Medical sensors are being used in the biomedical electronics industry to measure pressure, flow, liquid-level, and more. See how today's sensors are supporting medical devices like respiratory systems, spirometers, anesthetic devices, videoscopes, dialysis machines, and more.
Continuous glucose monitors have reshaped diabetes management by delivering real-time glucose readings, freeing patients from frequent finger-stick testing. This article examines how properly selected sensing, protection, and activation components — including miniature magnetic switches and thermistors — help engineers design CGMs that meet demanding performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.
See the new products and services, including Boker’s new 2026 resource tools to support specification and sourcing of precision metal stampings and non-standard washers; Advanced Thermal Solutions' expanded thermal measurement and analysis tools for quantifying airflow and heat dissipation in compact medical electronics; integrated magnetic field sensor modules for current, angle, and position measurement from Magnetic Sensor Systems; and more.
Wearable or implantable devices to monitor biological activities, such as heart rate, are useful, but they are typically made of metals, silicon, plastic, and glass and must be surgically implanted. A research team in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis is developing bioelectronic hydrogels that could one day replace existing devices and have much more flexibility. Read on to learn more.
Researchers have produced purified single-wall carbon nanotubes that could enable the development of significantly more accurate healthcare sensors. Read on to learn more.
An interdisciplinary research team has developed a bioresorbable sensor film that is inserted directly into the intestinal suture during surgery. It continuously measures parameters such as tissue impedance and temperature, providing real-time information on the condition of the healing region for the first time. Read on to learn more.
Engineers have developed a test to detect disease-related compounds in a patient’s breath. The new test could provide a faster way to diagnose pneumonia and other lung conditions. Rather...
A tiny sensor detects hazardous head impacts the instant they occur could reshape safety monitoring in sports, transportation and other high-risk settings. The device, developed by...
By shifting from active cooling (pumps) to passive buffering (sorption), medical device engineers can close the thermal latency gap. This approach eliminates the need for forced cooldown cycles, enabling continuous duty cycles for high-flux modalities and significantly improving the return on assets for hospital operators. Read on to learn more.
This bioinspired design marks a significant step toward development of eco-friendly and highly sensitive wearable sensors, with broad potential in sports analytics and biomedical monitoring. Read on to learn more.
Engineers have developed a technique for inkjet printing arrays of special nanoparticles that enables the mass production of long-lasting wearable sweat sensors. These sensors could be...
For the broad array of industrial applications concerned with liquid flow control, extremely accurate, repeatable results are necessary to successful operation. To achieve such...
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 —...
EPFL researchers have engineered a fiber-based electronic sensor that remains functional even when stretched to over 10 times its original length. The device holds promise for smart textiles, physical rehabilitation devices, and soft robotics. Read on to learn more about it.
University of Texas at Dallas researchers have developed biosensor technology that when combined with artificial intelligence (AI) shows promise for detecting lung cancer through breath analysis. Read on to learn more.
A low-cost, portable biosensor can quickly identify a protein whose altered levels are associated with psychiatric disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. When it becomes commercially available in the future, it may contribute to early detection, which is essential for treating and monitoring patients’ clinical conditions. Read on to learn more.
Engineers have created the first ingestible bioprinter that can be guided to disease sites to print tissue within the body. Called MEDS (Magnetic Endoluminal Deposition System), the...
Researchers, led by Rice University’s Yong Lin Kong, have developed a soft but strong metamaterial that can be controlled remotely to rapidly transform its size and shape. The invention, published in Science Advances, represents a significant advancement that can potentially transform ingestible and implantable medical devices. Read on to learn more about it.
A KAIST research team has developed a smart patch that can precisely observe internal changes through sweat when simply attached to the body. This is expected to greatly contribute to the advancement of chronic disease management and personalized healthcare technologies. Read on to learn more.
Medical pumps are at the heart of modern healthcare delivery. Their success depends on precise, reliable, and safe operation — capabilities enabled by advanced sensor technologies. From occlusion detection to bubble monitoring and temperature control, sensors provide the intelligence that allows pumps to perform with confidence in critical care environments. Read on to learn more.
Researchers have developed novel ISM-based sweat sensors that feature enhanced signal stability and performance and avoid skin contact, while also being reusable, making them practical for daily use. Read on to learn more.
On-body biosensors have crossed the threshold from technological novelty to clinical tool driving medical decisions. The most successful devices share common traits: They provide clinically actionable information, reliably measure rapidly changing biomarkers, account for confounding variables, and utilize established reimbursement pathways. Read on to learn more about them.
See the new products and services, including EPIGAP OSA Photonics GmbH's surface-mount device (SMD) shortwave infrared (SWIR); Moticont's linear voice coil servo motor; Dart Controls' high-performance pulse width modulation (PWM) controller for 12–48-V battery powered equipment; a compact, fullservice RTD sensor from Burns Engineering; and more.
Although lithium is highly effective to treat bipolar disorder, the chemical has a narrow therapeutic window — too high a dose can be toxic to patients, causing kidney damage, thyroid damage, or even death, while too low a dose renders the treatment ineffective. Read on to learn how a wearable sensor may thwart this issue.
In this Q&A with Medical Design Briefs, Michael Klitzke, principal system architect at TE Connectivity, discusses how advances in sensor miniaturization, packaging,...
Using an inexpensive electrode coated with DNA, researchers have designed disposable diagnostics that could be adapted to detect a variety of diseases, including cancer or...
See the new products and services, including Dickson's mapping suite designed to streamline the identification of critical hot and cold zones and the analysis of temperature and humidity trends; Littelfuse's series of sealed tactile switches for surface-mount technology; Mahr Inc.'s height gage designed for ease of use and efficiency in production environments; and more.
Researchers have developed a 3D microprinted sensor for highly sensitive on-chip biosensing. The sensor, which is based on a polymer whispering-gallerymode microlaser, opens new opportunities for developing high-performance, cost-effective lab-on-a-chip devices for early disease diagnosis. Read on to learn more.
Ask the Expert
John Chandler on Achieving Quality Motion Control
FAULHABER MICROMO brings together the highest quality motion technologies and value-added services, together with global engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing, to deliver top quality micro motion solutions. With 34 years’ experience, John Chandler injects a key engineering perspective into all new projects and enjoys working closely with OEM customers to bring exciting new technologies to market.
Inside Story: Trends in Packaging and Sterilization
Eurofins Medical Device Testing (MDT) provides a full scope of testing services. In this interview, Eurofins’ experts, Sunny Modi, PhD, Director of Package Testing; and Elizabeth Sydnor, Director of Microbiology; answer common questions on medical device packaging and sterilization.
