Medical Blog

From the Editor — Transformative Trends Reshaping Life Sciences Manufacturing

The life sciences industry is at a pivotal moment, where groundbreaking technologies are redefining how therapeutics and medical devices are discovered, developed, and manufactured. From AI to additive manufacturing, these advancements are accelerating time-to-market, improving efficiency, and enabling more personalized solutions for patients. Read on to learn Editor and Director of Medical Content Sherrie Trigg's thoughts on the matter.

Guest Editorial: The Next Wave of Medical Devices: Personalized with Local Impact

As an industry, AM is experiencing advancements at a rapid pace. Innovation is enabling enhanced capabilities across the entire workflow from software and materials through 3D printing technologies. Additionally, we see 3D printers with much smaller footprints enabling the technology to be used in smaller spaces such as hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and dental laboratories and clinics. Read on to learn more.

U.S. Tariffs: Implications and Strategies for Medtech Manufacturers

In a dramatic shift that could reshape the medical device industry, the U.S. government’s sweeping tariff hikes — particularly a 125 percent levy on Chinese goods — have...

A Bionic Hand that Can Grip Like a Human

Johns Hopkins University engineers have developed a pioneering prosthetic hand that can grip plush toys, water bottles, and other everyday objects like a human, carefully conforming and adjusting its grasp to avoid damaging or mishandling whatever it holds.

BD’s Business Split: A Game-Changer for IVD Market

Becton Dickinson’s (BD) decision to separate its biosciences and diagnostic solutions businesses is sending ripples through the in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) sector. BD says the separation was the result of a comprehensive business portfolio evaluation launched in early 2024. Read on to learn more.

Guest Editorial: The Power of One When Choosing Stent and Catheter Partners

As device designs become increasingly sophisticated, medtech companies are understandably seeking contract design and manufacturing partners that can accompany them on...

Guest Blog: Business Goals Drive Shifts in Materials

The medical device industry constantly evaluates product and packaging materials and designs to meet business objectives, sustainability targets, and changing consumer preferences. Tactics...

From the Editor - The 2024 Product of the Year

In December, we asked Medical Design Briefs readers to cast their ballot to choose from our eight Products of the Month the technology they felt was the most significant new introduction to the design engineering community in 2024. Here is the winner of the 2024 Medical Design Briefs’ Readers’ Choice Product of the Year. Read on to learn more.

Mass 3D Printing in Space for the First Time

Auxilium Biotechnologies has successfully deployed its 3D bioprinter aboard the ISS. The platform is the first of its kind, making history by printing eight implantable medical devices simultaneously in just two hours.

From the Editor - AI Tops ECRI’s 2025 Health Tech Hazards List

ECRI’s top 10 health technology hazards for 2025, in rank order, are... Read on to find out who made the list.

A Tabletop Robot May Revolutionize Physical Therapy Delivery

Mohammad Habibur (Habib) Rahman, Director of the BioRobotics Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and his team have been developing a portable, assistive robotic arm that therapists can use to assess and treat patients whether or not they are not in the same location.

From the Editor - Bipartisan Legislation Could Fast-Track Breakthrough Medical Devices

The U.S. Senate's bipartisan legislation to expedite Medicare coverage of FDA-breakthrough-designated medical technologies and diagnostic tests could significantly impact the medical device industry and manufacturers, streamlining processes for breakthrough devices, enhancing patient access, and reducing barriers to market entry. Read on to see what Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content, thinks about the matter.

From the Editor - FDA’s Final Rule on LDTs Raises Concerns for Personalized Medicine

Hear directly from Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content, about the FDA's final ruling on LDTs and why that is raising concern.

Gen AI Isn’t Ready (for Medical Devices)

Gen AI is an impressive technology with seemingly limitless applications. We’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of what it can do. But it’s this very limitlessness that makes it a poor fit for use inside of a medical device. Read on to learn more.

From the Editor - Study: Use of Recalled Products Does Not Equal Future Loyalty

A new report has found that 36 percent of Americans admit they would continue to use products even after a recall. See what Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content, has to say about the use of recalled products and future loyalty.

From the Editor: A Breakthrough in Remote Surgical Robotics

The global market for robotic surgical systems and their accessories will reach $10 billion in 2024, with a substantial increase expected to $15.8 billion by 2030. Read on to learn what Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content, has to say about surgical robots.

Creating a Safe Path to Sustainability in Drug Delivery

The environmental impact of the healthcare industry has been widely reported, with estimates it is responsible for around 4–5 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.1 As...

Beware of FDA Multisite Inspections

Recently, I came across an FDA regulatory situation you do not see too often. On the same day, FDA sent two teams of field investigators into two geographically different sites of the same company to...

From the Editor - AI: A “Transformative Force” in Medtech, But Hurdles Remain

AI is poised to make a major impact on the medtech market by enhancing precision in diagnostics, personalizing treatment plans, and streamlining manufacturing processes. Read on to find out what Editor and Director of Medical Content Sherrie Trigg thinks about the matter.

Making EVs Accessible for All

To address the needs of wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) users in the U.K.’s transition to electric, Motability Operations has revealed eVITA. It’s an accessible and versatile concept electric wheelchair accessible vehicle (eWAV), designed in collaboration with CALLUM.

Space Station Germ Testing Improves Wastewater Monitoring

A technology developed for NASA to identify pathogens inside spacecraft turned out to be beneficial for wastewater surveillance on Earth.

From the Editor - FDA Releases Draft Guidance for Drug-Delivery Devices

At the end of June, FDA released a draft guidance that is designed to facilitate and streamline development of stand-alone devices and combination products by improving the consistency of drug-delivery performance information included in applications and submissions. Read on to learn more about it.

The Politics of Health: How Global Elections Will Impact on Life Sciences

The global landscape for medical technology, biotechnology, and life sciences is on the cusp of seismic change.

AI + Computer Simulations = Enhanced Robotic Exoskeletons

Researchers have demonstrated a new method that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and computer simulations to train robotic exoskeletons to autonomously help users save energy while walking, running, and climbing stairs.

From the Editor - Medical Robotics: Report Reveals Clinician Expectations

From the Editor discusses Robocath -- a company that designs, develops, and markets innovative robotic solutions to treat cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases -- and how it has published a new report exploring current and future expectations for the use of robotics in interventional medicine. Read on to learn more.

Guest Editorial

This editorial was written by Ivor Campbell, Chief Executive of Callander, UK-based Snedden Campbell, a specialist recruitment consultant for the medical technology industry. He talks about who holds the key to the future of public health diagnostics. Read on to learn more.

Imperceptible Sensors Printed Directly on Human Skin

Researchers have developed a method to make adaptive and eco-friendly sensors that can be directly and imperceptibly printed onto a wide range of biological surfaces.

From the Editor - Advances in Generative AI to Reshape Healthcare

Generative artificial intelligence (or genAI) is rapidly gaining traction in the healthcare and pharmaceutical domains, with substantial advancements helping to address pervasive issues in these industries.

From the Editor - Surge in Metal AM Systems Drives Growth in 3D Printing

Shipment of additive manufacturing (AM) systems for metal parts increased by 24.4 percent in 2023, according to Wohlers Associates latest report. See what Editor and Director of Medical Content Sherrie Trigg thinks about the matter.