Karin Nydahl
Laboratorieingenjör
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Biocompatibility testing: How collaboration makes a difference
Ensuring biocompatibility in medical devices is complex and requires careful planning, collaboration, and adaptability. In this interview, Cecilia Wikell from Cochlear shares insights on the challenges of biocompatibility testing and the valuable partnership with RISE that helps navigate hurdles and drive product development forward.
Navigating the complexities of biocompatibility testing
Hello Cecilia! What are the challenges of ensuring biocompatibility in medical devices?
One of the most prominent challenges is the long lead times for testing, which are often overlooked in project planning.
Long lead times can place biocompatibility on a critical timeline, sometimes leading projects to seek shortcuts by using materials perceived as "equivalent" to the final product. When such decisions are made without our knowledge, we lose the opportunity to influence the quality of the product that is tested. In those cases, testing may need to be repeated if the tested product was not mature enough.
Importance of collaboration
What was crucial for your decision to collaborate with RISE for the evaluation of your products?
We have utilised a range of services, including chemical analysis, toxicological risk assessment, cytotoxicity, skin irritation, and skin sensitisation.
Proximity to RISE played a critical role in our choice, but the willingness to collaborate was also significant. The partnership feels more like a collaboration than a traditional service purchase, fostering a sense of shared commitment to achieving positive results.
Additionally, being able to communicate in Swedish is another important advantage.
Collaboration with RISE feels more like a partnership, fostering a shared commitment to achieving positive results.
Impact of collaboration on product development
How has collaboration with RISE affected the development work and biocompatibility evaluation of your products?
The collaboration with RISE has proven valuable, especially when results have deviated from our expectations. In these situations, RISE has helped us identify the next steps and provided valuable insights to overcome challenges and drive development forward.
Get in touch
Ensuring biocompatibility in medical devices is a complex challenge that requires meticulous planning, effective collaboration, and adaptability. The partnership between Cochlear and RISE highlights the importance of working together to overcome hurdles and drive innovation. Get in touch with us, and let's get your medical devices ready for the market.
Published: 2025-02-24
