Guest Editorial for the Special Issue of Journal of Biomechanical Engineering on Medical Devices

Abstract

I am pleased to have served as the Guest Editor of this Special Issue of Journal of Biomechanical Engineering on Medical Devices. The global medical device market was reported to be a $169 billion industry in 2002, with the U.S. market alone valued at about $77 billion. This industry has increased 10-fold in the past decade and has been growing at a rate of 9–10% per year in the past four years. It is expected to grow even more rapidly in the next decade. The medical device industry employs over 350,000 individuals in the U.S. (2001) and created a $3.3 billion U.S. trade surplus in 2002. Mechanical engineers play a critical role in the conceptualizing, prototyping, testing and manufacturing of these devices. Thus, the objective of this special issue on medical devices is to provide a place to publish results of applied research that reveal solutions to difficult problems faced when moving basic biomedical science/engineering to the bedside. This special issue was associated with the 2005 Design of Medical Devices (DMD) Conference that served as a neutral site where those involved with medical device development came to share emerging technical and clinical issues directed at improving health care around the world.