All articles by antonica jones
antonica jones
Implantable devices powered by heartbeats
Tiny power generators developed by the University of Arizona and the University of Illinois could eliminate the need for batteries in medical devices. Medical Device Developments speaks to Professor John A Rogers, scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to find out more about the impact the research could have on power management in medicine.
Stay secure in the connected internet-of-things world
Medical device manufacturers are moving into the internet-of-things space, producing devices with increased connectivity and upgradability. Such approaches, however, render these products more susceptible to security threats and counterfeiting. Oliver Winzenried, CEO of Wibu-Systems, advises OEMs how to most effectively meet these challenges.
Inside job: ‘bottom-up’ nanomechanics
Miniscule robots that can seek out problem cells and provide targeted treatment inside a patient’s body could one day become the norm. As engineers at the University of Texas at Austin trial the world’s smallest, fastest and longest-running nanomotor, Dr Donglei (Emma) Fan speaks to Sarah Williams about a new ‘bottom-up’ approach to nanomechanics and what the development could spell for the future of medicine.
Blurred lines: our glorious gadgets
Doctors and surgeons are constantly discovering clinical uses for technology such as Google Glass and smartphones, while patients are increasingly empowered to diagnose and treat themselves. When do consumer gadgets become medical devices, and what are the regulatory consequences? Julian Hitchcock, counsel, Lawford Davies Denoon, investigates.
Net gains: long-term care for an aging population
Zeljko Loncaric, marketing engineer at Congatec, comments on the impact the Internet of Medical Things might have on the quality of life of an aging, growing population.
Automatic surgery: revolutionary 3D
Advances in 3D printing and other machining techniques are making medical robots rapidly more affordable and easier to manufacture. Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, director of the newly opened EPSRC micromachining facility at Imperial College, talks to Greg Noone about how such technology is set to revolutionise medicine in the years ahead.
Close to the bone: bioactive materials
The mineral in our bones and teeth can store a large electrical charge when it is electrochemically synthesised as a very thin film, University of Rochester scientists have discovered. Medical Device Developments speaks to lead researcher Matthew Yates, a professor at the department of chemical engineering, who reveals the potential applications of the bioactive material in improving orthopaedic devices.
A centre for clinical excellence: innovative orthopaedic devices
The Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Medical Devices researches product design and manufacturing to help make orthopaedic devices more reliable and effective. Medical Device Developments meets deputy director Dr Ceri Williams to talk automation, implants and near-patient techniques.
Natural selection: 3D printing
Weight, cost and performance benefits have made synthetic polymers the first choice for medical devices in recent years, but an increasing emphasis on customisation and the advent of 3D printing is shifting attention to biopolymers. Joachim Storsberg, head of the Fraunhofer Institute’s department of polymers for biomedical engineering, walks Ross Davies through a potential step-change in manufacturing.
Rays of hope: laser technology
A far cry from alien weaponry, ultra-fast lasers could soon be making their mark in medical device production. Trystan Kent talks to Martin Sharp, head of photonics and engineering at Liverpool John Moores University, about how the technology might be used to make the cleanest cuts in the business.