Bio Break

Quick Insights into MedTech and Biotech Innovation

Welcome to Bio Break, a video series brought to you by StarFish Medical. Each episode delivers bite-sized, bio-focused insights on medical device product development and biotechnology in five minutes or less. Designed for busy innovators, Bio Break is your quick opportunity to learn something new, get inspired, and continue making an impact—all while taking a short pause in your day.

Watch our latest Bio Break episodes

Two professionals wearing festive holiday hats and plaid shirts sit in a snowy winter-themed setting. The text overlay reads "Santa's Health: A Medical Device Makeover," highlighting a playful discussion on medical innovations and healthcare improvements.

In this festive episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan bring a holiday twist to medical device innovation by discussing how modern technology could improve Santa’s health. Using a lighthearted analogy, they explore the challenges of managing conditions like diabetes and how advancements in drug delivery devices, such as Ozempic injection systems, could make a difference.

Two professionals wearing plaid shirts and microphones engage in a discussion in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Designing SAFE Drug Delivery Systems," emphasizing the focus on precision and safety in medical device design.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan explore one of the most critical challenges in drug delivery device design: shear stress. When designing systems for biologics and gene therapies, avoiding shear stress is essential to ensure the viability and activity of biomolecules like proteins, antibodies, and viruses.

Two professionals in plaid shirts and microphones sit in a discussion within a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Innovative Olfactory Drug Delivery: Bypassing the Blood-Brain Barrier," highlighting a focus on advanced medical techniques.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan explore one of the most innovative approaches in drug delivery: olfactory drug delivery. This cutting-edge method targets the olfactory region of the nose, offering a direct pathway to deliver drugs into the brain while bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Unlike traditional intranasal delivery, this highly specialized technique uses neural pathways to achieve precise and effective results.

Two professionals in plaid shirts and microphones have a discussion in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Microbes: Hidden Heroes of Medicine," emphasizing the role of microorganisms in medical advancements.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris and Nick explore the fascinating ways microorganisms and nature inspire medical innovations, showing how these tiny organisms play an outsized role in advancing healthcare and biotechnology. From lifesaving antibiotics like penicillin to revolutionary technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, they dive deep into the surprising and transformative contributions of microbes to medicine, shedding light on their critical role in shaping modern science and improving patient outcomes.

Nick Allan wearing a handmade turkey-themed hat speaks in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Turkey Tradition Gone Wrong? The Hidden Lesson," highlighting a humorous and insightful discussion about traditions and their underlying purpose.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing a heartwarming and hilarious family tradition: preparing the perfect turkey. Through this tale of generations working together to create the iconic holiday meal, they uncover a surprising lesson that applies to medical device development and procedural design.

Two professionals in plaid shirts and microphones engage in a discussion in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Nature's Secrets Behind Medical Breakthroughs," emphasizing the role of natural discoveries in driving advancements in healthcare and biotechnology.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan continue their exploration of nature-inspired innovations, focusing on one of the most transformative breakthroughs in molecular biology: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its key component, Taq polymerase.

A syringe aimed at the center of a black-and-white target, symbolizing precision. The text overlay reads "Precision Drug Activation" with a blurred laboratory background.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan discuss an advanced category of combination devices: drug activation devices. Unlike drug delivery devices that transport medication to specific locations, drug activation devices ensure the drug becomes active precisely where it is needed in the body, reducing systemic side effects and enhancing therapeutic effectiveness.

A medical vial with liquid and several teal-and-white capsules floating in the air, with a text overlay reading "Drug & Device: Why combine?" in a lab setting background.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris and Nick explore the increasingly important world of drug-device combination products, discussing what they are, why they matter, and the unique challenges associated with their development. As modern pharmaceuticals become more complex, the role of engineered medical devices in delivering these therapies safely and effectively has never been more critical.

A close-up of a medical professional wearing blue gloves and a white lab coat, working with a combination medical device on a mannequin arm. The text overlay reads "Combination Devices in Clinical Trials: Bridging Two Worlds."

In this episode of Bio Break, StarFish Medical experts Joris and Nick break down the key differences and similarities between clinical trials for medical devices and pharmaceutical products. As the conversation unfolds, they provide valuable insights into the distinct processes and challenges associated with these two types of trials, including the complexities of combination devices that bridge both worlds.

A close-up of a hand holding a small, capsule-shaped robotic device with visible internal components. The text overlay reads "Innovative Drug Delivery Methods Explained." The background is blurred, showing a clean, modern indoor setting.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris and Nick explore groundbreaking innovations in drug delivery systems, focusing on how advanced technologies are transforming the precision and effectiveness of medical treatments. From delivering medications to hard-to-reach areas like the brain to targeted oral delivery, this discussion highlights solutions that are redefining modern healthcare.

A scientist in a lab coat and purple gloves examines a specimen under a microscope, while another scientist works in the background in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "And now? New FDA LDT Ruling.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan dive into the FDA’s new regulations surrounding Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) and their impact on the medical device industry. As LDTs grow in complexity, including applications like genetic testing and AI-driven diagnostics, these regulatory changes mark a significant shift for laboratories, developers, and healthcare providers.

A close-up of a scientist in a white lab coat, wearing a hairnet and blue gloves, examining a device in a biotech laboratory. In the blurred background, several other scientists in lab coats are working at lab benches. The text overlay reads "Biotech facility essentials.

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan discuss the critical role of specialized facilities in the successful development of medical devices. From testing laboratories to clean rooms, they explore the infrastructure needed to support innovation and ensure safe, effective products reach the market.

A man wearing a blood glucose monitoring system on his upper arm sits at a table looking at his smartphone. Bold white text on the image reads, "This changes healthcare forever." A red arrow points to the CGM device, with an inset close-up image of the Dexcom-branded sensor.

In this episode of Bio Break, StarFish Medical experts Joris and Nick explore the groundbreaking FDA clearance of the first over-the-counter continuous blood glucose monitoring system. This exciting development marks a significant milestone in the world of diagnostics and opens new possibilities for patient-centered healthcare.

A smiling man with a beard and checkered shirt, sitting in front of a background with the text 'Don't miss this step' and an illustrated arrow pointing downwards.

Whether you’re in the early stages of a new project or refining a product concept, this episode of Bio Break delves into the foundational importance of a well-defined Target Product Profile (TPP) in medical device development. It’s packed with practical advice and expert insights to set you on the path to success.