Medical Device Prototyping

Prototyping is the process of creating a rudimentary version of a product for the purpose of visualization and conceptualization. In general, prototypes fall into two broad categories: functional and non-functional. Functional prototypes enable people to get a sense of the basic form and functionality of the product. Non-functional prototypes are used to provide people with a non-digital representation of the product. When it comes to medical device prototyping, a functional prototype is not one that can be used in the market—it is not a final product, but a functioning example that can be used to develop a better version of the final product.

How Does Prototyping Improve the Medical Device Development Process?

• Engineering & design validation

  The medical device prototyping process produces functional samples to exact design and material specifications for use in product testing and evaluation stages and business presentations. These samples enable manufacturers to perform engineering & design validation and determine whether changes are necessary before proceeding to large-scale production and market distribution.

• Aligning your team

  Nothing gives a team a single idea to work from better than a device prototype. A device prototype enables you to clearly communicate your device concept with your colleagues and higher-ups, and helps teams develop common understanding that leads to more focused cooperation – and better medical device development.

• Hearing the voice of the customer

  Though your device prototype can’t be used by end-customers (e.g., doctors, nurses, surgeons, etc.), it gives them a way to physically interact with your device and provide valuable input before you expend resources pushing the device through the development process and into production.

Our Approach

Using the latest technologies, STEMart can build a full working reliable prototype of your product. Such a high fidelity demonstrator allows you to put your idea into people’s hands and collect feedback, input, and validation.

Several precision machining techniques to build our clients’ medical prototypes:

• 3D Printing, such as Stereolithography & Fused Deposition Modeling
• Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining
• Screw Machining
• Photochemical Machining
• Laser Cutting
• Vacuum Casting
• Clear Acrylic Machining and Polishing
• Aluminum Machining
• Reaction Injection Molding (RIM)

STEMart offers reliable rapid prototyping solutions crafted to suit the needs of the medical device industry. Our medical device prototyping services can be quite valuable in confirming an idea’s feasibility or appeal, comparing different concept functionalities, and eliminating costly mistakes early on—streamlining your development process and saving your organization time and resources that may have been wasted pursuing a flawed concept.

If you have additional questions about Medical Device Prototyping or would like to find out more about our services, please feel free to contact us.