From the editor


An eye on the future E


On the web...


Find the latest features, market analysis and supplier information at www.medicaldevice-developments.com


Medical Device Developments Vol. 1 2025


Editorial Editor Monica Karpinski


Sub-editors Tal Abdulrazaq, Pete Barden, Tony Rock Production manager Dave Stanford Group art director Henrik Williams Designer Martin Faulkner


Editor-in-chief Thom Atkinson


Commercial Client services executive Derek Deschamps


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


Publication manager Danielle Driver danielle.driver@btmi.com


Medical Device Developments is published by Business Trade Media International, a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations.


Registered in England No. 06212740. ISSN 1747-9610 © 2025 Business Trade Media International.


All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions.


The products and services advertised are those of individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by or connected with the publisher. The opinions expressed in the articles within this publication are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of the publisher.


SUBSCRIPTIONS Single issue price: UK £44 EU €68 US $89 RoW $89


One year: Two year:


UK £67 EU €104 US $135 RoW $136 UK £105 EU €163 US $215 RoW $216


Email: cs@btmi.com


Standard House, 12-13 Essex Street, London, WC2R 3AA Tel: +44 207 936 6400 Printed by Stephens & George Print Group


merging technologies can sometimes feel like the stuff of sci-fi. Can you imagine having robots as your colleagues, for instance? What about fabricating 3D-printed objects with the fourth dimension of time, meaning that they can change their properties, function or shape when stimulated? Both of these advances are here, right now, but are still the province of early adopters. In our cover story on page 39, Abi Millar investigates the potential of 4D printing for additive manufacturing. This allows for the fabrication of dynamic objects that undergo pre-determined changes in specific contexts. Like a self- expanding heart stent, for example, or a leg brace that could adjust its stiffness. On page 46, Claire Read explores the rise of collaborative robots, or “cobots”, in medical manufacturing. Designed to work alongside humans rather than replace them, she finds that they can boost productivity and make manufacturing safer.


What about technologies that haven’t yet left the lab? For one, researchers are currently investigating how biomaterials could be used to regenerate an injured spinal cord – something that has long been seen as impossible. I speak to experts in the field to find out more on page 82.


And then there are advances that improve the day-to-day: helping us do better work faster, cheaper and more sustainably. Rapid prototyping is one such solution, where CMOs can use CAD and 3D printing to make physical prototypes fast. Jim Banks considers how manufacturers can make the most of it on page 22. Another is simulation analysis. Here, the performance of plastic healthcare packaging, along with its environmental footprint, can be simulated using software, without needing to create a physical prototype. Given that 36% of all healthcare waste is from plastic use, and the healthcare industry is responsible for around 4.4% of global net emissions, this solution couldn’t come sooner. Dan Cave investigates on page 85.


Elsewhere in this issue, we’ve also explored the challenges for CMOs facing demands for increasingly complex electronic components, how nanomaterials are being used to make better biosensors, and the promise of a new hydrogel adhesive that may reduce implant scarring.


What does the future hold for our sector? In this issue, we’ve answered that question by looking at solutions both driving change today and that are set to disrupt the field in years to come.


Monica Karpinski, editor


Medical Device Developments / www.medicaldevice-developments.com


3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100