The Art of Miniaturization in Medical Devices: 10 Expert Tips

Medical devices are getting smaller, less invasive, and more advanced. So what are the R&D considerations for miniaturization? These were the top 10 tips that came out of a BIOMEDevice Boston panel discussion on the topic: 1. Build Your Prototype Early, Even If It's a Scaled-Up Version Of all the expertise shared during the panel discussion on miniaturization, the one takeaway that seemed to rise above everything else is the importance of early prototyping. In miniaturization, it's not always possible or economically feasible to build a prototype to scale, but even a scaled-up version of the product can save you a lot of trouble over the long haul, said Rafael Diana, a senior R&D engineer at GE Healthcare. If you're not sure how to build it, find out. Don't be afraid to seek a professional consultation or specialized knowhow early, Diana advised. "Spending a consulting fee just to see what they can offer you really makes a huge difference and can accelerate your program," he said. Prototyping also allows you to gain a better understanding of your packaging constraints. In this case, that means knowing what can actually fit in the medical device you're trying to build. 2. Capitalize on the Current Enabling Technologies Another key tip from the experts is to have a good understanding of and capitalize on the current technologies that enable miniaturized medical devices. This includes microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), integrated passive devic...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: R & D Molding Source Type: news