This upcoming October, Machine Design and Electronic Design will be hosting the 2nd Medical Device Technology Exchange (MDTX) in San Diego. The MDTX conference will bring together experts on medical devices and the medical engineering industry together to highlight the new technological innovations changing the industry. Our profile series will highlight our expert speakers that will be at MDTX. For more information on attending the event, visit the MDTX site.
K.V. Krishnan, Vice President-Technology at Mindteck
Who are you and what is your background in engineering and in the medical device industry?
My name is Dr. K.V. Krishnan. I hold a doctorate degree in analytical spectroscopy from Annamalai University in India and have over 35 years of experience in academia, R&D, and product engineering. I currently hold the position of vice president-technology at Mindteck, a global technology company which provides product engineering and IT services solutions to top-tier Fortune 1000 companies, start-ups, leading universities, and government entities. I serve as Mindteck’s subject matter expert for the life sciences, analytical instruments, and medical device industries. I’m a member of several national and international associations, including the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Indian Association of Analytical Scientists (IAAS), and I’m a regular speaker on his areas of expertise at industry events and conferences around the world.
What is your conference topic and why is it important for the medical device industry?
Our conference topic is “Medical Device Design & Manufacturing: Challenges in Emerging Markets.” Numerous challenges and opportunities exist for medical device companies operating in the emerging markets. One of the most significant among these is the implementation of data-driven design in the form of IoT-based solutions such as wearables. We believe that Industry 4.0 as well as digital transformation will impact the highly-regulated medical device industry in meaningful ways—from skill management to supply chain integration.
What is the biggest issue when designing a medical device?
The most critical challenges in medical device design include cost containment, interoperability, and ensuring compliance with varying regulatory requirements across multiple geographies.
What new technology, in your opinion, will change medical devices forever?
In my view, digitalization and Industry 4.0 will result in considerable changes in the medical device industry. From remote diagnostic tools and doctorless hospitals, to mobile applications and wearables, technology is transforming the medical device industry and healthcare as we know it today.
What’s the most important thing you can impart to the readers—a teaser, if you will—for what they can expect to hear during your session at the MDTX event?
My presentation will cover multiple aspects of how technological change is impacting medical device design and manufacturing. I will also address the impact of digital transformation on business models and manufacturing processes. Lastly, I’ll share interesting and timely real-life examples of how we are working with clients to respond to these challenges.
Anything else you would like to add about this topic or yourself that readers would be interested to hear?
On the one hand, the industry is focused intently on opportunities in emerging markets and is simultaneously responding to technological shifts in more developed markets. It remains to be seen how the industry will respond to the unique requirements of both markets.
