Recent evidence demonstrating the lack of medical devices designed for children highlights the substantial hurdles to delivering life-altering pediatric technology. The market failure is not due to a lack of technology or innovator motivation, but rather a system that is not designed to enable development success and business sustainability for the many companies dedicated to these translational medicine breakthroughs. This article suggests ways to encourage the development of more products specifically designed for pediatric patients through established and novel policy mechanisms. The proposed solutions draw inspiration from existing programs for rare disease drug development and Medicare reimbursement. Specific policy recommendations include pathways to streamline reimbursement through coding, coverage, and payment, market-based fundraising opportunities through priority review vouchers and net operating losses (NOLs), and leveraging learnings from the orphan drug ecosystem through sustainable pricing, tax credits, and market exclusivity.
Mandibular fractures are the most common maxillofacial injuries, and the mechanical performance of fixation systems is a critical factor in addressing the associated clinical challenges. This study presents a systematic finite element analysis comparing seven titanium miniplate configurations, including hinge-integrated and dual-plate designs, to identify an optimized construct for symphysial fracture fixation, in contrast to the commonly used single-plate systems that are associated with a notable history of mechanical failure. Using CT data, a heterogeneous three-dimensional mandible model with a clinically relevant fracture pattern was reconstructed, and realistic musculoskeletal loading conditions were simulated to evaluate stress distribution, strain behavior, and load-transfer characteristics across the bone-miniplate complex after fixation. Different miniplate configurations with varying geometric compliance were modeled and analyzed to determine an optimal biomechanical solution. The double miniplate system with hinge joints at both plate ends (model-5) produced the most favorable biomechanical response, showing the lowest mandibular stress (66 MPa), moderate physiological strain (0.0043), and low plate stress (similar to 166 MPa), demonstrating an improved stiffness-flexibility balance and enhanced load sharing. These findings support hinge-integrated dual-plate constructs as a mechanically balanced alternative for improved fracture stability and long-term durability.
Colonoscopy is central to colorectal cancer screening, but navigation through tortuous anatomy and the ergonomic limitations of conventional systems remain important challenges. Many robotic platforms rely on complex onboard actuation, limiting distal-tip miniaturization and increasing device complexity. This work presents the FlexPower Colonoscope (FPC), a robotic pull colonoscopy platform that delivers motor torque from an off-board actuator to a distal locomotion module through a flexible rotary shaft. By separating actuation from the intraluminal device, the architecture enables a compact distal tip while potentially supporting greater torque delivery than onboard distal actuation approaches and future development of low-cost, replaceable patient-contact components. A benchtop experimental study was conducted to characterize flexible-shaft power transmission under varying input voltage, input current, and shaft radius of curvature conditions representative of colonic anatomy. Rotational speed was measured using a digital tachometer across multiple curvature configurations and analyzed using multivariate ordinary least squares regression. The resulting predictive model relates shaft rotational speed to electrical inputs and curvature, enabling estimation of distal locomotion performance. A functional prototype incorporating a worm-gear drivetrain, microtextured traction treads, and a joystick-controlled physician handle was fabricated using rapid manufacturing methods. Under conservative motor inputs (4.5 V, 1.2 A), the system achieved distal locomotion speeds of approximately 2 mm/s and an estimated effective rimpull of 5.2 N. Together with the ex vivo demonstration, these results establish the preliminary feasibility of off-board flexible-shaft actuation as a foundation for further development of compact robotic colonoscopy systems.
Abstract This study aimed to assess the current status of medical equipment configuration in Chinese public hospitals and to analyze and compare the overall configuration from January 2023 to December 2023, including large-scale medical and life-support equipment, across public hospitals of different levels and regions. Furthermore, it examined the proportion of domestically produced equipment, the composition and organizational structure of medical equipment management departments, and the development of information technology. The purpose is to explore the association between the proportion of domestically produced medical equipment and hospital level, region, and bed count, providing a basis for scientific and reasonable equipment allocation. The questionnaire was designed using the literature review and expert consultation methods. SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis was employed to examine the association between the number of allocated equipment and hospital level, regional distribution, and bed count. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In terms of the overall distribution of medical equipment, the number of equipment units, total value, bed count, and value of equipment per bed were significantly higher in tertiary than in secondary hospitals. The proportions of class A, class B, and life-support equipment, number of professional medical equipment managers, age, education, and maintenance personnel were also significantly higher in tertiary hospitals than in secondary hospitals. For the different equipment categories, the number of class A equipment was very small and showed no association with the number of beds. Thus, hospital demand and discipline development should be considered. Class B equipment is technologically mature and greatly varies between hospitals; demand and economic impacts should be taken into account when allocating it. The number of life-supporting equipment demonstrates a significant positive correlation with bed count, with domestically produced equipment accounting for 78%. Regional distribution correlates with the functional position of the region. The number of departmental staff is significantly and positively correlated with bed count, and most tertiary and secondary hospitals do not utilize third-party services for maintenance, quality control, and logistics. In terms of equipment use supervision, the number of hospitals with supervision was significantly higher than those without, with the majority of hospitals using supervision results for allocation and sharing, and 43% incorporating the results into performance management. The percentage of hospitals using information technology for supervision was 74%. The allocation of medical equipment as well as hospital management structure and staff composition is correlated with hospital level, regional functional positioning, and bed count. The proportion of domestically produced equipment and the level of information technology supervision exhibited significant improvement. Hospitals should further strengthen the scientific planning and standardized management of equipment configuration and staff structure. Furthermore, it is recommended to establish a national-level medical equipment configuration management information system to increase the level of medical equipment management in medical institutions.
Abstract The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly evolving due to advancements in 3D bioprinting, an emerging technology that extends conventional 3D printing to the precise fabrication of biologically functional tissues, drug delivery platforms, and patient-specific therapeutic applications. By integrating living cells, biomaterials, and bio-active molecules, 3D bioprinting is transforming precision medicine through the development of customized pharmaceuticals, personalized dosage forms, multidrug polypills, and biomimetic tissue constructs for drug discovery, toxicity assessment, and regenerative medicine. This review critically examines recent breakthroughs in 3D bioprinting technologies, bio-inks, fabrication strategies, and pharmaceutical applications, highlighting their potential to redefine drug development and healthcare delivery. Furthermore, it discusses the current challenges associated with biomaterial selection, vascularization, scalability, manufacturing reproducibility, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and clinical translation. As 3D bioprinting continues to evolve, it can accelerate the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing, enhance therapeutic outcomes, and advance patient-centred healthcare, promising avenues for next-generation pharmaceutical and biomedical innovation.
