For an industry built on innovation, it’s surprising that some medical device electronics designers still use paper sketches to share ideas and basic layouts. Industrial designers can create concepts quickly with either paper or basic diagramming tools. But is that the most efficient method? Do paper and diagramming tools such as Microsoft Visio enable designers to discover solutions they may not have thought of otherwise? What if they could?
As medical devices become more complex, and as regulatory requirements become more rigorous, it’s imperative that medical devices using electronic components are developed as efficiently as possible. That means full traceability, seamless technology integrations, and synchronistic communication.
To advance innovation, designers and engineers must have advanced tools to develop new solutions faster. Instead of starting from a blank slate, they could have customizable reference designs. They could know in an instant whether the parts they need are available, and within seconds, get suggestions for alternatives or improvements.
That type of tool could potentially save months—even years—in research and development time, while also optimizing expenses. Medical device companies routinely compete for first-to-market status. A unified cloud-based platform that brings together all aspects of medical device design and development could be the fuel needed to win this race.
Discover and Develop for Speed to Market
Over the next year, component manufacturers can expect to see one or more solutions that streamline the earliest stages of design. These solutions must offer real-time collaboration between designers and engineers, but also bring product developers, distributors, and manufacturers together on a unified platform.
“We connect system design tools to the entire development environment,” said Altium vice president of product, systems engineering, Louise Lindblad, the driving force behind Altium’s forthcoming technology. “Our goal is to bring designers, engineers, distributors and manufacturers together to develop products more effectively and efficiently.”
Other advantages of an early-stage development platform include:
Improved communication for fast, efficient development. In the cloud, designers, engineers, and other parties communicate in real-time or near-real-time. Engineers get clarification on a design component faster than they could by waiting on an email. A solution that allows engineers to highlight a portion of a diagram and add a related comment helps foster understanding, clarity, and efficiency.
Full traceability for more assured compliance. A cloud-based solution for medical device electronic components must track and record every update and conversation. Doing so not only helps streamline development but also facilitates proper design change verification and validation.
Traceability also fosters trust among manufacturers, distributors, and developers. When all parties have clear, current information, it helps smooth out and accelerate the development process.
Shorter timelines with access to comprehensive libraries. Access to manufacturer and distributor reference libraries gives engineers a framework from which to build. They can choose and modify a design to fit their needs, check part availability, browse materials, or simply search for ideas. With this type of information readily available, designers and engineers can innovate faster.
Altium’s forthcoming solution leverages its subsidiary, Octopart. The search engine allows users to search for and compare millions of electronic and industrial parts from hundreds of component distributors and parts manufacturers.
“We give engineers libraries of predesigned solutions so they’re not creating from a blank whiteboard,” said Lindblad. “We also provide access to manufacturers and distributors’ reference designs, which are often hard to find.”
Faster builds with the help of AI. One of AI’s strengths is its ability to sort through vast amounts of data in the blink of an eye. Early-stage development platforms can and should include AI capabilities that suggest optimal components or design patterns.
With the power of AI, designers and engineers can discover and research individual components as well as reference hardware and software solutions. With this information readily available, designers can select appropriate components while engineers can compare and select solutions that fit their use cases.
Potential cost savings via more targeted decision making. Part and component choice has a direct impact on cost. “When you’re developing a device that contains thousands of electronic components, making more informed decisions from the outset can dramatically affect the bottom line,” said Lindblad.
Seamless integration between hardware and software. Fragmented systems and disparate tools make it difficult to marry hardware and software. The right platform enables engineers to define which parts of the system will be implemented in hardware and in software.
By integrating manufacturers’ embedded environments into the platform, engineers can test designs within the platform. Engineers can also verify hardware and software against system design in an expedited manner while maintaining accuracy.
Innovate Faster with Full Collaboration and Intelligent Assistance
Much like other aspects of medical device development, electronics design and development is currently highly fragmented. Teams have operated independently, using unique tools and processes. It’s time to create synergy from design through to manufacturing.
Emerging medical device companies that want to get to market first must adopt collaborative processes from design through to product launch. A cloud-based platform that brings designers, engineers, and other stakeholders together gives companies a competitive edge by making it easier and faster to create—a benefit to medical device companies as well as patients waiting for life-changing innovations.
To discover how Altium can streamline component design, schedule a quick demo.
