Bio Break: Understanding Clinical Trials – Key Steps and Expert Insights

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Bio Break: Understanding Clinical Trials – Key Steps and Expert Insights

In this engaging episode of Bio Break, Nick and Joris dive into the complexities of clinical trials as a critical component of medical product development. Whether you’re a developer embarking on your first trial or a seasoned professional seeking guidance, this discussion provides actionable insights and resources to streamline the process.

Nick explains the importance of starting with the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), a trusted resource for comprehensive guidance documents that address every facet of trial design. He highlights CLSI document ACP 1782, which details methodologies for determining the limit of blank, limit of detection, and the essential limit of quantification—crucial factors for validating medical diagnostics.

The conversation also touches on addressing environmental substances that could interfere with trial results. From chewing gum to caffeine, CLSI’s EP7-A2 guidance document offers a framework for evaluating interfering compounds in diagnostics, ensuring reliable data even in challenging conditions. For developers working with saliva-based tests or other sensitive diagnostic tools, these guidelines are indispensable.

Precision and bias are also at the forefront of trial considerations, and Nick mentions EP15-A2, a vital CLSI resource for understanding and accounting for these metrics in trial setups. From power calculations to designing interference panels, the discussion underscores how these documents empower developers to create robust, reproducible studies.

If you’re navigating the intricacies of clinical trials, this episode is your gateway to essential knowledge. Learn how leveraging the right resources can elevate the quality and reliability of your medical device development process.

Understanding Clinical Trials – Key Steps and Expert Insights

Brain-computer interface - A man wearing a brain-computer interface (BCI) headset sits in a clinical setting, concentrating as he appears to control a robotic arm with his mind. His head is overlaid with digital graphics representing brain activity. A doctor in a white lab coat stands nearby, monitoring the interaction. Onscreen data displays in the background suggest medical or neurological analysis. Bold text on the image reads "Brain-Controlled Tech?"

We explore the world of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and the challenges of capturing thought into action. Mark Drlik and Ariana Wilson walk through how these systems translate brain activity into control signals for devices—without needing surgical implants.

Person applying a white microneedle patch to their upper arm, with a red arrow pointing to the patch and a close-up of the microneedles on the right. Text reads “Painless!” to highlight the pain-free nature of the patch.

Nigel and Nick explore microneedle drug delivery—a growing field in medtech that aims to improve patient comfort and treatment compliance. While the term “microneedles” may sound futuristic, this technology has been around for years.

A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation result showing a scalar field contour in a branched tube system, with values ranging from 0.000 (blue) to 0.500 (red). The contour visualization highlights flow variation along the geometry, with red and orange indicating high scalar values in upper segments and blue-green regions representing lower values in the lower tube segments.

The impact of shear stress is critical to effectively design medical devices that handle biological fluids such as proteins or cell culture media. For example, non-physiological shear stress (NPSS) on blood is a key factor because hemolysis (cell rupture) could occur due to accumulated stress.