The ideal contract manufacturer is more than a transactional supplier; rather, it is a partner that improves the product and process. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic box build assemblies are critically important in the medical field. Today, most medical devices used in healthcare settings to diagnose, test, or treat patients, as well as devices critical to laboratory research, rely on PCBs in one way or another.

In 3D printing, the additive manufacturing processes use gradual creation or addition of materials to form an object. 3D printing has become a widely used method for manufacturing prototypes in many industries, including medical devices, since it produces prototypes with complex shapes relatively quickly and at a significantly lower cost than traditional methods.

The performance of adhesives used for wearable medical device applications is critical to the efficacy of the final product, as an improperly affixed device is unlikely to achieve the desired result when applied to the patient. Aside from medical device applications, accurately predicting how an adhesive will be impacted by the sterilization process in order to make informed choices is also important for advanced wound care and consumer wellness applications such as first aid.

Dexterity, precision, control and comfort — without them, no handheld or hand intensive medical device is a success, for either the medical professional using it or for the patient relying on the outcomes. Ergonomically driven design guides a successful device development process from concept through prototype to market. There are always five fundamentals required for world-class handheld instruments or hand-intensive devices.

The majority of cardiovascular devices are permanent and, with a few exceptions, are nondegradable. In general, these devices successfully fulfill their primary indication for use. However, permanent implants can also elicit a foreign-body response and are susceptible to infection and chronic inflammation. These issues compromise implant performance, raise healthcare costs, and increase patient morbidity.

In hospitals and healthcare institutions, the sheer amount of patient metrics to track for the staff of doctors and nurses can be been a point of contention. Lawsuits based on the grounds of negligence are a risk that all healthcare practitioners take. Furthermore, there is an estimated 200,000 patients that die in the United States annually from medical errors. ¹ Introducing wireless patient monitoring in these environments can potentially mitigate the risks that are innately involved in an environment geared at treatment and maintenance of sick people. There is always the potential for cyberattacks, but the rewards may outweigh the risks. Wired technologies limit patient mobility, increase the difficulty in transporting patients, and often introduce significant delays and hassle for the caregiver in arranging the cables.

When it comes to the cardiovascular procedures, small is indeed beautiful. With the need for minimally invasive procedures and increasing moves to deliver therapies to hard-to-reach areas such as the brain, miniaturization is a niche that demands significant focus. Procedures are rapidly changing, creating a need for new technologies that can help address unmet needs. Nevertheless, as with all medical devices, the proof is in the application, and this requires supporting evidence pointing to successful outcomes.

We live in a fast-changing world that is delivering rapid advances in technology and greater consumer expectations. Along with changing healthcare reimbursement models, which are moving to support improved patient outcomes, there is increasing demand for personalized products and precision medicines requiring increased complexity in medical devices. This is spawning a new era of digital and mobile medical devices and healthcare techniques, which are using the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) to connect technology, people, and processes. These include innovations such as lab on a chip and remote monitoring of patient testing devices. One company has even introduced the concept of cloth-based diagnostic monitoring technology; using undergarments to remotely monitor cardiac performance. To respond to these modern demands and to survive in the future marketplace, medical device manufacturers need to be more agile, innovate more quickly, and adapt to remain competitive.

National University of Science and Technology MISIS
Moscow, Russia
http://en.misis.ru/

Together with colleagues from the Ecole de Technologie Superiore (Montreal, Canada), scientists at the National University of Science and Technology MISIS (Moscow, Russia) have developed a new combination of alloy processing that produces solid and durable implants that are fully compatible with the human body. The authors sought to develop an industrial technology for the production of metal rod stocks that are used for creating modern bone implants, particularly for implants to treat spinal problems such as scoliosis.

THE WESTIN WALTHAM BOSTON • JUNE 25, 2018
www.medinnovationevent.com

Medical devices are an innovative, essential, and rapidly evolving component of healthcare technology and delivery. This unique conference will provide an overview of how emerging technologies and commercialization strategies are critically contributing to important medical device advances, resulting in dramatic changes in healthcare and the industry’s ability to address critical unmet medical needs. MedInnovation Boston 2018 will begin with a plenary session to set the tone for discussion and action, followed by concurrent tracks to explore the strategy and tactics of emerging products to market.