Medical Device Technology Trends and Impact on Timelines

The use of new technologies has a significant impact on the development of medical devices. If used properly, development timelines can be shortened and devices can reach market faster, allowing cash flow to be achieved.

In the development space, few technologies offer more possibilities than 3D printing. This high-tech manufacturing tool has the potential to dramatically shorten timelines and enable higher levels of device customization to meet patients’ exact needs.

“3D printing has been widely adopted by the medical industry, with applications including surgery planning, providing a physical model of the surgical site, training, orthotics and prosthetics, among others. This adoption rate is due to the rapid payback of this method compared to traditional methods,” explains Emma Sturdee, Analyst at GlobalData

“The main advantages of 3D printing include personalization, lower costs, production speed, and waste reduction. Due to these advantages, companies are increasingly investing in 3D printing technology and even establishing partnerships with other companies in the 3D printing space.”

Another key market trend is patient monitoring devices, which are becoming more common and increasing the possibilities of treating patients. The use of portable devices to monitor health levels is increasing. At the same time, the development of intelligent implants, such as pacemakers, is expanding the possibilities of collecting precise data from the body – thanks to the appropriate coating necessary for the operation of such devices.

“The patient monitoring market is set to experience tremendous growth,” Sturdee adds. “The growth of the patient monitoring market is being fueled by several factors, including an aging population, technological advances, increased adoption of telehealth, and demand for home monitoring. Regulatory support has also increased.”

The important role of coatings in shortening the development time of medical devices

Technology can help shorten the development time of a medical device, but the right coating can help too. However, with the growing specialized demands on advanced devices, selecting the optimal coating requires the knowledge of industry experts.

Formacoat is one such specialist, establishing itself as a premier provider of coating solutions for medical devices. This Minnesota-based, family-owned company offers expert advice on the right coating to meet the exact needs of specific medical devices, offering approximately 100 coatings from over 40 trusted suppliers.

The company also uses 3D printing in its highly innovative research and development department. The team can start determining the optimal coating based on engineering drawings – even before the device is completed. Such technologies allow coatings for complex geometries or niche materials to be developed well in advance and avoid delays later in development.

“If they have this device or want to see the coatings, we can take all that information and do it in one go – just two to four weeks. Bum Bum bum. We’re done and moving on to coating and then the next phases. We can really help them validate their coating process,” explained Todd Paulsen, vice president of Formacoat, in a recent webinar hosted by GlobalData.

“We can give customers all the options, all at once. We look at what we have, determine what works best for customers, and give them the reins of growth,” Paulsen added. “That in itself is a huge time saver – an average of six months in the design process.”

For further analysis of the medical device market and to learn more about Formacoat’s work, watch the on-demand version of a recent webinar titled How Diverse Coating Choices Can Help Accelerate Medical Device Development – enter your details in this link.

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