Brief Overview of Novel Technologies with Impact in the Biomedical Device Industry - Advanced Design and Manufacturing Technologies for Biomedical Devices - page 46

3.1 Novel Needs, Novel Technologies and Novel Capabilities

Last decades have seen remarkable advances in computer-aided design, engineering
and manufacturing technologies, multi-variable simulation tools, medical imaging,
biomimetic design, rapid prototyping, micro- and nano-manufacturing methods and
information management resources, all of which provide new horizons for the
Biomedical Engineering fi elds and the medical device industry.
This handbook covers such topics in depth, with an applied perspective and pro-
viding several case studies that help to analyse and understand the key factors of the
different stages linked to the development of a novel biomedical device, from the
conceptual and design steps, to the prototyping, validation and industrialisation
phases.
Chapters 1 and 2 have provided an introduction to product development and
some important special considerations when the process is linked to the develop-
ment of a novel biodevice. This chapter provides a panorama of technologies that
are promoting remarkable alternative approaches for obtaining biodevices with
improved diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.
Such technologies include medical imaging tools, computer-aided design and
engineering resources capable of helping with the use of novel geometries for
biomimetic approaches, computer-aided manufacturing and rapid prototyping/
manufacturing technologies, several advances in materials science and novel
micro-/nano-manufacturing technologies, as schematically described in Fig. 3.1 .

Fig. 3.1 Main fi elds of technology already promoting relevant advances in Biomedical Engineering
and the medical device industry