Manufacturing & Prototyping

Advanced Laser Welding Techniques for Titanium Pacemaker Housing: Achieving Precision, Reliable and Hermetic Sealing

A pacemaker is a small device that helps control your heartbeat so you can return to your normal life. It has three main...

Precision in Motion: The Future of Robotics and Automation in Medical Device Manufacturing

As regulatory demands intensify and product complexity grows, automation and robotics provide medtech engineers with a powerful set of tools. From high-speed motion control to cleanroom-certified cobots and predictive maintenance, the technologies now available can transform the entire device manufacturing life cycle. Read on to learn more.

Key Trends Drive the Future of Medical Device Manufacturing

Medical device contract manufacturing is poised for robust and sustained growth, with the global market projected to surpass $150 billion by 2030. This expansion is being driven by technological innovations, shifting healthcare demands, and increasing reliance on outsourcing to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Read on to learn more.

Manufacturing Technologies: A 2025 Medical Device Industry Outlook

The global medical device manufacturing industry is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by technological innovation, automation, and increasing demands for customized, high-quality care. This article provides an overview of key technological advancements reshaping the medical device manufacturing landscape, including additive manufacturing, robotics, laser welding, and 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.

Film Cast PTFE Liner and Tubing: An Inside Look at Quality from a Manufacturing Perspective

This article explores how the film cast process manufactures micro tubing products from liquid polymer coatings, then defines three important test methods and specifications that are needed to optimize film cast PTFE’s quality and material strength properties. Read on to learn more.

Video Spotlight on Products and Services

See where the video spotlight is this month: on CNC machining; micro linear actuators; a lab tube cutting machine; the 601 series Air Turbine Spindle® mills at 90,000 RPM; MD® multipurpose adhesives; and much more.

Project Set to Develop New Sustainable Materials for Application In Bioprocessing

An industry-academia collaboration to advance sustainable bioprocessing through innovative materials for additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has been announced by Innovate UK (IUK), as part of the “Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation: Collaborative R&D Fund.” Read on to learn more.

Precision in Miniature: New Microgripper Technology for Electronics and Assembly

Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have unveiled an innovative electrothermal microgripper that promises to improve microelectronics, biomedical engineering, and MEMS applications. With its remarkable deformation capabilities, excellent size compatibility and reliable catch strength, the microgripper enables the manipulation and assembly of micro- and nano-scale objects with exceptional efficiency. Read on to learn more about it.

System Optimizes Behavior of 3D Printed Materials

A system has been developed to optimize the electrical, thermal, and mechanical behavior of 3D-printed materials. A team has developed an innovative computational model that makes it possible to predict and improve the behavior of multifunctional structures manufactured using 3D printers. Read on to learn more.

Additive Manufacturing of Biomedical Metals for Medical Implant Fabrication

Biomedical metal implant materials are widely used in clinical applications, including dental implants, hip replacement, bone plates, and screws. However, traditional manufacturing processes face limitations in meeting customized medical needs, internal structural control, and efficient material utilization. Read on to learn more.

Ultrasonic Welding: Key Considerations for Designing Medical Wearables

The trend toward medical wearables will continue to grow in the coming years. At the same time, the requirements for skin compatibility, wearing comfort, and sustainability are increasing. Ultrasonic welding offers a reliable alternative to conventional bonding techniques to meet these increasing requirements. Read on to learn more.

Implementing Lean Six Sigma in the Medical Device Industry

Through universal models of self-evaluation and data analysis, the LSS methodology has proven to be an excellent tool in fostering major improvements within a business. In the medical device industry, it is particularly important that manufacturers maintain a mindset of continuous improvement and are willing to collaborate in the pursuit of common goals. Read on to learn more about it.

Why Photochemical Etching Is Becoming Critical for High-Precision Medical Manufacturing

The medical industry demands precision, biocompatibility, and reliability — all of which are fundamental strengths of PCE. As manufacturers continue to innovate, PCE will remain at the forefront of high-precision medical manufacturing, ensuring that medical devices perform at the highest level to improve patient outcomes worldwide. Read on to learn more.

Beyond The Illusion of Design for Additive Manufacturing In Medical Devices

The promise of additive manufacturing (AM) in the medical device industry has always been clear, the ability to create intricate geometries, patient-specific implants, and previously impossible structures. The reality, however, is far less inspiring. Read on to learn more.

Building a Strong Medical Device Supply Chain

Contract manufacturing partners play a vital role in the medical device supply chain. Their capability to meet precise design specifications is essential. When they consistently deliver high-quality results on schedule and within budget, they provide substantial value, helping manufacturers reduce risk, accelerate time to market, and maintain regulatory compliance. Read on to learn more.

Solving Post-Production Cleaning Challenges in Medical Device Manufacturing

Successful post-production cleaning in medical device manufacturing requires a comprehensive approach that addresses multiple challenges simultaneously. Read on to learn more about it.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of the month, including one on 3D printing complex, more durable robots from a variety of high-quality materials in one go; one on a fully digital design-to-manufacturing process that has the potential to revolutionize lower limb socket production; one on commercial and open-source electronic circuit boards that can be embedded into soft robots; and one on scalable methods of developing battery- and solar-powered fibers, making it theoretically possible for electrical energy to be harvested from, and stored in the clothing.

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...

Product Focus: Laser Marking/Machining

See where the product focus is this month: laser marking and machining.

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including precision metering pumps from Circor International; a high-performance gantry robot with an integrated slip roller conveyor system from Dispense Works; XP Power's range of compact, low-profile AC-DC power supplies with flexible cooling options; Festo's updated mass flow controller; and much more.

New Implant May Help Patients Regenerate Their Own Heart Valves

Georgia Tech researchers have created a 3D-printed heart valve made of bioresorbable materials and designed to fit an individual patient’s unique anatomy. Once implanted, the valves will be absorbed by the body and replaced by new tissue that will perform the function that the device once served. Read on to learn more.

Custom Rupture Disk Prototypes for Medical Devices

Medical equipment designers rely on rupture disk devices for pressure relief and pressure release of gases and liquids for essential diagnostic, life safety, and analytical instrumentation. Read on to learn more about them.

Interlocking Metasurfaces Improve Structural Strength

Researchers have significantly improved a new joining technology, interlocking metasurfaces, designed to increase the strength and stability of a structure in comparison to traditional techniques like bolts and adhesives, using shape memory alloys. 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...

Bioprinting Artificial Organs in Space to Benefit Human Life on Earth

Recent successes in cultivating human heart tissue, knee cartilage, and pharmaceutical crystals in space have relied on technology that was initially developed decades ago with support from NASA.