Contents


74 A medical device challenge: Welding thin wires of dissimilar metals Coherent


Electronics 76 Coming of age


Microfluidics has been around for decades, but despite numerous impressive applications, there are still barriers that make it difficult to translate novel devices created in laboratories into commercial products. Dr Jana Schwarze and Dr Thomas Dietrich of the International Microtechnology Business Network IVAM explain how combined microfluidic and electronic devices, created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, might lead to a more commercialised sector.


80 All-plastic connectors in the spotlight LEMO


83 It’s what’s on the inside that counts


Keystone Electronics


84 Chip in It’s best not to advertise this to vaccine refusers, but microchips are being injected into people – in clinical trials,


at least. They’ve been touted for their ability to constantly monitor patient vitals, allowing for more reactive treatment, as well as better monitoring of long-term conditions. Mae Losasso assesses their potential with Daniel Andersson, associate professor in physiology at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, who recently ran a study into using chips for temperature monitoring; and Chen Shi of Columbia University, designer of a chip no larger than a mote of dust.


Coatings & surface 87 A new era


Designing an implant for the human body is a complex balancing act between biocompatibility, mechanical function and medical outcome. Whether titanium or silicone, a device put to work in the human body must retain its integrity in a hostile environment and avoid any risk of toxicity. Coatings help maintain this balance, and Jim Banks speaks to Caitlin Howell, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Maine, and Ana Lidia Flores-Mireles, Hawk Family assistant professor of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, about some of the latest research in the field.


91 The right coating solution Formacoat


93 Plasma finds its role in the pandemic Europlasma


Filtration & fluid control 94 Cheap as chips


Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology was supposed to bring point-of-care diagnostics to the developing world, but producing such precise and delicate devices is costly. 3D printing was supposed to democratise manufacturing, but, until recently, it hasn’t been able to achieve the resolution required for LOCs. Natalie Healey speaks to Robert Hughes, lecturer in non-destructive testing at the University of Bristol, about a new technique he believes can change that.


99 Who to bring on the medical device quest 3M


101 Support OEMs with fluid delivery products Halkey-Roberts


102 Medical Device Developments / www.nsmedicaldevices.com


102 Making the perfect mask In 2020, when SARS-CoV-2 was spreading like wildfire across the globe, an immediate problem for front-line healthcare workers was that the supply of PPE couldn’t meet the sudden surge in demand. Debate ensued about face coverings and which materials best safeguard the wearer and those in close proximity. Allie Anderson speaks to Dr Frank Gunther, from the Division of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology at Philipps University Marburg, associate professor Ryan Lively and aerosol scientist associate professor Nga Lee Ng at the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and associate professor Liu Zheng from Nanyang Technological University about how the science of mask wearing evolved during the pandemic, and which materials are known now to be the most protective.


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