Contents 116


Karen Christman, professor of bioengineering at the University of California San Diego, to find out more.


Filtration & fluid control


98 Placenta-on-a-chip The placenta is a baby’s lifeline during pregnancy. But, as the organ transmits oxygen and nutrients from the mother, there’s also the chance of it acting as a bridge for pathogens to cross over and infect the infant. For ethical reasons, it’s not possible to study transplacental infection as it occurs within the organ, but researchers have created microfluidic devices that mimic the microenvironment within it so the pathogenesis of certain diseases may be observed. Monica Karpinski speaks to Hagar Labouta, assistant professor at the University of Manitoba’s College of Pharmacy, and Kristina Haase, group leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) to find out how they used microfluidics to create these organ-on-a-chip devices.


103 Time to learn about CQV non-invasive level sensors Strain Measurement Devices


Coatings & surface treatment


104 A calming influence Foreign body response (FBR) is an unavoidable process as it takes place whenever any material becomes implanted into the body. The process of implantation injures the tissue around the foreign object, which triggers an inflammatory


response that can last for the duration of the implant’s lifecycle. In most cases the response is manageable, but researchers are still searching for ways to reduce it so there’s less chance of implant failure. Mae Losasso speaks to Omid Veiseh, assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice University, and Dr Damiano Barone, clinical lecturer in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge, to learn how they’re trying to overcome FBR in their own research.


107 Providing the coating that medical devices need Formacoat


Packaging, supply & logistics


108 Unboxing the challenge of HAIs


The fight against healthcare associated infections (HAIs) has been long and arduous, but it seems we’re finally getting the upper hand. From the way we clean hospital departments to how we handle patients, no stone has been left unturned. Andrew Tunnicliffe talks with Laura Bix of Michigan State University, and Broc Couling, principal packaging engineer at Smith and Nephew, about the role medical device packaging can play and how human interactions are fast becoming the next frontier.


113 Investing in Europe Oliver Healthcare Packaging


Medical Device Developments / www.nsmedicaldevices.com


130 A chance encounter One of the benefits of attending conferences is the opportunity for networking. These events are about meeting peers in similar and adjacent fields, and sometimes can inspire new ideas. Shannon VanDeren, owner and president of Layered Manufacturing and Consulting, as well as vice president of the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG), explains how one chance meeting led to an unlikely collaboration that resulted in advances in medical models and devices.


131 Product showcase 137 Suppliers guide


11


114 MULTIVAC delivered 36 automated lines during the pandemic MULTIVAC


116 Transparency is key The US medical products supply chain has suffered many shocks in recent years, and although it endured the pandemic relatively well, it has not completely recovered thanks to a cocktail of other external factors. A report from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine highlights the key issues and how the industry might overcome them. Jim Banks speaks to George Ball, associate professor at Indiana University, who consulted on the report, to find out more.


Events 121 Events to look out for in 2023


124 MedTech Forum 2023


128 How lasers and photonics are shaping the future of medical technology


Lasers and photonics are technologies that have been used in various industries for many years. When the entire industry meets at LASER World of PHOTONICS in Munich at the end of June, the medical technology sector will increasingly be in the spotlight.


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