Medical device design
& development

I was recently looking through the OPTICA trade journal Optics and Photonics News – specifically its summary of “Optics in 2025.” A few highlights were of particular interest to me in terms of their potential applicability to future medical devices.

Ariana Wilson and Mark Drlik explore how bias can enter the development process and why engineers and manufacturers must actively work to prevent it.

Did you know that 5-8% of total national carbon footprints come from the healthcare sector? Much of this (around 80%) is general waste – such as from office work – and the rest (~20%) requires special handling due to its dangerous nature.

Electrocardiography (ECG) remains the gold standard for non-invasive cardiac assessment, providing a vital window into the heart’s electrical health. By recording electrical impulses through surface electrodes, clinicians can identify life-critical conditions such as arrhythmias, myocardial infarctions, and conduction abnormalities.

Wearable medical and wellness devices are increasingly commonplace in the healthcare field. For example, devices such as smartwatches incorporate sensors to provide continuous health tracking data to their users.

Nick and Nigel explore how much bacteria can exist on devices and why it matters. They explain that bacteria are everywhere.