6 Commercialization insights from 2019 Vancouver Medical Device Playbook
Medical Device Playbook was conceived as a way to inspire entrepreneurship and connect the many players in the Medical Device world. In seven words, I would describe this as an “informative and...
View ArticleTips to help prototype a medical device on a budget
There are so many methods available to prototype that I’d like to expand upon an earlier blog. In this article I share the low-cost tips and methods on how to prototype a medical device on a budget...
View ArticleInsights and observations that spark medtech innovation
Improve your medical device innovation process Everyone has a mental toolkit of innovation – a series of patterns that innovative people find. They take something and they break it into pieces or they...
View ArticleWhat are your summer plans?
StarFish Employees share their favorite activities To celebrate the summer solstice, StarFish employees shared their summer plans and favorite warm weather activities. Spoiler alert: There’s...
View Article10 Optics Lab best practices to produce great data
Over many years of working in optics labs, I’ve come across a variety of lab practices ranging from admirable to appalling. These practices can have a significant impact both on the quality of data...
View ArticleSilicon photomultipliers: low-light sensing in medical instrumentation
Silicon photomultipliers are an exciting technology enabling applications previously only available with large, bulky PMTs to be implemented in small, low-cost, low-power form factors. If you have...
View ArticleManaging Medical Device Software Projects: Realities and Tips
Very few medical devices consist solely of electro-mechanical technologies these days. Most have firmware to drive the core therapeutic or imaging modalities. Medical device software (including an...
View ArticleThree Considerations for Water Ingress in Medical Devices
Navigating water ingress in medical devices can be tricky, as one of the key requirements for ISO 60601-1 is the protection against ingress. With so much development focused on the functioning of the...
View ArticleWhy do a beta medical device? – commercialization implications
An alpha device may look like it’s finished, but it’s not a medical device. A basic principle of medical device commercialization is that even though an alpha device looks like it’s finished – cool...
View ArticleChoosing and integrating a medical device stepper motor
Recently almost every medical device I design requires a stepper motor. After working with these motors so frequently, I’d like to share what I’ve learned about medical device stepper motors, the...
View Article5 tips for a productive EMC lab visit
EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) compliance is an essential requirement for all electronic medical devices. Usually, designers partner with EMC labs (certified testing) facilities in order to assess...
View ArticleTemperature Measurement and the Application of NTC Thermistors
When I say temperature sensors, you’ll likely think thermocouples. But today I’d like to discuss NTC thermistors. Medical devices regularly need to measure temperature. Often engineers overlook or...
View ArticleMaximizing Efficiency in a Switch Mode Power Supply
Why spend time maximizing efficiency in a switch mode power supply? Higher efficiency switching regulators get you more bang out of your buck. In a world of mobile devices, minimizing power consumption...
View Article4 Reasons Why Less is More When Designing Medical Devices
One of the goals of good medical device design is to turn a lot of complicated science and engineering into a simple package that’s easy to use and understand. To help achieve this goal, remember that...
View ArticleHow to turn patient imaging data into functional 3D models
Patient imaging data is a powerful and robust source for developing anatomically accurate and functional 3D models. Having an accurate representation of anatomy available to engineers and designers...
View ArticleThe MDR Deadline is Approaching – Are you prepared?
16 Issues you need to consider May 2020, the Medical Device Regulations implementation day (MDR Deadline), seems far away. But if you are already selling, or planning to sell, medical device(s) in the...
View Article510(k) submission: 9 Tips for success
A 510(k) submission is required in the U.S.to receive clearance to market almost all class II medical devices. While the 510(k) preparation process is not as onerous as preparing a Premarket Approval...
View ArticleHow to find and approve medical device equipment calibration vendors
How exactly does one go about picking the right medical device equipment calibration vendor? While that itself is a loaded question and might require a sabbatical, a couple gallons of coffee and some...
View ArticleBringing Consistency to the FDA’s Inspection Process
Leveling the Playing Field with recent Draft Guidance Review and Update of Device Establishment Inspection Processes and Standards, a draft guidance document from the FDA, establishes uniform...
View ArticleConsider these 3 areas carefully when testing medical devices in a Biolab
Keep your project on time, within budget Testing medical devices in a Biolab often requires changing locations from an engineering lab to a Biosecurity Level 2 (BSL2) BioLab that can facilitate...
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