All articles by antonica jones
antonica jones
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.
Material gains: the evolution of textiles
As chronic diseases become more prevalent, the constantly evolving field of medical textiles offers a multitude of opportunities within healthcare. Professor Stephen Russell, director of the Clothworkers’ Centre for Textile Materials Innovation for Healthcare at the University of Leeds, explains how fibres and fabrics are affecting the course of medicine.
Cost of living: the medical device excise tax
Following the Protect Medical Innovation Act 2015, the US medical device excise tax may soon be repealed. Two and a half years since it came into force, the tax has already had a significant impact on the industry, presenting opportunities, as well as challenges. Medical Device Developments explores how the outsourcing market has been affected, and asks what the implications are for contract manufacturers partnering with cash-strapped OEMs.
Slippery customers: the ins and outs of lubricious coverings
There is a pressing need for low-friction, durable and cost-effective coatings to bring relief to the millions of patients who depend on catheterisation for bladder drainage. Nicola Irwin, inventor and principal scientist at Uroglide Coatings, considers the ins and outs of lubricious coverings.
Electric partnerships: outsourcing microelectronics
Selecting the best manufacturer is a crucial part of taking a medical device from concept to market. Matthias Lorenz, deputy chairman of IVAM Focus Group Medical, explains how OEMs decide how to outsource microelectronic products.
Early warning: live-saving cancer diagnosis technology
One in ten people will develop bowel cancer, and many won’t know they have the disease until it’s too late to cure. Chris Godfrey speaks with Jonathan Cooper of the University of Glasgow to see how lab-on-a-chip technology could save lives by providing quicker, more-accurate diagnoses than current screening methods.