Design conscious

Developments in the field of medical devices promise to improve the lives of both doctors and patients, and good design is an essential factor. Julia Pierce reports.

The UK medical devices market is the third largest in Europe behind Germany and France, making it one of the most significant in the world.

That makes it an important target for innovations by both UK and international companies — something that is yielding benefits for patients and doctors alike.

Recent developments are helping doctors make the treatment of patients faster and more comfortable for both parties. An example of this is

SOMATOM Definition AS, a CT scanner that adapts to virtually any patient and clinical need. It is suitable for routine diagnostic work and complex examinations such as oncology, neurology and cardiology, and the first system has recently been installed at the University Hospital Trauma Centre in Erlangen, Germany.

The device is faster than previous versions, which makes the treatment of children and the claustrophobic much easier. The patient table is moving continuously, so a larger area can be imaged and entire organs and functions can be examined with a single scan, rather than just a portion of them.

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.  

Benefits of registering

  • In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends

  • Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year

  • Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox