Product Development

MD&M West

With multiple co-located expos, a dense education schedule, and a show floor spanning the entire medical device lifecycle, success at MD&M West depends less on seeing everything than on seeing the right things. Read on for a guide that takes a tactical view of the event — highlighting role-based education paths, newly emphasized features, and practical strategies for navigating the show efficiently.

Customizable Finger Brace for Injury Recovery

Researchers have developed a fully customizable finger brace that can, with the push or flex of a finger, easily switch from stiff to flexible. Along with its versatility, the brace can be 3D...

Why Medical Device Loyalty Depends on Services, Not Features

Product features alone no longer command premium prices or defend against commoditization. The path to differentiation and margin protection now runs through service quality and customer relationships. Read on to learn more.

Breakthrough Surgical Device Makes Hip Arthroscopy Safer

There’s a new tool in the hands of surgeons making waves through the world of hip arthroscopy. Jacob Segil, a research professor at CU Boulder, collaborated with Dr. Omer Mei Dan from the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine to create a redesigned surgical instrument called the CAP-LIFT cannula. Read on to learn more.

Retina-Mimicking Eye Phantom Replicates Human Retinal Structures

A retina-mimicking eye phantom replicates the structural layers and micro-vascular network of the human retina. The innovation, developed by the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, provides a new reference for objectively evaluating and calibrating ophthalmic imaging devices, paving the way for more accurate and reliable diagnosis of retinal diseases. Read on to learn more.

Technology

What is the first noninvasive transdermal system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to assess kidney function without blood draws or urine samples?

Oxygen Scavenger Doubles Biosensor Performance

Researchers have developed an oxygen scavenger that consumes excess oxygen by converting it into water. Crucially, this alcohol oxidase does not react with the actual target substances —...

How Wearables Are Enhancing Smart Drug Delivery

Wearable drug-delivery systems are improving the quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.

Faster From Lab to Patient to Win the Race Against Time

This article explores the essential ingredients of pharmaceutical success, from research and design to development, production and ultimately, the patient. Read on to learn more.

Inside the OEM: Medtronic’s Growth and Next Wave of Innovation

When Thierry Piéton stepped into the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer of Medtronic earlier this year, he entered one of the largest and most complex organizations in the medical technology industry. Read on to go inside the OEM.

Probe Powerfully Records Neural Circuits During Behavior

A newly developed probe, called Neuropixels Ultra, overcomes some key technical challenges in recording the cell type and activity of thousands of individual cells across many brain regions during a single experiment. Read on to learn more.

Microcatheter Delivers Therapies to the Tiniest Blood Vessels

EPFL researchers have invented a remarkably small and ultraflexible neurovascular microcatheter. Powered by blood flow, it can safely navigate the most intricately branched arteries in a matter of seconds. Read on to learn more about it.

Technology

What is the first noninvasive spinal cord stimulation system authorized by FD) for improving hand strength and sensation after chronic spinal cord injury?

Wireless Patch Enables Early Cancer Detection

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking, battery-free wearable patch that could help detect skin cancer earlier and more accurately, potentially saving lives by making screening more...

Developing Sustainable Drug-Delivery Devices

The challenges and opportunities in developing greener drug delivery solutions without compromising performance and safety.

Brain Implant Enables Safer Drug Delivery

Researchers have developed a new type of brain implant that can deliver drugs to multiple regions of the brain with high precision, offering fresh possibilities for the treatment of neurological...

Smarter Pathways for Precision Drug Delivery in Cancer Care

Targeted intra-arterial delivery platforms bathe cancer directly in therapy while limiting systemic toxicity.

Cardiology

What medical device platform received FDA approval in November 2024 for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using pulsed-field ablation?

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.

Science

What wearable medical device uses tumor-treating fields delivered through adhesive transducer arrays to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer?

MD&M Midwest Keynote: Advancing Electrophysiology: The Science and Evolution of Pulsed Field Ablation

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is emerging as a transformative modality in the field of electrophysiology, offering potential for increased...

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.

Regulatory

What consumer technology device became the first FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) assistive hearing device for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss?

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.

Handheld Device Could Transform Heart Disease Screening

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a handheld device that could potentially replace stethoscopes as a tool for detecting certain types of heart disease. The device can also be used over clothing, making it more comfortable for patients — especially women — during routine check-ups or community heart health screening programs.

Technology

What is the first FDA-approved cardiac stent specifically designed to grow and expand with infants and young children?

Technology

What implantable system was the first to university-developed medical device to receive FDA 510(k) clearance?

Gene Therapy Device Creates Personalized Nanomedicines On Demand

A new gene therapy delivery device could let hospital pharmacies make personalized nanomedicines to order. This democratized approach to precision medicine could revolutionize...

Burn, Freeze, Shock, or Shear: The Expanding Frontiers of Ablation Therapies

Ablation therapies have become indispensable in modern medicine, and their influence will only grow as innovation drives less-invasive, more-effective solutions. The next wave of advancements is likely to emerge from the convergence of technologies, leveraging engineering, biology, and clinical insights to overcome current limitations. Read on to learn more.