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Medical Device Developments Vol. 2 2023


Editorial Editor Peter Littlejohns peter.littlejohns@progressivemediainternational.com


Sub-editor Ellys Woodhouse Production manager Dave Stanford Group art director Henrik Williams Designer Martin Faulkner Head of content Jake Sharp


Commercial Client services executive Derek Deschamps


Division sales manager Martin John martin.john@progressivemediainternational.com


Publication manager Danielle Driver danielle.driver@progressivemediainternational.com


Managing director William Crocker


Medical Device Developments is published by Progressive Media International. Registered in England No. 06212740.


ISSN 1747-9610 © 2023 Progressive Media International.


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M


aterials science plays a constant role in our lives, from the rubber soles of our shoes that provide grip and traction to alloys that make automobiles strong yet lightweight to improve fuel efficiency. For these use cases, we’re unlikely to see dramatic changes. But what about when material selection is irrevocably tied to health risk? That’s the question manufacturers must address as they craft medical devices, especially for those that reside in the body for a long duration or even indefinitely. Up until now, discovering materials suited to this task – and many others related to strength, durability and bioavailability – has been a case of trial and error in the lab. In our cover story on page 92, Dermot Martin speaks to a researcher applying AI to the 3D printing of bioinks to reduce the time to discovery from decades to less than a year.


In some instances it can be helpful to model the behaviour of materials before committing to experiments in the lab. Computational fluid dynamics software allows researchers to do just this, and on page 85 Kim Thomas speaks with a team of researchers who created a model to proof their design of injectable hydrogels that are able to change form and repair deep tissue defects. The ability for a material to shift form can lead to new applications for it in medicine. For years, Nitinol has been the star of the show in this regard for its ability to be compressed for insertion and then expand to its original shape inside the body. But researchers have found that polymers can exhibit the same properties and respond to a wider range of stimuli. On page 101, Jim Banks speak to a prominent academic in the field to learn how shape memory polymers could transform areas of healthcare in the future. Other topics covered in this issue include the role that sensors play in managing disease, why medical devices need special priority in the supply chain and the use of sound to 3D print devices with specialised properties. There’s a lot of potential in the research covered this issue, but only time will dictate whether it has a material impact.


Peter Littlejohns, editor


Medical Device Developments / www.nsmedicaldevices.com


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