Blogs
Tablets More Accessible than CoWs for Clinicians
October 26, 2012 2:25 pm | by Laird Technologies | CommentsAccording to an article from Computer Weekly, mobility and accessibility are the driving factors behind the adoption of ruggedized tablets over computers on wheels (CoWs) in healthcare settings. As mentioned in a previous blog post, CoWs have several downsides...
Another Tax Column…
October 18, 2012 3:55 pm | by Sean Fenske | CommentsI tried hard to find a topic other than the coming medical device excise tax to write about, however, either my brain didn’t have any more room to fit another topic or there’s just not that much else going on in the medical device industry (which is much less likely). I was also hesitant to write the column because, unlike with the web, there is a period of time that passes from the moment I complete the column until the time it is published and mailed where the content is out of my hands while outside forces can wreak havoc on the topic and the timing of its appearance.
There’s an App for That
October 17, 2012 2:47 pm | by Sean Fenske | CommentsI have yet to hop aboard the smart phone bandwagon. While I realize there are a number of benefits, to me, it still seems like a pricey way to access my e-mail and Facebook when I’m not home in front of my desktop computer. And really, I still don’t yet need that ability.
Improve Your Business with Certified Products
August 3, 2012 2:28 pm | by Jay Tourigny, Senior Vice President, MicroCare | CommentsDesign and manufacturing engineers strive to develop high-quality devices in a budget-conscious and timely manner. The problem is that a variety of challenges occur in the design and assembly processes that can present functionality issues of the finished device.
Miniaturization of Healthcare
July 25, 2012 8:55 am | by Larry Gerrans | CommentsIn 2011, the medical device market in the US was estimated to be $105.8 billion - a market based largely upon clinical and surgical interventions administered in hospitals. However, the design and manufacture of medical devices is undergoing paradigm shifts in cost and utility, motivated largely by miniaturization, which has revolutionized consumer products.
Bringing Medical Product Labeling up to Standard
July 18, 2012 1:32 pm | by Warren Ward-Stacey | CommentsEvery medical device manufacturer accepts that in the current regulatory environment, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding complete life cycle traceability of every product, accurate labeling is a necessity. Yet the reality is far from satisfactory: many companies have issues with label quality, not knowing what was printed, discarding pre-printed stock and needing to dispose of labeled products; whilst product recalls and field instances are endemic not due to the failure of research and development or manufacturing processes but inaccurate labeling information.
FDA States Medical Devices in the US Must Carry a Unique Device Identifier (UDI)
July 17, 2012 1:33 pm | by Warren Ward-Stacey | CommentsHealthcare providers should welcome the recently proposed ruling by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which states that medical devices distributed in the United States will be required to carry a Unique Device Identifier (UDI) as part of labeling and packaging.
The Doctor’s Office of 2050, What Can Medtech Expect?
July 17, 2012 10:59 am | by Gillian Davies | CommentsThrough the pre-coffee haze of your morning ritual you notice a red dot blinking on the bathroom mirror that is fogged with shower steam, “oh dear” you think “I wonder what’s wrong.” You press the illuminated mirror and a message pops up letting you know your body temperature is elevated. A menu of options appears on your mirror, and you select ‘speak to health worker.’ Welcome to the doctor’s office of 2050: your home.
Improving New Product Development: Focus on Process and People for Best Results
July 10, 2012 1:11 pm | by Michael Glessner and Cathi Crist | CommentsAs medical device companies engage in the business challenge of creating new products in a highly regulated market, two key factors slow innovation. First, companies too often rely on FDA-required compliance systems to drive innovation. These systems are focused on enabling the automated maintenance of design controls, and do not ensure creativity or good business outcomes for a business.
Is Med-Tech Walking the Global Tightrope? Balancing the Risks and Rewards of Med-Tech Globalization
July 10, 2012 9:12 am | by Daniel R. Matlis | CommentsThe globalization of design, sourcing, manufacturing, and sales of Medical Technology (Med-Tech) has created opportunities and challenges for the entire ecosystem. To assess the impact of globalization and outsourcing in the Medical Technology Industry, Axendia conducted a survey research of 125 Medical Technology Industry Executives representing 89 different companies across 16 countries. This article provides a summary of the project’s research report entitled, “Walking the Global Tightrope: Balancing the Risks and Rewards of Med-Tech Globalization.”
Addressing Ergonomics & Repetitive Motion Injuries in Manufacturing Facilities
July 3, 2012 4:34 pm | by Jim Norton | CommentsIn today’s manufacturing environment, ergonomics and repetitive motion injuries are major issues that every business must address to insure production levels remain at expected levels and employee injuries remain as infrequent as possible. Although many of the hand assembly processes have been replaced with automated equipment over the past 20 years, there is still a surprising number of manual operations still required for many applications.
Are Dedicated Sports and Fitness Monitors Still in the Running?
July 3, 2012 10:38 am | by Philip Maddocks | CommentsConsumers want to improve the functionality offered by sports and fitness apps through the use of sensors. A recent study conducted by IMS Research, a company recently acquired by IHS Inc. (NYSE:IHS), found that 62.3 percent of respondents with a smartphone interested in sports and fitness applications and who exercised at least once week, were prepared to purchase sensors to monitor performance and enhance the sports and fitness application on their smartphone.
FDA Regulation of Mobile Medical Apps
July 3, 2012 12:00 am | by Laird Technologies | CommentsHealthcare professionals and patients alike are embracing mobile medical applications for smartphones. Experts project that, by 2015, 500 million smartphone users will be using medical apps. A 2011 press release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicates the FDA’s plan to regulate some smartphone medical apps, a decision that has been met by both positive and negative reviews.
Turning product ideas into reality – a new guide for start-ups
July 2, 2012 1:41 pm | by Duncan Smith and Dr. Derek Wallis | CommentsHow does a start-up company convince investors to help turn a bathtub idea into a warehouse full of products? That’s the question tackled by leading technology design and development firm Cambridge Consultants in a new free guide to help start-ups get their products successfully to market.
Why would a medical device OEM benefit from a tooling audit or a tooling evaluation?
June 27, 2012 1:39 pm | by Paul Mulville | CommentsBeing pro-active when it comes to mold tooling pays dividends. Even with the best of intentions, a solid maintenance program and the ability to react to mechanical breakdowns, tooling with a lot of miles on it becomes a cost and a risk to supply.
