Shape-Shifting Robotic Catheter Could Make Heart Surgery Safer

A beating heart makes for a formidable surgical arena, but a new robotic catheter could someday equip surgeons to operate in the cardiac environment with greater ease.

The Use of Parylene-Coated Mandrels in the Balloon Catheter Manufacturing Process

The process of manufacturing high-quality and reliable balloon catheters is critical to a number of advanced medical treatments for patients including balloon angioplasty, stent and drug delivery, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, atherectomy, renal denervation, and laser balloon angioplasty.

Unlocking Innovation in Small-Scale Fluid Control

As the demand for smaller, less intrusive — sometimes even wearable — products grow, engineers must meet these expectations without compromising on pump system performance.

OPO Lasers: Putting Optical Components to the Test

Optical parametric oscillator (OPO) lasers test optical fibers and components to characterize the spectral response of optical components. Now, these tunable pulsed lasers are being used to facilitate a range of tests at different wavelengths to qualify and quantify the performance of optical components such as fiber optic strands, filters, lenses, and coated mirrors.

MD&M West Show Preview

MD&M West features products and insights across medical specialties such as medical devices, digital health, hospital equipment and supplies, cardiovascular solutions, pharmaceuticals, and much more. In her keynote, Jennifer Samproni will share her vision for the growing role that human machine interfaces (HMI) will play in the future of medical device innovation.

The Contribution of Medical Robotics to Human Wellbeing

In May 2023, a class of tiny, self-propelled robots were designed in the United States that can slip into a human body and may one day deliver prescribed drugs to hard-to-reach parts of the body. The team of developers at the University of Colorado Boulder aims to make the robot fully biodegradable one day, so that it eventually would dissolve in the body.

Utilizing Blockchain for Better Healthcare IoT Security

As more organizations adopt the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), their cybersecurity strategies must adapt. IoT risks are significant, but other new technologies — namely, blockchain — offer security solutions.

Technology

It’s Super Bowl time! What somewhat controversial technology has been embraced by the NFL to aid players in recovery from injuries?

Vote for Medical Design Briefs 2023 Annual Readers’ Choice Awards

Vote for the 2023 Product of the Year.

Building the Internet of Bio-Nano Things

Researchers have developed a protocol that enables a molecular network with multiple transmitters. The interface of computer science and biology —the Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) —...

Made-to-Order Diagnostic Tests on the Horizon

Researchers have invented a lab-on-a-chip that can be 3D printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: Fischer Connectors' new low-voltage multipole connectors for medical devices, the First Mate Last Break (FMLB).

Inside the OEM: Medtronic

With a focus on transformation, innovation, and portfolio management, Medtronic is well positioned for continued success and value creation in the dynamic medical technology landscape. Its commitment to shareholders, coupled with strategic guidance updates, underscores Medtronic's trajectory toward sustained growth and long-term value.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of the month, including one on a pair of earbuds that can be turned into a tool to record the electrical activity of the brain as well as levels of lactate in the body, one on a non-invasive cancer treatment that uses ultrasound to break up tumors in the body, and more.

Product Focus: Motors & Motion Control

See the product focus this month, which is on motors and motion control, including Bison's enhanced washdown gearmotor line, Nippon Pulse's direct-drive AC servo motors, Portescap's brushless DC motors, and a new line of servomotors from Siemens.

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including an ultrathin cable module for single-use endoscopes from Omnivision, CUI Inc's dc-dc converter, Vision Engineering's stereo microscopes, Henkel's expanded portfolio for wearables, SupplyOne's packaging solutions, and more.

Parkinson's Disease: A Neuroprosthetic to Correct Walking Disorders

The scientists set out in detail the process of developing the neuroprosthetic that has allowed a first patient with Parkinson's to be treated, enabling him to walk comfortably, confidently and without falling.

Exploring a New Approach to Treating Collapsed Airways in Newborns

Researchers at the EPFL have achieved a breakthrough in the treatment of tracheomalacia, a condition characterized by weak tracheal cartilage and muscles that normally keep the airway open for proper breathing.

Bioink Enhances 3D Bioprinted Skeletal Muscle Constructs

An advancement in 3D bioprinting of native-like skeletal muscle tissues has been made by scientists at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI).

Moving the Needle on Monitoring Skin Cancer

A research team has developed a new approach that integrates a minimally invasive, painless microneedle platform capable of absorbing the cell-surrounding, biomarker-containing fluid from deeper layers of the skin with an ultra-sensitive, single-molecule detection method (Simoa) that detects often rare, yet relevant biomarkers with higher sensitivity than conventional methods.

Advancing Medical Device Sustainability with Specialty Thermoplastics

By choosing specialty thermoplastics, device manufacturers can help reduce the environmental impact of their products while gaining plastic's well-known benefits of expanded design freedom and streamlined, high-volume production of parts compared to metal alternatives.

Navigating the Future of Medical Device Safety: The Role of High-Attenuation Shielding in Electromagnetic Compatibility

The article explores the role of high-attenuation shielding in ensuring EMC in medical devices, highlighting Tech Etch's 2400 and 2500 series fabric over foam as examples to effectively block EMI in sensitive medical electronics.

Piezoelectric Material Printing

A microprinter can print piezoelectric films 100 times faster for the production of MEMS for sensors, wearable, or implantable medical devices, offering the possibility to lower the mass production costs.

Acoustic Touch Helps Blind to See

A cutting-edge technology known as acoustic touch helps people see using sound. The technology has the potential to transform the lives of those who are blind or have low vision.

Sensors Measure Uric Acid Levels

Researchers have invented sensor-based noninvasive medical devices to make the monitoring and treatment of certain physiological and psychological conditions timelier and more precise.

Multimodal Graphene-Based E-Textiles

Instead of using toxic chemicals or optical masks for patterning, a research team used laser direct patterning technology to form laser-induced graphene (LIG) on e-textiles and successfully manufactured graphene-based e-textiles.

Soft Robotic System for Brain Surgery

Researchers have laid the groundwork for a soft robotic tool and control system that could grant surgeons an unprecedented degree of maneuverability within the brain.

Resorbable Scaffold Outperforms Angioplasty

Scaffold insertion also appeared to be as safe as angioplasty, in terms of procedure-related complications.