A Mental Connection
Sufferers of Parkinson's disease may have been offered new hope following the publication of a recent report. The study suggests that those not responding to the use of electrodes might do so if the electrodes are repositioned even just a few millimetres. Report author Dr Mathieu Anheim, at University Hospital Strasbourg, explains his findings and what they might mean for future treatments.
Switching Tack
A piece of legislation that, at first glance, seemed to have implications for the consumer market may soon turn the European medical device market upside down. The EU's Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive is set to be reviewed in coming months and, many believe, will be expanded to include medical devices as well as monitoring and control equipment. The adjustment could mean huge changes for design engineers who would need to ensure that they comply with RoHS legislation.
Shake-in-the-Box
Vibration testing is essential to ensure the ongoing stability and security of a medical device package. However, a recent online poll found that many packaging professionals do not understand the benefits and correct application of such tests before sending their product out. The revelation highlighted the need for ongoing education for medical device professionals. What is the vibration test, how can it protect against an array of environments and what are the alternatives?
Manufacturing Standards
With all of the focus on manufacturing processes and quality control it is sometimes easy to forget that the tools used for assembly also have a role to play in maintaining quality. While dependent on the product being manufactured, what steps can be taken to ensure you are meeting all of the necessary regulatory requirements while still getting the right equipment and value for your money?
Pumping Pressures
While the last decade has seen some major developments in the technologies used to design pumping systems, medical device engineers are often unaware of them. Additionally, the guidelines used to select the most appropriate pump for a device are thought to be 'seriously lacking'. With regulation on the design and manufacture of medical devices becoming ever more stringent, how can this be? Perhaps part of the problem is that design engineers can sometimes overlook the selection of a
pump leaving it to the very end of the process and risking the success of a launch. This report shows how all these issues can be overcome.
MATERIALS AND BIOMATERIALS
Future Vision
The use of contact lenses is something that has grown the world over in recent years: in some cases for aesthetic reasons, but in others because advances in ophthalmology procedures have offered new hope. But challenges remain, most notably in the treatment of infection. It is known that the cornea only penetrates hydrophilic drugs while the conjunctiva only penetrates lipophilic drugs. How is the medical community treating such infections and what are the other considerations?
Solid Solutions?
Orthopaedic surgeons are continually looking to use innovative and, in some cases revolutionary methods for the repair of bone fractures. Bioabsorable and biodegradable polymers have been in development for some time and could be the answer to reducing the risk to patients undergoing such procedures and the cost for the healthcare provider. How advanced are they and where might this development lead?
US Healthcare Reform
With the forthcoming US election many industry watchers have suggested that 2009 may very well be a 'watershed' year for US healthcare reform. Whilst it is widely recognised that such a move has been needed, its implication for the international medical device community could be far reaching. Tom Novelli of MDMA explains.
No Small Measure
Micro moulding has been around for about 20 years, having first been used at the end of the 1980s. The move from conventional moulding to micro- and nanomoulding has opened the door to a wealth of new applications even though it remains in its early stages. This development has, however, led to even tougher and more demanding requirements of end users. Medical Device Developments looks at this and the future of micro moulding in the wider device market as well as some of the issues still to
be resolved, such as suitable software packages.
Hong Kong
With businesses the world over looking to reduce costs as trading conditions continue to tighten, outsourcing is one way to achieve this aim. Many are turning their attention to the Far East where production costs, among others, are considerably lower. What does Hong Kong offer in a region where competition is fierce?
COATINGS AND SURFACE TREATMENTS
Covered in Glory
Hydrophilic coatings have been around for some time and been utilised by medical device manufacturers the world over. They continue to evolve in terms of both their nature and application. Medical Device Developments looks at the growing trend for the use of this 'natural' coating and investigates the possibilities.
Professor Robert Langer
Recently awarded the Millennium Technology Prize, Professor Robert Langer is world renowned for his work in the medical device sector.
