Design/​Engineering

Science

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

Smart Device Speeds Wound Healing with Personalized Treatment

As a wound heals, it goes through several stages: clotting to stop bleeding, immune system response, scabbing, and scarring. A wearable device called a-Heal aims to optimize each...

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...

Designing Resilient LSR Supply Chains Through Vertical Integration

As devices grow smaller, smarter, and more user-centered, materials like liquid silicone rubber (LSR) play a bigger role in enabling performance, comfort, and compliance. From implantables to connected wearables, LSR is helping engineers meet growing design and usability demands. 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.

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?

How Digital Twins Could Lead to Better GI Function

Kennesaw State University’s Lei Shi is leading a research project that could alter how GI disorders are diagnosed and treated using virtual replicas of a human stomach.

AI Model Can Predict Cardiac Arrest Better than Doctors

A new AI model is much better than doctors at identifying patients likely to experience cardiac arrest. The linchpin is the system's ability to analyze long-underused heart imaging, alongside a full spectrum of medical records, to reveal previously hidden information about a patient's heart health.

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?

Growing a Whole-Brain Organoid

Johns Hopkins University researchers have grown a novel whole-brain organoid, complete with neural tissues and rudimentary blood vessels — an advance that could usher in a new era of research into neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism.

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...

Inside the OEM: Boston Scientific to Focus on Cardiology Innovation

At a time when many medtech firms are grappling with regulatory headwinds, pricing pressures, and geopolitical disruptions, Boston Scientific is focused, aligned, and thriving. Read on to learn about the company’s growth in electrophysiology, strength in LAAC, disciplined margin expansion, and much more.

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.

AI-Powered Analysis of Stent Healing

A research team has developed DeepNeo, an AI-powered algorithm that automates the process of analyzing coronary stents after implantation. The tool matches medical expert accuracy while significantly reducing assessment time. Read on to learn more.

Dental Floss Measures Stress, Other Cognitive States

Chronic stress can lead to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, decreased immune function, depression, and anxiety. Unfortunately, the tools we use to monitor stress are often imprecise or expensive. Now a Tufts team has devised a simple device using specially designed floss that can easily and accurately measure cortisol, a stress hormone, in real time. Read on to learn more.

Paper-Based Diagnostic Provides Rapid Disease Detection

A paper-based diagnostic device can detect COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in under 10 minutes, without the need for sophisticated lab equipment or trained personnel. Read on to learn more about it.

From the Editor: U.S. Tariffs Cast Shadow Over Promising Growth of Pulsed Field Ablation Devices

Tariff uncertainty adds another layer of complexity to an already fragmented global regulatory environment. With PFA currently approved in only a handful of markets, the U.S. remains critical to commercial viability. Read on to learn more about what Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content, has to say about the matter.

Technology

What implantable sensor system became the first FDA-cleared continuous glucose monitor designed to remain in the body for up to 90 days?

Wound Dressings Made of Drug-Releasing Polymers

Electrospinning has been used to produce polymer fibers containing the well-known antibacterial drug metronidazole. The mats formed could potentially be used as wound dressings, thanks to an...

Genetic Delivery System Targets Lungs to Treat Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis

Scientists have made a key breakthrough for treating respiratory diseases by developing a new drug-delivery system that transports genetic therapies directly to the...

Ultra Selective Aptamers Bind to Specific Molecules

Inspired by the way viruses attach to cells, scientists have developed a method for engineering ultra-selective aptamers. These synthetic molecules bind to specific targets like viral...

Flexible Hydrogel Could Improve Drug Delivery for Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Treatment

Researchers have created a new hydrogel to improve drug delivery for treating post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). The hydrogel, which is designed to...

The Growing Connectivity Dimensions in Medical Technology

The lack of compatibility between high electrical and highly dynamic requirements in cable design is not solved but taken to a new level with medical megatrends such as AI, robotics, and miniaturization together with indispensable sustainability and safety demands. Read on to learn more.

From the Editor - Welcome to the Inaugural Medical Design Briefs Resource Guide

As the pace of innovation accelerates across the medical device industry, staying informed on core technologies and market trends is more important than ever. With that in mind, we are proud to introduce the 2025 summer edition of the Medical Design Briefs Resource Guide — a new, semi-annual issue designed to deliver essential insights into the components, materials, and services that power medical device development and manufacturing. Read on to learn more.