Pulse
The Betavoltaic Battery Solution

The Betavoltaic Battery Solution

State-of-the-art conventional chemical battery technology can provide long-term power to devices for only a few years at best and primarily in optimal environments. Environmental factors including temperature, humidity, altitude, ocean depths, high amplitude vibration and extended (decadal) time periods continue to bestow adverse affects upon battery performance. Advancements in betavoltaic technology have evolved to the…
Executive Overview of FDA Medical Device Approval Requirements

Executive Overview of FDA Medical Device Approval Requirements

The following is a high-level overview of the processes required to get a new medical device classified and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This paper attempts to present complex regulatory processes in the simplest possible terms. Where applicable, it includes links to resources that contain detailed background information. When submitting a medical…
Trends and Risks of Future Medical Device Development

Trends and Risks of Future Medical Device Development

MEDS Magazine panel discussion at SDMD 2011, the 14th annual Software Design for Medical Devices Conference. In an industry continuously evolving with new technology and changing regulatory landscape, this panel discussion shares the vision, trends and risks of the future development of medical devices. Discussion included technologies currently in R&D and on the market: remote…
Telehealth—Medical Electronics used in the Chilean Mining Disaster Rescue

Telehealth—Medical Electronics used in the Chilean Mining Disaster Rescue

The Chilean San Jose mining disaster (near the city of Copiapo, north of Santiago) on August 5, 2010 caught the attention of the whole world. When Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera announced that all 33 trapped miners were alive, cheers burst out from the family members of the miners along with the rest of the world….
Medical Design Innovations Reflect the Need for High Performance, Portable Devices

Medical Design Innovations Reflect the Need for High Performance, Portable Devices

As sophisticated medical devices help shift medical procedures from curative to preventative, some of these devices may even be found in patient homes. Computer-on-Modules can help keep pace with innovative needs for quality care. Medical device manufacturers face a complex and competitive arena of regulation and market requirements. Quick innovation is the mandate, as medical…
Developing Safe and Effective Medical Device Software

Developing Safe and Effective Medical Device Software

Conforming to industry standards for software quality is essential to medical device development. The use of integrated development tools can greatly reduce development time and increase quality, safety and reliability. Today’s medical devices are growing exponentially in complexity as the market demands more feature-rich and cost-effective solutions. The endoscopic medical device market is a perfect…
Easing the IEC 62304 Compliance Journey for Developers to Certify Medical Devices

Easing the IEC 62304 Compliance Journey for Developers to Certify Medical Devices

By adopting the quality software processes of IEC 62304, companies are better able to develop a safe product, avoid expensive recalls, and ensure that the same development process underpins the maintenance and upgrade process. The use of sophisticated medical devices now more than ever helps medical practitioners diagnose with ease and accuracy. Their level of…
Harnessing the Power of Mobility for Healthcare: Why We Need a “Medical Grade Wireless Utility”

Harnessing the Power of Mobility for Healthcare: Why We Need a “Medical Grade Wireless Utility”

A huge opportunity exists to lower health care costs by accelerating the availability of wireless medical solutions. In order to achieve this, a ubiquitous and reliable wireless infrastructure is needed—a utility that will build a framework for offering the right care, at the right time, wherever a patient may be. Health care has yet to…
Capturing Elusive Data Ensures Reliable Results

Capturing Elusive Data Ensures Reliable Results

Data acquisition systems are continually advancing in functionality to provide practical and cost-effective solutions in those applications that generate elusive events. Event controlled recording can greatly increase the accuracy and ease the analysis of complex test scenarios. Modern electronics systems, whether found in industrial, medical, automotive or other applications, are continually evolving to include additional…
Application of PSoC in Electronic Medical Devices

Application of PSoC in Electronic Medical Devices

Medical devices are getting smaller and more sophisticated. To achieve portability, high functionality and low cost, a programmable system on chip can be configured to serve a number of different functions to create a medical device on chip. In order to respond to the increase of medical expenses and the rise of health insurance costs, home…
Transitioning From Analog to Digital in Medical Designs

Transitioning From Analog to Digital in Medical Designs

The move from analog to digital design in medical devices enables smaller size, lower power, greater noise immunity and lower parts count for powerful, portable solutions in the health care sector. The burgeoning medical device industry stands to make significant advances with a new generation of microcontrollers that boasts high performance and low power consumption….
Addressing portable medical device needs

Addressing portable medical device needs

The development of medical devices, particularly portable medical devices, is expensive, and the time-to-market is long. Yet, social trends are making these one of the most exciting product segments for the embedded systems market. The article reviews key decisions a device designer must make in terms of the MCUs and other silicon and software that…