FEATURE u Medical Equipment & Devices


Driving advances in the Irish MedTech industry


Dave Walsha, Sales Manager at EMS, explores how Ireland’s MedTech industry has made cutting-edge advances, with the support of micromotors


E


xports of MedTech products represent eight per cent of Ireland’s total merchandise exports – the second largest exporter of


medical technology in Europe, according to IDA Ireland, a government body designed to encourage investment into Ireland. Investment in R&D has positioned Ireland as a


world leader in MedTech innovation. A key factor in this success is the support


shown by the Irish government, which still continues today. IDA Ireland provides valuable consultancy and support services to help MedTech organisations establish and expand. In addition to this, the Irish government has


provided financial support for MedTech companies in the form of various government grants and the 25 per cent R&D tax credit; and this also encourages foreign MedTech companies to establish a base in Ireland. The success of Irish MedTech wouldn’t be possible without local talent feeding into the industry. NUI Galway’s BioInnovate Fellowship programme equips aspiring innovators with the necessary skills to identify unmet clinical needs, innovate a novel solution to address them and implement those solutions into patient care.


PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG DISCOVERY Irish MedTech’s focus on R&D and innovation has been fundamental in its rapid growth and global success. This is particularly true for Ireland’s 85+ pharmaceutical companies, where continuous innovation is necessary to produce new medications that can enhance recovery and quality of life for patients. In recent years, there has been demand for


16 June 2022 Irish Manufacturing


medicine development to be sped up, yet drug discovery is a long and complex process, from initial discovery, to preclinical and clinical trials through to approval. Fortunately, many of these stages can be


sped up, and with increased precision, through automation. Using motorised equipment to undertake many of the simpler, more repetitive tasks allows scientists to have more time to focus on innovation and analysis of results.


MOTORISED IMMUNOASSAY TESTS For example, the preclinical and clinical stages of drug development involve an immunoassay – a test that measures the presence and concentration of analytes such as large proteins and antibodies. Immunoassay tests can evaluate drug response biomarkers, immunotherapy success and toxicity. Pharmaceutical companies can use an


immunoassay analyser to carry out these tests, which automatically and quickly runs multiple samples in parallel, saving vital time and enabling the high throughput screening of samples. To ensure the speed and reliability of the test,


the analyser must be powered with motors such as brushless DC-servomotors. These motors are most ideal for the extreme, repetitive operating conditions as they are precise, dynamic and they are long lived.


AUTOMATED CELL ANALYSIS In the later clinical trial stages of drug development, cell analysis is frequently used as a safer alternative to human testing. Cells are grown from human tissue in an incubator to provide sufficient material for drug testing.


Cell culture testing is a time consuming,


repetitive job that requires great precision from the technician to ensure there is no contamination. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly using automated testing systems to both save time and improve accuracy and quality. For example, a robot can pick up a sample and scan its barcode using an onboard camera to identify the type of analysis that’s required. Using its motorised arm, the robot then places the sample in the appropriate piece of laboratory equipment to conduct the required test.


SUPPORTING MOTORS EMS is the sole UK and Ireland supplier of FAULHABER motors, which provide a combination of high performance, precision and low weight, ideal for use in medical and laboratory equipment. FAULHABER motors are made in a finely controlled manufacturing process that ensures they perform with high repeatability and reliability, ensuring all testing in drug development is conducted accurately. They also deliver high power in a small space


envelope, ideal for keeping research equipment compact, which is beneficial when trying to fit a range of equipment into a laboratory. Alongside government support and excellent local talent, it is the investment in R&D and the constant drive for innovation that has cemented Ireland’s position as a world leader in MedTech. By helping to automate and accelerate the drug discovery process, precision motors certainly play a vital part in the Irish MedTech industry.


EMS www.ems-limited.co.uk www.irish-manufacturing.com


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