A webinar held last week revealed a few insights into what medical device designers are thinking when it comes to design and material trends. Titled, "Why medical device companies should look to innovations in plastic for new growth opportunities" and sponsored by Frost & Sullivan and SABIC Plastics, the webinar included three poll questions.

The first asked, As a medical device manufacturer, which healthcare trend represents greatest opportunity to you and your company for design innovations? The trends and % of respondents indicating greatest opportunity: Portability (50%), Cost Savings (36%), Miniaturization (14%), Patient and Staff Safety (0%).

The second, How confident are that your company is working with the most optimal materials for medical device designs? Only 6% answered "very confident," while 71% reported being "somewhat confident."  And another 23% admitted being "less confident."

The third and final question, Do you have plans to design a medical device that will make use of engineering thermoplastics? revealed a majority plan to do so in the coming year, with 33% predicting in "less than 6 months," and 27% saying within the "next 6-12 months."  None reported planning to do so in "12-24 months," though 13% are thinking long range, "21-24 months. The remaining 27% answered they have "no plans" to do so.

Webinar presenters were Frost & Sullivan's Charlie Whelan, director of consulting, North America, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Leo O’Connor, vice president, global research, Technical Insights. Representing SABIC was Tom O’Brien, global product marketing director, Healthcare