Creating New Categories of Medical Devices with Force and Pressure Sensing

Like most modern electronic devices, small, smart, wearable (or implantable) medical devices are becoming much more common in the medical profession. As technology evolves, so have the methods design engineers use to develop medical devices that eliminate end-user guesswork and improve treatment methods. Seeking new ways to advance a medical device is an arduous part of the R&D process. It often involves making investments in new test and measurement technologies—like sensors—to uncover opportunities for improvement. Nevertheless, design engineers may inadvertently think of sensing technology in two separate categories. One category is the aforementioned use of sensors as a testing or research tool, while the other category uses sensing technology as an embedded component in a device design. Considering the important role that force- and pressure-feedback plays throughout the medical profession, tactile-sensing technology represents a sensor category that can lay the framework to enhance an R&D or clinical research process while being embedded as a component to differentiate a device. Tactile Sensing: Solutions for Discovery and Integration There are several ways to apply tactile-sensing technology in R&D or medical research labs. From an R&D-design perspective, tactile-sensing technology provides engineers insights on how a device’s components fit or connect, addresses potential durability concerns (e.g., drop testing), and provides a better understandi...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: MD & M East (New York) Electronics Source Type: news