Innovation in Medical Device Development - Essay Example

Medical devices include those which are directly used by patients such as spectacles, wheelchairs, and hearing aids, and those which are used extensively by physicians to aid in diagnosis and treatment such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, arthroscopy, angioplasty, laser technology, dialysis equipment, total body scanners, and the heart-lung machine. Devices such as artificial joints, heart pacemakers, and bioengineered skin have been used to replace or substitute major body organs and thus enabled people to lead normal lives.

In addition to these already available devices, I believe that newer technological advancements in biosensors, nanotechnology, and robotics offer exciting prospects for the development of more specific and patient-friendly medical devices. I believe that the development of Nanorobots will help us understand bodily functions more precisely and also help in treating many diseases. These have the potential to cure deadly diseases such as cancer which require specific target mechanisms that would destroy the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy cells. They will also find wider applications as drug delivery systems by which the release of medications can be regulated. Their potential use in other areas of medical treatment such as gene therapy, repair of bones, imaging, surgery, medical monitoring, and prenatal diagnosis are also been constantly explored.

Another exciting new development that promises to offer exciting prospects is automated medical device manufacturing such as 3D printing in which layers of tissue can be built with the help of automated machines. Several researchers have made use of this technology for the development of 3D-printed tissue-based heart valves, ears, artificial bone, joints, and skin grafts. One of the systems which employs this technology and which is already in use is artificial hearing aids.

All these technologies have greatly fascinated and intrigued me. I wish to be part of such innovations and also contribute my own towards such technological innovations. With the surge in new types of medical illnesses, the need for advanced medical devices has increased. I strongly believe that the development of such high-performance medical devices could bring about dramatic changes in the medical field and increase the quality of care afforded to patients. By saving individual lives these devices are indirectly contributing to the growth of a healthier society and future. Read More