Multifunctional ANF/Mxene-Enhanced Hydrogels for Flexible EMI Shielding and Wearable Sensing Applications

Researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology and their collaborators have developed a multifunctional polyelectrolyte hydrogel reinforced with aramid nanofibers (ANFs) and MXene nanosheets, achieving outstanding performance in absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and wearable sensing. Read on to learn more.

Near-Void-Free 3D Printing

Researchers at The Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made significant strides in the development and manufacturing of near-void-free titanium alloys using 3D printing. This achievement could lead to the production of titanium alloy materials with exceptional fatigue resistance, paving the way for broader applications of metal 3D printing materials. Read on to learn more.

A Band-Aid for the Heart? New 3D Printing Method Makes This, and Much More, Possible

In the quest to develop lifelike materials to replace and repair human body parts, scientists face a formidable challenge: Real tissues are often both strong and stretchable and vary in shape and size. A CU Boulder-led team has taken a critical step toward cracking that code. They’ve developed a new way to 3D print material that is at once elastic enough to withstand a heart’s persistent beating, tough enough to endure the crushing load placed on joints, and easily shapable to fit a patient’s unique defects. Read on to learn more.

Streamlining Medical Device Development and Manufacturing Using Silicone Elastomers

This article compares high consistency silicone rubbers, liquid silicone rubbers, and low consistency elastomers, analyzing their characteristics and the implications in selecting each during different phases in the development of silicone medical devices. Read on to learn more.

Highly Conductive Sensors for Wearables

To advance soft robotics, skin-integrated electronics, and biomedical devices, researchers have developed a 3D-printed material that is soft and stretchable — traits needed for matching the properties of tissues and organs — and that self-assembles. Read on to learn more.

3D Printing Method Builds Structures with Two Metals

Taking a cue from the structural complexity of trees and bones, Washington State University engineers have created a way to 3D print two types of steel in the same circular layer using two welding machines. The resulting bimetallic material proved 33–42 percent stronger than either metal alone, thanks in part to pressure caused between the metals as they cool together.

Conductive, Cotton-Based Fiber for Smart Textiles

A single strand of fiber has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of a polymer, called polyaniline. The newly developed material showed good potential for wearable e-textiles. Researchers tested the fibers with a system that powered an LED light and another that sensed ammonia gas.

Assembly Technology for Next-Generation Robot-Assisted Surgery Systems and Instruments

The experience of technology providers in developing minimally invasive surgical instruments and RAS systems assembly offers significant advantages for the leading manufacturers of robot-assisted surgical systems.

Leveraging Customization to Decrease Device Complexity and Reduce Costs

In this Expert Insight, Nadia Hajjar, Category Manager for Life Sciences at Porex, provides perspective on the ins and outs of designing custom components, including leveraging customization to decrease device complexity and reduce component costs.

Programmable Smart Fabric Responds to Temperature and Electricity

A new smart material developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo is activated by both heat and electricity, making it the first ever to respond to two different stimuli.

Evaluating Ultrasonic Welding of Medical Plastics: Part 2

A previous article described the theoretical framework for USW of thermoplastics. This article presents the key parameters and materials influencing an ultrasonic welding process, so that USW can be accomplished successfully.

Enhancing Surgical Outcomes with Performance-Guided Surgery

Surgery is complex. When performing similar procedures, surgeons with various skill levels, training, and experience can have vastly different outcomes.

Printing Flexible Circuits on Curved Surfaces

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique for directly printing electronic circuits onto curved and corrugated surfaces.

Graphene Boosts Flexible and Wearable Electronics

Researchers demonstrate that graphene can greatly improve electrical circuits required for wearable and flexible electronics such as smart health patches and other flexible devices.

Soft but Tough: Biohybrid Material Performs Like Cartilage

Producing biomaterials that match the performance of cartilage and tendons has been an elusive goal for scientists.

Thermoresponsive Smart Materials

The researchers used water as the solvent and developed an LCST-type thermoresponsive polymer by adding alkaline earth metal ions — which are divalent cations — to polymers and aqueous solutions.

Stable Electrodes for Long-Term BCI

The electrode can be worn comfortably and stable for up to four weeks, without the potential need for any medical personnel to intervene to maintain it.

Tubing Coated with Light-Powered Catalysts Aids Drug Manufacturing

The new class of materials is insoluble, so it can be used over and over again. Such catalysts could be used to coat tubing and perform chemical transformations on reactants as they flow through the tube.

Novel Patching Material for Bone Defects

Scientists have discovered a new type of bone repairing material that could be used to more precisely fix bone defects. The bioresponsive ceramic interacts with an enzyme found in blood to be...

Copper Nanowires Combat Spread of Diseases

An ancient metal used for its microbial properties is the basis for a materials-based solution to disinfection. A team of scientists has developed an antimicrobial spray that deposits a layer of...

Electrospinning Advantages for Wearable Technology

Researchers have shown that electrospun materials have many advantages over conventional bulk materials for the development of wearables. Electrospun materials’ high surface-to-volume...

Hybrid Material Enables Next-Gen E-Skin

Researchers have developed three-in-one hybrid material smart skin for the next generation of artificial, electronic skin using a novel process. With 2,000 individual sensors per square millimeter,...

Understanding Titanium’s Biocompatibility

Scientists used photoelectrochemical measurement and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to clarify the source of titanium’s biocompatibility when implanted into the body, as with hip replacements...

Peeling Back the Layers: Adhesives Testing for Wearables

Trends in wearable technology follow those of the broader biomedical and electronics industries — devices are getting smaller, smarter, and easier to use. Specifically, wearables in...

What Medical Device OEMs Should Know About Outsourced MIM

The basis of metal injection molding (MIM) technology involves fine metal powders, which are combined with thermoplastic binders and surfactants, allowing injection in a plastic...

Micro-CAL Process Prints Fine Features in Glass Microstructures

Researchers have developed a new way to 3D print glass microstructures that is faster and produces objects with higher optical quality, design flexibility, and strength. They...

Nanomaterial Improves Insulin’s Effects

Researchers have developed a compound consisting of insulin bound to a string of amino acids that includes an antioxidant group. An earlier study in mice suggested this nanomaterial’s...

Materials Science Flexibility Is Key to Medical Device Innovation

There’s strong demand for smart, new lifesaving and life-enhancing technologies in the global medical device market. To meet this demand, medical device manufacturers are...

Medical Plastics: Understanding Ultrasonic Welding, Part 1

Plastic consumables for medical applications are often very complex and sophisticated devices. Before these devices can be used by healthcare workers or home care patients, they...