Design

  • Simplification of Liquid Flow Sensing
    Advances in microsensor technology have the potential to improve performance reliability in microfuidic applications. The technology and its capabilities are described.
    (October, 2009)
  • Implantable Devices: Challenges and Opportunities
    Breakthroughs in technology are progressing at a phenomenal pace, but bringing them to the patient in the form of a device remains a challenge. The technical issues involved in designing an implantable device are outlined together with some potential solutions.
    (September, 2009)
  • A Healthy Debate?
    A note from the editor
    (September, 2009)
  • Stroke Diagnosis with Lab-on-a-Chip
    A magnetic-based sensing platform with increased sensitivity has been developed for integration into lab-on-a-chip systems. The methodology consists of moving the magnetic particles to the most sensitive spot of the sensor. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the protein S100ββ, a diagnostic...
    (September, 2009)
  • Standardising Analogue Front End Design for Ultrasound Imaging Systems
    The standardisation of analogue front end products is allowing the development of portable ultrasound devices that provide enhanced image quality while minimising power consumption. The design opportunities associated with the use of these products are described.
    (May, 2009)
  • Design and Engineering Achievements
    The winners of the 2009 Medical Design Excellence Awards have been announced. Judged by a panel of impartial, multidisciplinary third-party jurors, 32 winners have been selected in 10 product categories. Some of them are described here. For details of all the winners, go to www.devicelink.com/expo/a...
    (May, 2009)
  • The Future is Mobile and Wireless
    Demand for mobile and wireless diagnostic and therapy devices is increasing and microsystems technology is helping to meet that demand.
    (May, 2009)
  • Designing for the Future
    The lifecycles of many medical devices are extremely complex, as is their design process, which requires a great investment in time and expert procedures at all stages. This article highlights the critical issues to consider when embarking on a design project and how to reduce the risks involved in ...
    (May, 2009)
  • Software Development Resolving the Conflict Between Speed and Compliance
    The use of modern software tools and processes can make a significant contribution to developing reliable software for medical devices. These techniques can help bring products to market more rapidly and cost-effectively because the production of compliance documentation is automated and ensures tha...
    (May, 2009)
  • Implications of Material Selection on the Design of Packaging Machinery
    Material selection has significant implications on the design and cost of horizontal-form-fill-seal packaging machinery. To avoid excessive costs, machine redesigns and project delays, material selection must be reconciled early in the project and revisited throughout the construction of the machine...
    (March, 2009)
  • Assuring Regulatory Compliance without Compromising Innovation
    A new product development system automates routine processes and helps to avoid “deliverable document syndrome”
    (March, 2009)
  • Cleanroom Facility Designed to Support Increasing Work Flow at Minimal Cost
    Modular-panel cleanroom technology also offers energy efficiency
    (January, 2009)
  • Design Resource Provides a Glimpse of a Mould’s Inner Workings
    TECHNOLOGY NEWS: MOULDING Rapid injection moulding company Protomold (Telford, UK; www.protomold.co.uk) has produced a new design resource intended to give its customers a better insight into how the injection moulding process works. Th...
    (January, 2009)
  • Design Firm Earns Accolades
    INDUSTRY NEWS The design firm Stuart Karten Design (SKD; Marina del Rey, CA, USA; www.kartendesign.com) has recently been honoured with a number of awards. In late 2008, the consultancy received the North American Innovation in Medical ...
    (January, 2009)
  • Functionalising Surfaces at the Nanoscale Using Plasma Technology
    Plasma technology offers a highly effective toolbox for nanoscale surface engineering of materials. The potential variety of nanoscale features and new properties that can be achieved are reviewed here.
    (January, 2009)
  • Micro Machining Brain Implant Needle Arrays
    A major challenge in the industry is the creation of a degree of control over electromechanical prostheses in severely disabled spinal injury patients or loss-of-limb patients. Of the many techniques being researched to alleviate disabilities and damage of the nervous system, one approach is based o...
    (November, 2008)
  • ODU’s Innovative Spirit Connects with Business Awards Judges
    SPECIAL REPORT ODU Steckverbindungssysteme GmbH & Co. KG (Mühldorf, Germany; www.odu.de) was one of three companies applauded for its accomplishments in 2008 by the Bavarian Medium-Sized-Business Awards. Organized by the German Assoc...
    (November, 2008)
  • Austrian Firm Develops Low- Cost Multifunctional Digital Camera for Diagnostic Use
    The compact instrument is said to offer diagnostic imaging capabilities similar to floor-mounted systems found in hospitals
    (November, 2008)
  • Lumera Laser Earns Finalist Slot for Innovation Award
    SPECIAL REPORT A new generation of high-power, high-repetition-rate picosecond (ps) lasers sufficiently dazzled judges at the Innovation Award Laser Technology 2008 to place Lumera Laser (Kaiserslautern, Germany; www.lumera-laser.com) among the three finalists at Innovation Awa...
    (November, 2008)
  • Breath-Driven Inhaler Combines Compact Size with Low Price
    TECHNOLOGY NEWS: DRUG DELIVERY To deliver drugs effectively, an inhalation device must act in concert with the user’s breathing pattern. So, why not make the user’s air intake the inhaler’s actuator? In essence, that ...
    (October, 2008)
  • Improving Biosensors at the Nanoscale
    This, the second in the series on the impact of nanotechnology on different types of medical devices, looks again at the field of medical and biological diagnosis and detection. It examines how knowledge at the nanoscale is also helping to develop new generations of miniature devices that are capabl...
    (October, 2008)
  • Bearing the Burden of High-Tech Equipment Demands
    Custom lubricants facilitate optimum bearing performance
    (October, 2008)
  • New DiagnosticsWith Wireless PressureMonitoring
    Hypertonia and heart failures have become two of the main diseases affecting today’s human population. A telemetric controlled sensor implant without a battery is being developed and evaluated with in vivo experiments for use as a powerful tool in long term post surgical evaluation of heart pr...
    (September, 2008)
  • Nanotechnologyand The Chip
    This is the first article in a series on the impact nanotechnology is having on different types of devices. It considers how lab-on-a-chip approaches in diagnostics are evolving and discusses some areas of future development.
    (September, 2008)
  • Redesigned Console Gives Ultrasound Scanner aSleek New Look
    A design firm and a moulding specialist collaborated to develop the scanner console
    (September, 2008)