Features

From the Editor - Study: The Post-COVID Impact of 3D Printing and Generative Design

As the COVID pandemic began to drive rapid changes in healthcare, innovative manufacturers and makers around the world began using 3D printing and generative design to fill a dire need for masks, swabs, ventilator components, and other medical equipment. Read on to learn more thoughts from Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content.

Terahertz Biosensor Detects Skin Cancer with Remarkable Accuracy

Researchers have developed a revolutionary biosensor using terahertz (THz) waves that can detect skin cancer with exceptional sensitivity, potentially paving the way for earlier and easier diagnoses.

What Is Pulsed Field Ablation and Why Is It Taking Over Electrophysiology?

This article discusses the electrophysiology clinical applications for PFA, the rationale for pursuing PFA over other technologies, other clinical areas that are likely to be impacted by this technology in the future, and the challenges with designing PFA systems.

Precision and Personalized Medicine: The Role of Phenotypes

Phenotyping allows for a deeper understanding of an individual’s unique characteristics, contributing to more effective and targeted medical interventions.

Automated Extrusion: Changing a Tubing Profile During Production

Technology in the medical field is constantly evolving and often requires an extensive array of medical-grade tubing in a variety of materials and thicknesses. Custom extrusion tooling can enable manufacturers to produce an unparalleled range of the highest quality medical tubing in the industry and address considerations such as improving the manufacturing process, product performance, or meeting specific customer requirements.

Breaking Barriers: Women Engineers Transforming the Landscape of Medical Device Innovation

Women are making significant contributions in the field of medical device engineering, playing key roles in innovation, research, development, and leadership. The Women in Engineering: Rising Star Awards program will celebrate and recognize women engineers who are enhancing the engineering profession through contributions to the industry and society in six categories: Aerospace/Defense, Automotive/Transportation, Electronics, Manufacturing, Medical, and Sustainability.

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including Instron's precision specimen loader, Lumedel's fiberoptic collimating lenses, Fume hoods from HEMCO, a lithium coin cell holder for maximizing PC board capacity from Keystone Electronics, and more.

Product of the Month

See the Product of the Month: Bosch Sensortec's two new MEMS accelerometers, the BMA530 and BMA580. Read on to learn more.

Product Focus: Sensors

See what the product focus is on this month. Hint: It's sensors.

Using Static Electricity to Enhance Biomedical Implants

Researchers have created electrostatic materials that function even with extremely weak ultrasound, heralding the era of permanent implantable electronic devices in biomedicine.

‘Smart Glove’ Boosts Hand Mobility

A new washable wireless smart textile technology has potential uses in virtual reality and American Sign Language. The glove incorporates a sophisticated network of highly sensitive sensor yarns and pressure sensors.

COVID-19 Test Produces Results in One Minute

Researchers have developed a potential COVID-19 test inspired by bioluminescence. Using a molecule found in crustaceans, they have created a rapid approach that detects SARS-CoV-2 protein comparably to one used in vaccine research.

Artificial Muscle Device Produces Force 34 Times Its Weight

Researchers have developed a fluid switch using ionic polymer artificial muscles that operates at ultra-low power and produces a force 34 times greater than its weight. Fluid switches control fluid flow, causing the fluid to flow in a specific direction to invoke various movements.

Robotic Rehab Helps Stroke Patients Regain Hand Dexterity

An assistive planar robot includes a cutting-edge closed-loop feedback system to monitor the muscle and brain activity of the user in order to trigger the execution of reach and grab in an adaptive way.

Metamaterial: Stretchable Wearable Thermoelectric Energy Harvester

A team has developed a technology that can increase the flexibility and efficiency of a thermoelectric generator to the world’s highest level by using mechanical metamaterials that do not exist in nature.

From the Editor: The 2023 Products of the Year

This year, our two winners both focus on materials designed to address the special needs of the healthcare industry. Read on to learn the winners of the 2023 Medical Design Briefs’ Readers’ Choice Products of the Year.

Wearable Heart Monitor Offers More Comfort, Less Irritation

A team led by RMIT University has made a wearable ECG device that could be used to prevent heart attacks for people with cardiovascular disease, including in remote healthcare and ambulatory care settings.

Real-Time Multimodal Tactile Detection System

A tactile perception system provides human-like multimodal tactile information to objects like robots and wearable devices that require tactile data in real time.

Implantable Device for Diabetes

Researchers have developed an implantable device that could provide a long-term supply of insulin to the body. The implant was designed to shield insulin-producing, or islet, cells from damaging immune responses, while continuously generating oxygen to sustain them.

Color-Based Sensor Emulates Skin’s Sensitivity

Researchers have developed a sensor that can perceive combinations of bending, stretching, compression, and temperature changes, all using a robust system that boils down to a simple concept: color.

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.

Helmet with Sensors Records Brain Function

Researchers have designed a lightweight helmet with tiny LEGO-size sensors that scan the brain while a person moves. The helmet is the first of its kind to accurately record magnetic fields generated by brain activity while people are in motion.

Patch Uses Body Motion for Disc Herniation

The tension-activated repair patches (TARPs) provide controlled release of an anti-inflammatory molecule called anakinra from microcapsules over time, which helped discs in a large animal model regain the tension they need to reverse herniation and prevent further degeneration.

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.

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.

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.

2024: Emerging Trends Shaping the Future of Healthcare

As industry navigates technological frontiers, the collective goal is to enhance patient experiences, streamline processes, and make healthcare more accessible and equitable. This article explores key emerging trends that are not only improving patient engagement but are also set to redefine the future of healthcare.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: Advanced silicone molding services offered by AMETEK EMC.

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including precision injection molding from Medbio; Covestro's Makrolon 3638 polycarbonate; laser processing systems from Amada Weld Tech; biocompatible adhesives, sealants, and potting materials from EpoxySet; brushless ECX speed motors from maxon; and more.