• Question: Where do you design the medical devices ,in a lab or in an office?

    Asked by 444metd24 to Martin on 8 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Martin O'Halloran

      Martin O'Halloran answered on 8 Nov 2015:


      Designing a medical device is a long process. The devices I work on are usually electronic devices, so they’ll require hardware development (circuit boards type stuff) and software development.

      The first step in any project is to understand the problem fully. So we start in the clinic talking to patients and doctors.

      Next we move to the lab and put together a design plan.

      We then develop the hardware and software in the lab; test everything and ensure the device works and is safe.

      Then we go back to the clinic (after we’ve gotten ethical approval) and try to test the device on real patients.

      It’s a long process, and needs lots of help and support from engineers, scientists, and doctors.

Comments