Features

AI in Medical Imaging: Diagnostic Challenges and Key Technology Considerations

AI in medical imaging means embracing a paradigm shift from manual, perception-focused interpretation to technology-enabled, data-augmented diagnosis. A balanced approach of high computation with federated learning and generative augmentation could offer tangible benefits. Read on to learn what this means.

Innovators in Healthcare: Spotlight on the Medical Finalist

The 23rd annual Create the Future Design Contest for engineers, students, and entrepreneurs worldwide, sponsored by COMSOL, Inc., and Mouser Electronics, drew innovative product ideas from engineers and students from countries from around the world. The Medical category itself received many innovative entries from 21 countries; this article introduces its finalist.

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including TechniQuip's solid-state fiber optic unit for multi-channel fluorescence microscopy and life science applications; PI's expanded piezo stack actuator series with the launch of encapsulated actuators; Turbo Fil's standalone, servocontrolled ceramic vial filler system; and more.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: Evonik's clinical-grade version of its recombinant collagen-like protein platform for medical device development. Read on to learn more about it.

Product Focus: Assembly/Manufacturing Equipment

See where the product focus is this month: On assembly/manufacturing equipment, including Air Turbine Technology Inc.'s tools with cutting speeds of 60,000 and 80,000 RPM for Swiss lathes; Nordson EFD's jetting system designed for precision fluid applications in medical device assembly; Right-angle M12 connectors for through-hole reflow soldering are available from Phoenix Contact; and Sunnen Products Company's honing oil for precision machining and medical device manufacturing.

The Impact of Wearables on Healthcare

Listen to the new season of the Medical Design Briefs podcast. These four episodes focus on the impact of wearables on healthcare.

Infant Wearable Uses Artificial Intelligence for At-Home Assessments

During the first two years of life, the motor development of children is monitored closely, as motion is the natural base for their other development and interaction with the environment. Current methods do not allow accurate developmental monitoring throughout early childhood. MAIJU (Motor Assessment of Infants with a Jumpsuit) is designed to solve these problems. Read on to learn more about it.

AI Detects Dizziness, Balance Disorders Remotely

Most current AI models are based on static datasets, limiting their adaptability and real-time diagnostic potential. To address this gap, researchers have developed a novel proof-of-concept deep learning model that leverages real-time data to assist in diagnosing nystagmus — a condition characterized by involuntary, rhythmic eye movements often linked to vestibular or neurological disorders. Read on to learn more.

3D Printed Smart Pen Helps Diagnose Parkinson’s

Researchers have developed a smart, self-powered magnetoelastic pen that could help detect early signs of Parkinson’s by analyzing a person’s handwriting. The highly sensitive diagnostic pen features a soft, silicon magnetoelastic tip and ferrofluid ink — a special liquid containing tiny magnetic particles. Read on to learn more about it.

Noninvasive Optical System for Skin Cancer Diagnosis

A noninvasive imaging system combines two advanced techniques to examine both the structure and chemical composition of skin cancers. This approach could improve how doctors diagnose and classify skin cancer and how they monitor treatment responses. Read on to learn more about it.

Self-Cleaning Sweat Sensors Offer Comfortable Monitoring

Researchers have developed novel ISM-based sweat sensors that feature enhanced signal stability and performance and avoid skin contact, while also being reusable, making them practical for daily use. Read on to learn more.

Technology Makes ‘Shape Memory’ Dental Aligners

Researchers are testing a new technology that incorporates shape memory material for clear plastic dental aligners, an alternative to traditional metal braces. The clear aligners still need to be improved to the point that there are two materials — clear aligners and metal braces — that are as good as each other. Read on to learn more.

From the Editor: Steady Growth, Shifting Pressures in Medtech

The 2025 Pulse of the Medtech Industry report from EY offers a clear snapshot of where the medtech sector stands — and where it’s heading. The primary message is one of a mix of steady growth and mounting pressures. Read on to learn what Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content, thinks about the situation.

3D Printed Diamond–Titanium Device Could Lead to Longer-Lasting Implants

RMIT researchers have created an experimental 3D printed diamond–titanium device that generates electricity from flowing liquid and receives wireless power through tissue making it possible to remotely sense changes in flow. Read on to learn more about it.

The Power of the Plasma Pen

Plasma pens integrated into production lines provide targeted plasma treatments that reduce failure rates by improving adhesion and bonding in various critical applications. Read on to learn more about their powers.

Shaping the Future: Honoring the Next Generation of Women Leaders in Medtech - Debbie Teodorescu

The 2025 Medical Rising Star Award recognizes Dr. Debbie Teodorescu, a physician-engineer whose career bridges patient care and technology development. Read on for a full interview with her.

MD&M Midwest 2025, an MD&M Event

Returning to the Minneapolis Convention Center this October, MD&M Midwest 2025 is where the region’s medtech leaders gather to explore, collaborate, and solve the toughest engineering challenges in medical device development. Read on to learn more about it.

The New Medtech Frontier

The next phase of medical device innovation will be defined by systems that are not only responsive but also autonomous and personalized. Read on to learn more.

New Products & Services

See the new products and services, including EPIGAP OSA Photonics GmbH's surface-mount device (SMD) shortwave infrared (SWIR); Moticont's linear voice coil servo motor; Dart Controls' high-performance pulse width modulation (PWM) controller for 12–48-V battery powered equipment; a compact, fullservice RTD sensor from Burns Engineering; and more.

Medical Devices Are Booming — But Can the Supply Chain Keep Up?

While demand surges, so do design and development challenges. Today’s medical devices are not only expected to be smart and connected, but they must also operate flawlessly in high-stakes environments where safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable. Read on to learn what this means.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: Amada Press System’s WH-2A, a 13-axis CNC dual-point coiling machine designed for ultra-fine wire coil processing for medical guidewire formation.

Product Focus: Fluid Handling/Pumps/Valves

See where the product focus is this month: Fluid handling, pumps, and valves, including Clippard's isolation valves with a hit-and-hold option; Raumedic AG's expanded portfolio of biopharmaceutical transfer tubing; Festo's expanded line of compact grippers; and more.

Paper-Based Devices Diagnose Malaria in Asymptomatic People

Devices made with cheap strips of paper have outperformed two other testing methods in detecting malaria infection in asymptomatic people in Ghana — a diagnostic advance that could accelerate efforts to eliminate the disease, researchers say. Read on to learn more.

LED-Based Imaging System Could Transform Cancer Detection

Researchers have developed a prototype imaging system that could significantly improve doctors’ ability to detect cancerous tissue during endoscopic procedures. This approach combines light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with hyperspectral imaging technology to create detailed maps of tissue properties that are invisible to conventional endoscopic cameras. Read on to learn more.

Smart Wound Monitor Poised to Improve Chronic Infection Care

Researchers have developed a wearable wound monitoring device with integrated sensors that could reduce infection risks by minimizing the need for frequent physical contact. The proof-of-concept device is designed for reuse, making it more cost-effective and practical than disposable smart bandages and other emerging wound monitoring technologies. Read on to learn more.

Conductive Polymer Improves Sensor-Based Devices

Scientists have produced a new, powerful electricity-conducting material that could improve wearable technologies, including medical devices. The new technique uses hyaluronic acid applied directly to a gold-plated surface to create a thinner, more durable film, or polymer, used to conduct electricity in devices like biosensors. Read on to learn more.

Bioimaging Device Holds Promise for Eye, Heart Conditions

A new bioimaging device can operate with significantly lower power and in an entirely non-mechanical way. It could one day improve detecting eye and even heart conditions. The device uses a process called electrowetting to change the surface shape of a liquid to perform optical functions. Read on to learn more.

Genetic Testing Device Detects Rare Mutations

Researchers have developed a portable device capable of detecting rare genetic mutations from a single drop of blood. The instrument was shown in lab experiments to quickly and accurately test for a genetic condition called hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, which can cause heart problems. Read on to learn more.

From the Editor: Rebuilding Trust in Medical Devices

A recent report from MasterControl delivers a sobering statistic: more than 8 in 10 physicians (82 percent) have questioned the quality or safety of the medical products they prescribe. For medical device engineers and designers, that figure should be a wake-up call. Read on to learn what Editor and Director of Medical Content Sherrie Trigg thinks about the matter.