Courtesy: Siemens
As an engineer in the medical device industry, you’re no stranger to the mounting pressures of today’s development landscape. Devices are becoming increasingly complex, regulatory requirements are more stringent than ever, and the demand for personalised treatments continues to grow, all while you’re expected to deliver breakthrough innovations faster and more cost-effectively than before.
The good news? Physics-based simulation and building digital twins are transforming how we approach these challenges, offering a powerful solution that aligns perfectly with your expertise in modelling, testing and validation.
Why simulation is essential to achieving medical device designs faster and at lower cost
Slash development costs while accelerating innovation
Remember the last time you had to build multiple physical prototypes to test different design iterations? Those days of expensive trial-and-error are becoming obsolete. By creating physics-based digital twins of your devices, you can:
- Reduce physical prototyping by up to 80% through comprehensive virtual testing
- Generate credible digital evidence that regulatory agencies readily accept
- Explore the entire design space early in development when changes are still cost-effective
- Make physics-informed decisions from day one, minimising costly late-stage design revisions
Master complex multi-physics challenges with confidence
Medical devices operate at the intersection of multiple engineering disciplines. Whether you’re designing cardiovascular stents that interact with blood flow, orthopaedic implants that must withstand complex biomechanical loads or diagnostic equipment with sophisticated thermal management requirements, simulation enables you to:
- Model realistic fluid-structure interactions for devices like heart valves and stents
- Analyse thermal management in implanted devices with embedded electronics
- Simulate complex material behaviors including nitinol shape memory alloys
- Evaluate electromagnetic interference in sensitive diagnostic equipment
Real-world applications across medical device segments
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
CFD simulation has become indispensable for devices that interact with the fluids that sustain life. From respiratory devices like ventilators and CPAP machines to drug delivery systems and microfluidic diagnostic devices, CFD allows you to:
- Model single and multiphase flows with particle interactions
- Simulate reacting flows for drug delivery applications
- Analyse fluid-structure interactions in cardiovascular devices
- Optimise cooling systems for embedded electronics
- Design more efficient UV-C air purification systems
Mechanical and structural simulation ensuring safety and performance
With seamless CAD associativity and PLM connectivity, mechanical simulation becomes a true enabler of digital transformation. You can:
- Ensure design continuity across iterations with automatic simulation updates
- Integrate E-CAD and M-CAD workflows for comprehensive electro-mechanical analysis
- Perform multibody dynamics analysis for devices with moving parts, like hospital beds and surgical robots
- Automate repetitive simulation tasks through templating, allowing you to focus on physics and innovation
System simulation: Design before you build
Before detailed CAD geometries exist, 1D system simulation lets you design and optimise entire systems using validated component libraries. Some examples include:
- Ventilator design with patient lung models for realistic testing scenarios
- Infusion pump optimisation across different flow rates and medications
- Surgical robot control system development with Hardware-in-the-Loop testing
- Exoskeleton design balancing power consumption with performance requirements
How B Medical Systems reduced development and testing times
B Medical Systems, a global manufacturer of medical-grade refrigeration devices, faced several challenges in product quality and optimisation of engineering time across research, development and testing. The company needed to mitigate long lead times for certain components, which could impact project timelines. Additionally, resource planning for development, testing and quality assurance consumed substantial engineering time, necessitating the implementation of efficient processes to maintain high standards without compromising quality.
Simcenter Amesim played a pivotal role in addressing these challenges by enabling advanced digital simulations that extended the shelf life of temperature-sensitive products and optimised refrigeration designs to safeguard vaccines. The simulation tools, accessible to all engineers, significantly reduced development and testing times by up to 80%, fostering enhanced collaboration and knowledge transfer. The system’s robustness enabled engineers to conduct extensive virtual tests, optimising component selection even amid supply chain constraints. Read the full case study here.
A promising future for medical device development
Embracing simulation and digital twins in your medical device development process reduces costs, enhances design accuracy and speeds up the journey to market. Adopting these innovative solutions is essential for staying competitive and achieving excellent patient outcomes. Siemens is committed to advancing simulation technologies, empowering you to not only participate in industry evolution but lead it. With simulation, the possibilities are endless and transformative, paving the way for a bright future in medical device development.
