The design of the packaging for your medical device product is often as important as the design of the medical device. Packaging is critical for compliance, quality, and patient safety, and it can be a key factor in the commercial success of the product. In a previous blog, we gave an overview of sterile barrier medical device packaging, including what it is, the key characteristics, and when packaging should be considered in the product development process. The answer to that last question is as early as possible, i.e., packaging should be part of design direction and decision-making processes from the...
At Arrotek, we continuously work to improve how we operate to enhance the quality of the services that we offer. This includes using Lean Manufacturing methodologies to optimise production processes for our manufacturing customers, but we take a similar approach to other parts of our business, including medical device product design. Specifically, we use Lean Six Sigma to optimise and continuously improve our design and development processes. Lean Six Sigma uses the principles, methods, and tools of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma to: Improve business operations Streamline product development processes Optimise product quality Lean Six Sigma combines the Lean concept...
Packaging is often one of the last things that is thought about in a medical device product development project. The reality is it takes time to properly design and test packaging for medical device products, especially sterile barrier medical device packaging. Furthermore, the importance of packaging to the success of your product, not to mention product quality and safety, should not be underestimated. In this blog, we’ll provide an overview of sterile barrier medical device packaging design, including why it is so important and the main characteristics of this highly specialised type of product packaging. What is Sterile Barrier Medical...
Advances in catheter technologies have enabled new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that continue to transform healthcare. These advances are led by innovations in catheter design that push the boundaries of materials science and introduce new technologies and capabilities. The standard makeup of a catheter is the starting point for developing any new catheter device. In this blog, we’ll look at the makeup of catheters used in interventional radiology procedures as well as typical performance characteristics. Catheter Applications in Interventional Radiology Procedures Angiography – where catheters deliver a contrast agent into blood vessels that can then be visualised using a variety...
There are multiple components that make up modern minimally invasive medical device products. Among the most important are needles, cannulas, and stylets. Steel components like this need to be specifically designed to optimise the performance of the device and ensure patient safety. They also need to be precision manufactured to ensure consistent, accurate, and repeatable production. At Arrotek, we have extensive experience designing, customising, specifying, improving, and manufacturing needles, cannulas, stylets, and similar steel components. Our capabilities include: Handling a specific aspect of your project, taking on the entire project, or anything in between. Developing products that feature high-precision steel...
Steerable catheters are used in a range of different applications, including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological procedures. One thing these types of procedures often have in common is the need to navigate complex vasculatures to reach the required treatment or diagnostic site. As a result, steerable catheters have transformed healthcare by improving minimally invasive procedures. Steerable catheters have also made more minimally invasive procedures possible. Furthermore, innovations in the field of steerable catheter devices continue. If you have an idea or development project for a new steerable catheter device, what are the main performance characteristics you need to be aware...
Needles, cannulas, stylets, and other steel components are crucial to the performance and quality of many minimally invasive medical devices, including catheters. With all these components, there is a diverse range of design, manufacturing, quality, and performance options available. We outline the main design considerations in this blog, starting with making sure needles, cannulas, and similar components are given enough attention during the early stages of the design process. Consider Needles and Similar Components Early in the Design Process Problems with needles, cannulas, stylets, and similar components are sometimes not discovered until a prototype for the device has been developed...
Guidewires are an essential component of many minimally invasive medical devices, including many advanced catheter products. There are multiple types of guidewires available, with different technologies, materials, designs, and performance characteristics. In this blog, we’ll look at the essential design features that should be considered when looking at guidewires for your product. Guidewires are designed to navigate often tortuous vasculatures to reach target treatment or diagnostic sites within the body. They are also used in the placement of interventional devices, and they enable the placement of catheter devices while also helping to stabilise and precisely position catheters at the target...
The medical device industry is predicted to achieve an annual growth rate of 5.6 percent over the coming years, bringing total revenues from USD $443 billion in 2022 to almost USD $585 billion in 2027. Innovations in product design will be a key factor in achieving this predicted growth, as will corporate M&A and investment strategies. However, there are pressing challenges faced by companies across the industry. Those challenges have the potential to limit innovation and increase time to market for new products, two issues that are continuous focus areas for large medical device companies. There is also the risk...
Overmoulding is a production technique used in the manufacture of medical devices. While it is a well-established technique, it has never been more important both in terms of manufacturing and the design of new medical device products. With advanced overmoulding manufacturing methods, medical device product designers can push the boundaries of innovation to enhance existing products and create novel medical devices. This includes minimally invasive medical devices and, specifically, advanced catheter technologies. What is Overmoulding Overmoulding is an advanced form of injection moulding for specialist applications, making it an ideal solution in the medical device industry. It involves the full...
