Features

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.

3D Printed Cardiac Patch Helps Repair Heart Defects

An interdisciplinary research team from ETH Zurich and the University Hospital of Zurich has developed a novel three-dimensional heart patch for intraventricular implantation. Read on to learn more about it.

Inside the OEM: Stryker Thrives Amid Global Headwinds

This article examines how Stryker is executing its strategies in a complex and evolving macroeconomic environment, balancing the pressures of inflation, supply chain constraints, and global competition while driving operational discipline, expanding its differentiated robotics portfolio, launching new trauma systems, and leveraging tuck-in acquisitions.

Patient-Centric Design and Collaboration in Drug-Delivery Devices

Across ailments, the burden of self-administered care is growing, and with it, the importance of designing drug-delivery systems designed with the patient experience at their core. Patient-centric design goes beyond usability metrics and checklists. It’s about building trust, reducing friction and enabling people to manage their health with confidence and dignity. Read on to learn more.

Fitting More Functionality Into Increasingly Smaller, Smarter Devices: Heterogeneous Integration

Engineering and manufacturing complex devices requires heterogeneous integration; the process of combining multiple, different parts that together have the functionality required that gather process and communicate the important information. Read on to learn more.

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including Dickson's mapping suite designed to streamline the identification of critical hot and cold zones and the analysis of temperature and humidity trends; Littelfuse's series of sealed tactile switches for surface-mount technology; Mahr Inc.'s height gage designed for ease of use and efficiency in production environments; and more.

AI Is in the Room — But Will It Bring Your Innovations to Market Quicker?

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a tool to balance challenges and facilitate the goal of bringing new innovations to market faster. And while AI undoubtedly has the potential to play a transformative role in medical device R&D, it must be approached with caution and utilized in a supportive capacity. Read on to learn more.

The Evolving Role of Robotics in Healthcare

Listen to these podcasts to learn how the role of robotics in healthcare has evolved and will continue to evolve.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: MethodSense's Elsa & AI Resource Center at MethodSense.com. Read on to learn more about it.

Product Focus: Tubing

See where the product focus is this month: Tubing, including TekniPlex Healthcare's PTA/PTCA balloon catheter tubing solutions; Kent Elastomer Products' biopharmaceutical tubing that can replace thermoplastic elastomers and is designed to reduce emissions related to single-use tubing by as much as 50 percent; cut-to-length and slit peelable heat shrink tubing from Junkosha; and more.

Leadless Pacemaker Prevents Invasive Surgeries

Researchers have created a groundbreaking prototype for a new kind of leadless pacemaker designed for both children and adults. The innovative micropacemaker would be the first fully leadless system to be placed in the pericardial space surrounding the heart. Read on to learn more.

Surgical Microscope Uses Tiny Cameras

To meet the need for better 3D imaging that works during live surgery, researchers recently developed a new kind of surgical microscope called the Fourier light-field multiview stereoscope, known as FiLM-Scope. Read on to learn more.

Smart Capsule Designed to Study GI Tract

Engineers have developed a smart capsule called PillTrek that can measure pH, temperature, and a variety of different biomarkers. It incorporates simple, inexpensive sensors into a miniature wireless electrochemical workstation that relies on low-power electronics. Read on to learn more.

Wristband All-in-One Monitor for Diabetes, Cardio Care

A wearable wristband could significantly improve diabetes management by continuously tracking not only glucose but also other chemical and cardiovascular signals that influence disease progression and overall health. Read on to learn more.

Soft Brainstem Implant Delivers High-Resolution Hearing

Researchers have developed a soft, thin-film auditory brainstem implant. The device uses micrometer-scale platinum electrodes embedded in silicone, forming a pliable array just a fraction of a millimeter thick. This novel approach enables better tissue contact, potentially preventing off-target nerve activation and reducing side effects. Read on to learn more.

Toothbrush-Shaped Ultrasound Allows for Gum Monitoring

A toothbrush-shaped ultrasound transducer can provide a less invasive screening for gum disease. In proof-of-concept demonstrations on animal tissues, the device produced measurements similar to those of a manual probe. Read on to learn more.

Researchers Develop Self-Illuminating Biosensor

Engineers have harnessed quantum physics to detect the presence of biomolecules without the need for an external light source, overcoming a significant obstacle to the use of optical biosensors in healthcare. Read on to learn more.

From The Editor: Australia’s Medtech Investment Signals Global Shift and Opportunity for U.S. Partners

Australia is entering the global medical technology arena with a strategic investment package totaling $65.5 million, aimed at accelerating R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization. Backed by the Australian government, the move signals a deepening commitment to innovation-driven self-reliance — and opens the door to new global partnerships, including with U.S. medical device firms. Read on to learn what this means.