chest Pain from Microvascular Disease

A study at Mayo Clinic suggests that an hourglass-shaped stent could improve blood flow and ease severe and reoccurring chest pain in people with microvascular disease. Of 30 participants in a phase 2 clinical trial, 76 percent saw improvement in their day-to-day life. Read on to learn more.

Researchers Develop Clinically Validated, Wearable Ultrasound Patch for Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring

A team of researchers at the University of California – San Diego has developed a new and improved wearable ultrasound patch for continuous and noninvasive blood pressure monitoring. Read on to learn more.

Wearable Device for Cells Could Help Restore Brain Function

Wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers interact with parts of our bodies to measure and learn from internal processes, such as our heart rate or sleep stages. Now, MIT researchers have developed wearable devices that may be able to perform similar functions for individual cells inside the body. Read on to learn more.

Researchers Develop Wireless Brain Neural Signal Recorder

Researchers have developed a fully embedded wireless brain neural signal recorder. The device was created by Prof. Jang Kyung-in. Read on to learn more.

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including an IEC connector from Schurter; Raltron's series of electromagnetic buzzers; Midwest Interventional Systems' extrusion ordering system; SGS' expanded spray drug-delivery testing capabilities; Prima Power's latest addition to its 2D laser technology portfolio; ANCA's peel grinding platform designed to reduce cycle time; and more.

Product Focus: Motors and Motion Control

See where the product focus is: motors and motion control, including a high-performance linear DC motordriven stage by Moticont; Novotechnik's 44-turn magnetic encoder with IO-Link output interface; a series of motorized elevator stages released by Optimal Engineering Systems; and PI Americas' several new families of motorized linear and rotary stages.

Soft Microelectronics Enable Wearable AI for Digital Health

A research team has introduced a groundbreaking wearable in-sensor computing platform. This platform is built on an emerging microelectronic device, an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), invented explicitly for bioelectronics applications. Read on to learn more about it.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of the month, including one on an enzyme that can aid drug design for aggressive cancers; one on a modified pacifier combined with AI algorithms to analyze data; one on Robert Wood discussing results that suggest omalizumab has the potential to be a life-changing medication for patients with food allergy, including those with multiple food allergies; and one on a novel framework to localize skin lesion correspondence.

Inside the OEM: Johnson & Johnson MedTech Maintaining Its Edge

Johnson & Johnson continues to advance its leadership in medtech and innovative medicine by focusing on high-growth, high-innovation markets. Recent strategic acquisitions have strengthened its cardiovascular portfolio, contributing to significant sales growth. Read on to learn more about the company, which is well positioned for sustained growth in 2025 and beyond.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: Biointeractions' surface-active therapeutic coating for medical devices, AstutePlus®. It's an advanced antithrombogenic designed specifically to stop fibrin sheath formation as well as thrombus formation in blood-contacting devices. Read on to learn more.

A Tabletop Robot May Revolutionize Physical Therapy Delivery

Mohammad Habibur (Habib) Rahman, Director of the BioRobotics Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and his team have been developing a portable, assistive robotic arm that therapists can use to assess and treat patients whether or not they are not in the same location.

From Manufacturing to Medicine: A Shared Mission

Through collaboration SAE International, Performance Review Institute (PRI) and Medical Design Briefs (MDB) extend their knowledge throughout the life sciences industry, driving innovation in...

Device Measures Glucose Levels Using Sweat

Researchers hope to transform diabetes management by eliminating the pain and hassle. The paper-based biosensor system uses Bacillus subtilis bacterial spores that germinate in response to glucose in...

The Role of MEMS in Next-Gen Medical Devices

How microfabrication and MEMS technology are driving sensor-based medical devices.

The Integration of Sensors into Next-Generation Health Devices

How advanced sensor technologies driving the development of wearables and health-monitoring devices.

Technology

In 2012, what technology that is ubiquitous in our everyday lives was used to recognize and measure DNA concentration?