How plastics help define medical design excellence in 2014

Now in its 17th year, the Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) program celebrates the achievements of medical product manufacturers and their suppliers in the design and production of groundbreaking devices that save lives and improve patient healthcare. It won't come as a surprise that plastics play a significant role in the creation of many of these products. Three 2014 finalists that illustrate this fact especially well—a next-generation knee implant, an ATM-like kiosk that distributes prescription drugs instead of cash, and a noninvasive wound-closure system that replaces suturing and stapling—are highlighted in this slideshow.

Dozens of groundbreaking products and technologies were selected in 11 categories by a distinguished panel of jurors, all of which are profiled by sister publication MD+DI. A ceremony at the MD&M East conference and exposition in New York City on June 11, 2014, will reveal the recipients of gold, silver, and bronze awards in each of the categories as well as the best-in-show product.

For now, though, let's take a closer look at the materials that helped to make some of these breakthrough products possible.

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— Norbert Sparrow