A medical device is a critical component for the health of any patient. It needs to be designed in such a way that it can deliver its intended purpose effectively, and it needs to be tested rigorously to make sure that it’s safe for use by anyone from infants to senior citizens.
If you’re looking into manufacturing medical devices, here are a few key factors you must consider before delving into the manufacturing process.
Purpose of the Device
The purpose of the device should be fully understood by all stakeholders in the project. It is important for everyone to know why this particular device was created and what its intended use will be.
There are many considerations when designing a medical device, such as how it works, who will use it, and where it will be used. The team must also think about how the equipment will interact with other products or systems to create a cohesive plan that accounts for every possible scenario.
To make an educated decision on whether or not a project is worth pursuing, you need to know exactly what your goals are when designing any piece of equipment. If there is no clear purpose for creating this product, there won’t be any reason why someone would purchase it once finished.
Blueprint and Circuit Design
The blueprint and circuit design are essential components of any medical device. The blueprint is the design of the device, while the circuit design is how it works. Both must be accurate and clear for your product to function as intended.
The blueprint also needs to be tested for accuracy since errors in this area can have serious consequences. Test your blueprints by making sure they work as intended before investing time into creating an actual prototype or model based on them. If there’s a problem with one component, chances are others will suffer too.
User Interface
The user interface is the way you control your device. The best user interfaces are simple and easy to use, intuitive, easy to clean and disinfect, and can be sterilized. If your product requires a lot of training for users to get comfortable using it, this can affect adoption rates.
A good rule of thumb is that if it takes longer than five minutes for someone to learn how to use your product, there’s room for improvement in your design process.
Cleanroom Setup
The cleanroom setup is considered by many to be the most important part of any medical device manufacturing process. The reason for this is that it serves as the foundation on which everything else rests. Without properly calibrated cleanrooms, you run the risk of contaminating your product or getting poor-quality final results.
Cleanroom equipment provides air filtration through HEPA filters and sterilization systems that make sure all airborne particles are removed as they pass through. These particles include dust, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses, all things you definitely don’t want in your sterile environment. Doing so keeps the room air free from even the most minute of contaminants.
There are also cleanroom classifications denoted by ISO classes that you need to be aware of. ISO 7 cleanrooms are often used in the pharmaceutical, biotech, nanotech, and several other tech industries because they ensure air cleanliness for levels up to 10,000 particles (≥0.5µm) per cubic foot.
ISO 6 and 8 do the same but for levels up to 1000 and 100,000 particles, respectively. When setting up a cleanroom for your medical devices, you have to choose one that fits the standards you’re aiming for.
The cleanroom market has almost always seen constant growth. In 2020, the market was valued at $16.4 billion. By 2031, it will have grown at a CAGR of 0.4%. That means you won’t have any problem finding a cleanroom service or manufacturing company to help you meet the standards you seek for your medical devices.
Product Testing
Testing is an essential part of medical device manufacturing. The process of making a product is not complete until it has been tested for safety, usability, and performance. Every step in the manufacturing process should be examined to ensure that it meets regulatory standards.
Testing can happen at any stage, from design to production. Doing so in a stage-by-stage manner ensures quick mitigation of any problem that may arise.
Clinical Trials
It’s important to note that clinical trials are not just a way for doctors to get feedback on the device. They’re also required by the FDA as part of the process of approving a medical device for use. To be approved for mass production, a device must go through multiple phases of clinical trials before it can be used in patients. All devices that are categorized for medical usage must pass all these tests before they can be sold and used.
As you can see, there are a lot of variables that can affect the success of your medical device. The goal is to find the right balance between cost and quality so that you end up with a product that will meet your needs while also being able to sell it at an affordable price.
The medical device market has a value of $495 billion as of 2022. By 2029, that value will surpass $718 billion. Thus, manufacturers are taking the opportunity to invest in this market. At the same time, they have to consider these factors for the efficiency and safety of their devices, which is vital in this type of business.