Resource Centre

Discover a wealth of knowledge and insights from the experts at StarFish Medical. Our Resource Centre offers product development tips, reviews of new and cutting-edge technologies, and in-depth articles on regulatory updates and compliance in medical device development.

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  • A close-up image of a hand drawing on a whiteboard with a marker, illustrating a brainstorming or planning session. Bold text on the left reads 'Cost to develop Medical Device' with the word 'develop' highlighted in purple. The image conveys the concept of medical device development costs and design planning.

    What are the real costs of developing a medical device? In this episode of Bio Break, Nick and Joris dive into one of the most frequently asked questions they hear from clients: How much does it cost to develop a medical device?

  • A futuristic smartwatch displaying biometric data on its screen, set against a glowing blue background with abstract graphs. Bold text reads "Where's my Cortisol-Sensing Watch?" in a mix of grey, purple, and black fonts.

    Nick and Joris tackle a question many tech and health enthusiasts have wondered for years: Where is my cortisol-sensing smartwatch? Nick shares a nostalgic story of reading about futuristic wearable technology in Popular Mechanics as a child — devices that would one day monitor biomarkers like cortisol to track stress and overall health. Now, decades later, he and Joris break down why such a wearable device still hasn’t become a reality.

  • White and colored label rolls isolated on white background with shadow reflection. Color reels of labels for printers. Labels for direct thermal or thermal transfer printing. Abstract background.

    We all know medical devices have labels, but how often do we consider their purpose and the effort required to ensure they provide the right information? Device labelling serves as the interface between the manufacturer, the user, and regulatory bodies. (Note that being from Canada, we spell labelling with two Ls.)

  • Room for sterilization of medical instruments in a modern outpatient clinic

    Sterilization is a critical process in the medical device industry as it provides a reliable way to ensure that devices are free from harmful microorganisms when they are used on patients. This blog talks about the categories of sterilization currently used on medical devices in manufacturing settings. It also addresses concerns surrounding the use of ethylene oxide (EtO), an indispensable method for sterilizing heat and moisture sensitive devices.

  • Female professional doctor showing medical test result explaining prescription using digital tablet app visiting senior woman patient at home sitting on sofa. Elderly people healthcare tech concept

    Predicting the trends of a new year is always interesting and a bit unpredictable. We asked our medical device design and development professionals to submit their most interesting medtech trends for 2025 and the reasoning behind their prediction. The results were surprisingly focused on two major trends: Home Healthcare and Wearable Devices. Within these categories, several technologies were identified including edge computing, IoT, and connected devices. In no particular ranking, here are our 2025 predictions:  

  • Common Mistakes for Medical Device Projects A businessman wearing a blue suit and an orange tie is pointing at a transparent virtual interface with hexagonal icons. The central hexagon displays the words "REGULATORY COMPLIANCE." Surrounding it are four smaller hexagons with white icons, including a scale inside a gear (symbolizing legal and ethical standards), a stack of binders (representing documentation), a checklist (indicating compliance requirements), and a person next to a legal symbol (denoting regulatory oversight). The background is blurred with a brick wall visible.

    Common mistakes in medical device projects can create roadblocks that, if left unchecked, can snowball into costly setbacks.

  • packaging plant line and signal.

    ASTM D4169 is a standard test method for performance testing of shipping containers and packaging systems. It evaluates the ability of shipping units to withstand the expected distribution environment. FDA recognizes it as a consensus standard as part of sterility testing that is commonly applied to all sorts of medical devices.

  • Close-up of a printed circuit board (PCB) with multiple connectors, sensors, and electronic components. The board has a purple solder mask with various capacitors, resistors, and ICs mounted. Colored caps on the connectors indicate different sensor inputs, with red and white wires attached. Visible traces and test points suggest a complex design, likely for a medical or industrial application.

    Getting a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) for a medical device right the first time is almost impossible. Datasheets can be misleading, or assumptions and architectures change. As a result, modifications are almost inevitable. Sometimes the modification is as simple as swapping resistors or adding capacitors. Other times it involves tacking on new circuits you had no idea you needed.

  • This blog explores key highlights of the Chemical Analysis for Biocompatibility Assessment of Medical Devices draft guidance, focusing on its scope, testing methodologies, and recommendations for reporting. In September 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance titled Chemical Analysis for Biocompatibility Assessment of Medical Devices.