MICRO IN THE OPHTHALMIC WORLD
2/26/14 Micro manufacturing is right in the middle of new cutting edge technology. Usually the smallest component in a medical or pharmaceutical implant or device is the enabling component. One popular field for micro is ophthalmic due to age related eye diseases (cataracts, diabetes, glaucoma, etc). Ophthalmic and intraocular implants are largely made up of many micro sized and highly precise components and assemblies. This market sector continues to remain one of the largest and fastest growing micro medical and pharma micro device sectors, globally. Anyone who has ever had a speck of dust in their eye knows the irritation it causes, so imagine how small eye implants and devices must be in order to be comfortable to wear.
Another common eye problem is Dry Eye. It is an irritation of the eye due to an ability to produce enough tears to keep the eye comfortably moist. Treating this condition generally requires micro components about ¼ of the size of a grain of rice put inside of a punctal plug. This plug is surgically placed in both the upper and lower eyelids to prevent fluid in the eye from draining.
In the micro field we are exploring new alternatives to existing medical and pharmaceutical devices and procedures. Just imagine sometime in the future giving a blind person the ability to see for the first time or putting a contact lens in your eye that has a computer screen on it! The options of using micro capabilities in the medical and pharmaceutical fields are endless. We here at Micro Engineering Solutions are using cutting edge technology and research to help move these fields into the future!
10 MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES WITH SIGNIFICANT GROWTH POTENTIAL
2/5/14 Each of the below high growth areas requires some level of micro component, assembly, automation and/or ultra high precision. According to a recent research report article in QMed there are 10 medical device technologies with significant growth potential that are valued at $454 billion.
1. Diagnostic imaging, interventional radiology and capsule endoscopy
2. Drug delivery technologies
3. Molecular diagnostics
4. Mobility assistance technologies
5. Technology for minimally invasive surgery
6. Microfluidics and MEMS
7. Non-invasive monitoring (continuous blood glucose monitoring)
8. Biomaterials including antimicrobial woundcare technologies and orthopedic materials
9. Bioactive implants
10. Telemedicine
Out of these biomaterials has the strongest potential for growth due to their large market share. In 2009 the total value of biomaterials market was $46.6 billion, in 2014 this market is forecasted to increase to $85.5 billion.
Micro Engineering Solutions has micro expertise in many of these fields and is using cutting edge technology to further the path of micro in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.