All articles by Blatha
Blatha
Breaking the mould
Medical device manufacturers are under pressure to produce innovative, high-tech products in increasingly greater volumes. Injection moulding represents an indispensable part of the manufacturing process, and due to the specialist skills and equipment required, it is highly likely to be outsourced. Medical Device Developments explores how selective laser melting can improve the efficiency of the injection-moulding process, without sacrificing quality.
Scratch the surface
Biocompatibility, durability and infection resistance are important factors for all medical devices, but especially for implants. With these devices, it’s crucial to pick the right coating or the device could be rejected by the body. In this round-up, Emily Gibbs explores some of the latest innovations in implant coatings, from diamonds to synthetic silk.
Tip the balance
As price pressures increase, medical device makers need to rethink product development processes. Design to value (DTV) can help get costs under control – and deliver exactly what customers are looking for. McKinsey & Company’s Sastry Chilukuri, Michael Gordon, Chris Musso and Sanjay Ramaswamy explain.
The canny valley
The market for silicon adhesives continues to grow, more than 60 years after first coming into use in the medical device sector. What makes this material so popular, what are the latest trends and innovations, and how can medical device companies make sure they are utilising its full benefits, asks Patrick Kingsland.
Expand and contract
The contract manufacturing landscape has dramatically shifted in recent years, with a wave of consolidation among OEMs and contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs). As larger CMOs become the new normal, what are the implications for the industry as a whole? Elan Nat, associate director of the healthcare group at S&P Global, offers an insight following research the ratings company has conducted into this fast-paced sector.
The shape of things to come
Nitinol is a smart material with a shape-memory effect. This phenomenon is one of the most fascinating in material science and makes the metal attractive for medical applications. But as unique as the properties of nitinol are, the obstacles involved in processing the material are great. Medical Device Developments talks to Dr Bernd Vogel, the founder of nitinol producing company Endosmart, about the possibilities of overcoming these obstacles and moving the processing towards a level of automation.
Mechanical dawn
Automation and artificial intelligence are having a major global impact, not least in manufacturing. Use of this technology means better data insights, improved troubleshooting and faster procedures, resulting in a more efficient factory flow. Emma Green explores the current and future developments in artificial intelligence, including the use of robotics to enhance the manufacturing process.
Little wonders
A recent breakthrough in nanophotonics that is a potential game-changer for medical device development is nanotweezers. They allow particle manipulation at the nanoscale, which could lead to better diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Yuebing Zheng, the assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas, speaks to Medical Device Developments about how these nanotweezers work and the ways in which they could be used by the industry.
Behind the eye of the beholder
Last year, retinal implant company Bionic Vision Technologies raised $18 million to develop and commercialise its bionic eye, and it is using the new funds to begin a human clinical trial of its implant in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Abi Millar talks to Julie Anne Quinn, the CEO of the company, to find out more about its retinal devices and its plans to bring them to global markets.
Pump it up
Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are having a major global impact, not least in manufacturing. Using this technology means better data insights, improved troubleshooting and faster procedures, resulting in a more efficient factory flow. Emma Green explores the current and future developments in AI, including the use of robotics to enhance the manufacturing process.