Materials/​Biomaterials

MD&M South Debuts in Charlotte, NC

The all-new IM Engineering South is dubbed the “six-in-one advanced design and manufacturing expo,” which includes MD&M South. The event, which takes place June 14–16, is designed to give...

Copper, But Not Silver, Effective Against Sars-Cov-2 on Surfaces

Silver and copper ions wipe out many pathogens. That’s why implants and medical instruments, for example, are coated with these metals. Researchers have studied whether...

Silk Layer Improves Function of Surgical Masks

A double layer of silk in combination with a surgical mask can enhance its ability to prevent the spread of viruses like COVID-19.

Summer 2022 Resource Guide

In our summer edition of the MDB Resource Guide, learn about new cleaning requirements and find the right company to match your medical-design needs.

Product of the Month

Honeywell, Morris Plains, NJ, has expanded its medical-grade biofiber portfolio with a blue-hued fiber that provides a strong visual aid to better differentiate between multiple suture sets in more complex surgeries.

What Medical Device OEMs Should Know About Outsourced MIM

The basis of metal injection molding (MIM) technology involves fine metal powders, which are combined with thermoplastic binders and surfactants, allowing injection in a plastic...

New Products and Services

Heavy-Duty Enclosures Bud Industries, Cleveland, OH, has introduced a series of heavy-duty plastic enclosures that are designed to provide flexibility in installing printed circuit boards and other components. The...

Smartphone-Powered Microchip Enables At-Home Medical Diagnostic Testing

A research team has developed a new microfluidic chip for diagnosing diseases that uses a minimal number of components and can be powered wirelessly by a smartphone. The...

New 3D Printing Technique: A Game Changer for Medical Testing Devices

Microfluidic devices are compact testing tools made up of tiny channels carved on a chip, which allow biomedical researchers to test the properties of liquids, particles, and...

Flexible Backing Improves Brain-Computer Interface

Engineering researchers have invented an advanced brain-computer interface with a flexible and moldable backing and penetrating microneedles. Adding a flexible backing to this kind of...

Nanomaterial Improves Insulin’s Effects

Researchers have developed a compound consisting of insulin bound to a string of amino acids that includes an antioxidant group. An earlier study in mice suggested this nanomaterial’s...

Micro-CAL Process Prints Fine Features in Glass Microstructures

Researchers have developed a new way to 3D print glass microstructures that is faster and produces objects with higher optical quality, design flexibility, and strength. They...

Product of the Month

3D Printable Biomaterials Evonik, Darmstadt, Germany, is expanding its portfolio of 3D printable biomaterials for medical technology. VESTAKEEP® iC4800 3DF is a new osteoconductive PEEK filament that improves fusion...

Nontoxic, Variable-Stiffness Threads Enable Dexterous Cardiac Catheters

Engineers at EPFL and ETH have developed a variable stiffness catheter made of nontoxic threads that can transition between soft and rigid states during surgery. It may...

Biodegradable Implant Could Help Doctors Monitor Brain Chemistry

A wireless, biodegradable sensor could offer doctors a way to monitor changes in brain chemistry without requiring a second operation to remove the implant, according to an...

Lens Offers Tunable Focus

A metasurface lens has been created that uses a piezoelectric thin film to change focal length when a small voltage is applied. Because it is extremely compact and lightweight, the new lens could be useful for...

Lead-Free Piezoelectric Materials

Gadolinium-doped cerium oxide could be a promising alternative to certain piezoelectric materials. It is lead-free, which means that it could be employed in biocompatible medical applications. Further...

Medical Plastics: Understanding Ultrasonic Welding, Part 1

Plastic consumables for medical applications are often very complex and sophisticated devices. Before these devices can be used by healthcare workers or home care patients, they...

Materials Science Flexibility Is Key to Medical Device Innovation

There’s strong demand for smart, new lifesaving and life-enhancing technologies in the global medical device market. To meet this demand, medical device manufacturers are...

MD&M West Keynote: Biomedical Materials Innovation

The three-legged stool of medical device innovation requires great technical capability, of course, but also a deep understanding of the related medicine (anatomy, pathology, procedural...

Quiet Gears Improve Patient Comfort and Imaging Quality in Medical Equipment

The polymer gear material reduces noise and absorbs shock and vibration.

‘Seeing’ Nonuniformities in 2D Materials May Lead to New Medical Sensors

Detecting nonuniformities in optical properties opens the door to new uses

Researchers Develop Ultrathin Films for Stretchable and Sturdy Bioelectronic Membranes

The highly adaptable materials could lead to new classes of wearable devices.

New Thermofluidic Improves Lab-On-a-Chip Applications

Researchers have succeeded in moving tiny amounts of liquid at will by remotely heating water over a metal film with a laser.

MD&M West Show Preview

From 3D printing and biomaterials to robotics and digital health, MD&M West is the largest medtech expo for suppliers and buyers.

MD&M West Keynote: The Science of Predictive Healthcare

Predictive medicine has its roots in early warning systems and diagnostic early detection. Prognostic devices are a new genre of diagnostic devices that not only detect and diagnose...

Self-Healing Materials Could Be Used to Develop Artificial Hands, Soft Robotics

Low-cost jelly-like materials can sense strain, temperature, and humidity. And unlike earlier self-healing robots, they can also partially repair themselves at...

Inside Story: Rapid Precision Prototyping Program Speeds Medtech Product Development

MDB recently spoke with Anthony Bracale, director of sales and marketing at Hobson & Motzer Inc., a manufacturer of precision metal components.