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The medical device sector’s list of requirements, from miniaturisation to at-home patient care, is providing designers and manufacturers with a diverse range of challenges. Julia Pierce reports.

The UK's medical device market is the fourth largest in Europe, with an estimated total value of £4bn. Characterised by a high level of innovation, it is also the subject of intense competition, meaning suppliers are constantly looking for methods to reduce costs and streamline production.

'The medical devices sector is the fastest growing market for us,' said Chay Keogh, marketing manager for

UK, which makes video measuring and digital imaging systems. 'We need to move from a production line where components are given a rough visual check to highly-intensive mass checking.

'Product checkers may be very dexterous with their hands, but we must move to automated checking by computer — the challenge is designing a system that doesn't fail and works continuously.'

Mass production of disposable equipment in a cost-effective manner has already led to the refining of relatively new technologies for making small precision components.

According to Rachel Conway, sales and marketing manager for

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