Industry Gives EU’s “Pip Resolution” Lukewarm Welcome

The Pip resolution, drafted by the Environment and Public Health (ENVI) Committee of the European Parliament and unanimously passed on 25 April, is a mixed bag, according to Eucomed. The pan-European association applauds many of the measures, including greater oversight of Notified Bodies, more robust vigilance reporting, the introduction of unannounced audits of manufacturers and the establishment of networked registers for implants.

Eucomed, however, was puzzled, to say the least, by the resolution’s call for a preauthorisation system for implantable and Class III devices. “Europe currently has a de facto approval system for these devices,” the association notes in a press release. Read more…

Posted in EU Regulatory, Regulation, medtechinsider | 2 Comments 

How the Use of Storytelling in Medical Device Design Can Enrich the Patient Experience

The focus on patient experience is increasingly impacting medical device design. Human factors engineering and devices that look more like consumer products are becoming more common themes, as a recent article in EMDT demonstrates. But device makers could centre design around the user even more by incorporating storytelling into the device. This can enrich the user experience, stressed Jon Polhamus, Manager, Brand & Design Language at GE Healthcare Global Design, during the Design of Medical Devices Conference organised by the University of Minnesota this month, MedCity News reports. Read more…

Posted in Design | Add Comment 

Germany Remains International Innovation Leader

Germany continues to hold the number one spot as an international innovation leader in important key and cross-sectional technologies, according to a new trend report published by German industry association Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE). And this includes medical device technology. The current VDE trend report Electro- and Information Technology 2012 is based on a survey conducted among the 1300 VDE member companies as well as universities. For 57% of those surveyed, Germany ranks number one in medical device technology. Read more…

Posted in Medtech World News: Update from Germany, medtechinsider | Add Comment 

Atom-Based Magnetic Sensor Measures Human Brain Activity

Atom-based magnetic sensor developed at US NIST

A miniature atom-based magnetic sensor developed at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been used to measure human brain activity. The scientists used the sensor to measure alpha waves in the brain.

The measurements were compared with signals recorded by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), said to be the most sensitive magnetometer that is available commercially. The sensor is slightly less sensitive than a SQUID, but has the potential to produce comparable results, according to a NIST press release.

The experiments took place at the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Berlin and were reported in a study published online in the Biomedical Optics Express last week. Read more…

Posted in Research | Add Comment 

IPDiA, CEA-Leti Achieve New Capacitance Milestone

French research and technology organisation CEA-Leti and Caen-based company IPDiA have announced the successful development of a new process based on the deposition of atomic medium-K dielectric layers within the aggressive architecture of IPDiA’s 3-D metal-insulator-metal capacitors. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a key process technology that enables conformal coating of high aspect ratio surfaces and precise thickness control on the atomic level. The research partners have achieved a capacitance density of 550 nF/mm² by maintaining the same leakage current and parasitic levels found in the 250 nF/mm² PICS3 product. The research and development work is performed under the auspices of the Platform for the Realization of shared Industrial Innovation (PRIIM) subsidised by French public-sector funding entity Oseo. Read more…

Posted in Electronics, medtechinsider | 1 Comment 

Digital Reconstruction of Tissue Enables 3-D Virtual Microscopy

A virtual microscopy method developed at University of Leeds allows for the 3-D viewing of tissue samples.

Researchers at University of Leeds have created a digital scanning system of tissue samples that allows for 3-D reconstruction of tissue. Conventional microscopy does not allow for true 3-D analysis, as users examine ultrathin tissue samples one-by-one. The system developed at University of Leeds turns hundreds of slides into high-resolution digital images that are aligned using image registration software.

The automated system turns slides into images with very little manual input required. It allows users to zoom into areas of interest to view the shape and structure of cells, blood vessels and tumours. The images can be rotated and examined from any angle. The technique could have applications both in research and clinical settings. Read more…

Posted in Imaging, medtechinsider | Add Comment 

Hydroxyapatite-Based Coating Could Prevent Premature Implant Failure

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles are incorporated into multilayer coatings to promote bone tissue growth. Photo courtesy Hammond Lab.

A new implant coating developed by MIT chemical engineers promotes bone growth and creates a stronger seal between the device and the patient’s bone than bone cement, thus preventing premature implant failure. Currently, about 17% of patients who receive a total joint replacement must go back into surgery because of premature failure. This new coating enlists the body’s cells to produce bone that securely fixes the implant in place, according to a press release issued by the university’s news office. The research is described in greater detail in an article authored by Paula Hammond, the David H. Koch Professor in Engineering at MIT, and graduate student Nisarg Shah in the journal Advanced Materials.

The thin-film multilayer coating includes hydroxyapatite, a natural component of bone made of calcium and phosphate. The material attracts mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow and provides an interface for the formation of new bone. Another layer releases a growth factor that stimulates mesenchymal stem cells to transform into osteoblasts that produce new bone to fill the spaces surrounding the implant and secure it to the existing bone. The process creates a strong bond and greatly reduces the risk of bacterial infection around the implant, as can happen with bone cement, add the authors. Read more…

Posted in Materials, Orthopaedics, medtechinsider | 1 Comment 

Free Webcast Explores Innovations in Conformal Coating Technologies for Medtech Applications

In the free webcast Innovative Conformal Coating Technologies for Advanced Medical Devices on 3 May 2012, participants will learn how parylene has solved device performance and material challenges. Coatings have been used in the medical device industry for more than 30 years to modify electrical and friction properties, enhance chemical and moisture barrier properties, improve hygienic properties of the surface, and sometimes simply enhance the cosmetic perception of a product. This webinar focuses on the use of parylene materials, biostable and biocompatible organic coatings that are free of solvents, catalysts and plasticisers. Read more…

Posted in Coating, Webinars | Add Comment 

Medtech Week Recap: How Artificial Intelligence Could Advance Healthcare

Technology is rapidly advancing and soon many developments pictured in science fiction movies may become reality. The Star Trek Tricorder and robotic avatars are only two inventions that soon could be part of our everyday lives. Last week, several articles looked at the future of medical technology. Read more…

Posted in medtechinsider | Add Comment 

Objet Provides 3-D Printing Insights at Materialise World Conference in Belgium

3-D printing specialist for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, Objet Ltd (Rehovot, Israel) is presenting two sessions to provide a better understanding of the advantages of 3-D printing at the Materialise World Conference in Leuven, Belgium, this week. In a presentation titled ‘Insiders Vision’ as a part of the Additive Manufacturing Summit, Andy Middleton, Objet General Manager for Europe, will give an overview of current trends in the fast-moving arena of 3-D printing. “The Materialise World Conference provides an excellent opportunity for attendees to understand the 3-D printing and additive manufacturing applications that are happening right now and get a real grasp of where the industry is going,” says Middleton. Read more…

Posted in Conferences | Add Comment 

Nichiyu Giken: Can You Say Diverse?

While in Japan recently, I made a stop at Nichiyu Giken. Talk about a diverse company. Their slogan is “from the ocean to outer space,” and they mean it. My purpose in visiting with them was to discuss their medical indicator strips, but hearing about the company background really opened my eyes. Read more…

Posted in Sterilisation, medtechinsider | Add Comment 

Graphene Nanosensor on Biomaterial Enables In Situ Monitoring of Bacteria

Researchers from Tuft University and Princeton University have developed a technique that uses silk absorption to place a wireless graphene nanosensor onto biomaterials. The scientists used the technique to print a sensor onto the surface of a tooth in order to monitor bacteria in saliva. The technology is unique in its ability to monitor bacterial presence in situ, according to an article on Nanowerk. Typically, detecting bacteria with conventional methods requires the collection of specimen and the analysis of the specimen in a lab. The new technique would provide instant analysis, eliminating the time delay between taking the sample and getting the results. Read more…

Posted in Diagnostics | Add Comment