From Editor's Desk

Innovation for medical devices differs from innovation for pharmaceuticals. Device innovation includes both giant leaps and incremental changes with life cycles as short as 18 months. Unlike many pharmaceuticals, the effectiveness of such improvements depend on a continuing dialogue between product developers and the ultimate end-users about what works, what doesn't, and what the best solution to problems might look like, because devices generally require the skill of the end-user.

The fuel of an innovation engine is the creativity and innovativeness of individuals and teams. I would like to reproduce here the five key elements that characterize highly creative individuals :

 

Mr. D.L. Pandya

Editor

• Defying the crowd. Truly novel ideas are greeted with skepticism, cynicism, and ridicule. Most academic researchers play it safe. Creative ones take risks.

• Kaleidoscope. Innovators see things differently, as through a kaleidoscope. More scholars should be encouraged to cross disciplines.

• Teamwork. Individuals may have brilliant ideas; teams bring them to life.

• Wisdom. To innovate successfully, you need to balance the need for change (creativity) with the need for stability and continuity (intelligence).

• Passion. Greatness lies at the intersection of three circles: passion (the enormous drive to achieve a vision), excellence (the ability to be the very best at something), and resources (the money and people needed to implement the vision).

This issue highlights steps taken by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) to foster the development of safe and effective medical devices through a variety of initiatives and regulatory process improvements. Some of the recent technological innovations in the field of medical technology and devices are also covered in this issue.

A recently concluded Rapra Technology's international conference on medical polymers discussed latest advances in high performance plastics ranging from use of anti-bacterial additives for medical devices : medical textiles for tissue engineering to the role of medical polymers in the triggered release of therapeutics. Of particular interest was the paper presented by Bob Gosss, Senior Technology specialist at Henkel Loctite Adhesive Ltd., who spoke the significant advantages that cyanoacralates and UV curing adhesives can bring over other methods whilst mentioning the endless benefits cyanoacralates bring to the medical industry - including optical clarity, rapid cure speed and the ability to be accurately dispensed.

Also included are the regular features like Global Trends, Industry News, Events and mediNETforum.

D.L. Pandya