All articles by chris cox
chris cox
To outsource or not to outsource?
Some device manufacturers are cottoning on to the benefits that subcontracting to electronics manufacturing service providers can bring, but others are more reticent to take the plunge. Lavanya Rammohan, electronics and manufacturing research analyst at Frost & Sullivan, takes a look at the medical market’s outsourcing potential.
Chain reaction: optimal logistics for shipping medical devices
The medical device and healthcare industries are heavily regulated from design to delivery. One key concern for the OEM is navigating regulations efficiently. The logistics process is no different. Ensuring devices are shipped efficiently allows manufacturers to deliver better customer service as well as saving money. Bruce J Stanley, a principal at the Stanley East Consulting Group, discusses the key methodologies and opinions on how the efficiency of logistics and supply chain can be optimised.
Chips with everything: microfluidics and diagnostics
Daniel Mark, Felix von Stetten and Roland Zengerle from the University of Freiburg consider the market impact of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip products in the field of point-of-care diagnostics, and argue that a microfluidic platform-based development approach and foundry-based manufacturing process are necessary to ensure their future competitiveness.
Exporters take note: FDA registration regulations
Changes to the US FDA establishment registration and listings came into effect in October 2012 with profound implications for contract manufacturers. It is estimated that up to 750 additional companies – all based outside the US – have since been required to register with the FDA. Here, a spokesperson for the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health explains what these changes will mean for device companies that sell into the US market.
Slippery when wet: medical device coatings
To help navigate the terrain inside the human body, medical devices require a delicate coating. Nic Paton talks to Dr Clement Higginbotham, director of the Materials Research Institute at the Athlone Institute of Technology, about how lubricious coatings balance wettability and durability to meet industry demands.
Tomorrow’s world today: automating medical device manufacture
Robotics, nanotechnology and 3D printing have long since moved from the realm of science fiction to fact, but their potential in the automated manufacture of medical devices has only just begun to be realised. Scott Thiel, associate director at Navigant, discusses the realities, challenges and prospects of automation.
Putting end-users first: creating friendly medical device packaging
The medical device industry puts enormous effort into developing devices that improve the lives of patients, but there can often be a disconnect between the product and the packaging. End-users’ first contact with a device is through the packaging, which can help or hinder them in using it. Medical Device Developments spoke to Dr Laura Bix, associate professor at Michigan State University, about why user-centric packaging should be at the top of the agenda.
Machines for living: M2M communication
If the full potential of M2M is realised, it could become the preferred mode of communication between patients and the healthcare system. Chuck Parker, Continua’s executive director, explains why he considers this technology critical to the future of healthcare.
Power to the patient: the evolution of portable medical devices
Advances in technology have led to more critical care devices becoming portable and this trend has put far greater emphasis on the performance of the batteries that power them. In this special report, Medical Device Developments considers how battery technology has changed over time, and asks Tactiq’s Alan Johnson what risks must be addressed in the management of power sources for portable medical devices in the critical care environment.
Micro management
High-performance processors enable continuous improvement in many sectors, including the medical device market. Zeljko Loncaric, marketing engineer at congatec, explains how microprocessor evolution is driving up efficacy within the industry.