Medical hardware needs to fulfil a number of important functions, and one of the best ways of completing the entity resolution is by using a pairwise comparison. Pairwise comparison is an approach specifically for entity resolution, and can be used to understand similarity scores for pre-defined functions using basic formulas.
Pairwise comparison utilizes probabilistic relations connected to the essential categories of hardware selection and design, which can be identified as follows:
Availability and sustainability of the hardware
As with the selection of any material in development, questions of availability, sustainability and practicality must be addressed. And these must be treated as long-term issues in order to produce a solution which does not escalate in price soon after it hits the market.
Sustainability is an ever-increasing concern, not just in the design and manufacture of a product, but more importantly in its disposal. Stricter standards are forever coming into force, and this has impacted upon such decision making as the selection of lower-density materials, the decreased usage if fillers, and other practical considerations. The usage of water in the manufacturing process has also become a major factor for producers to think about. And then of course is the hot topic of using recyclable materials.
Design durability is a separate point but is no less important, especially in terms of sustainability, where throwaway options are becoming increasingly frowned upon as detrimental to the environment.
Cost
A vital consideration, but the unit cost will be ultimately linked to other considerations of availability, so should be considered in the long-term rather than in an isolated moment.
Performance
Performance is the key factor, in conjunction will all of the other considerations, and in intrinsically linked to the selection of hardware. Performance consideration will include, but are not limited to, mechanics, strength and durability, flexibility, temperature and other extreme-environmental resistance, tolerance to cleaners, and then endurance. An entity resolution approach works well here as we are dealing with probability scenarios, and thus a pairwise comparison will provide detailed solutions before development begins.
Compliance with regulatory standards
Increasingly stringent standards ensure the need for more efficient design and manufacturing processes, as well as the ticking of all sustainability boxes, as previously discussed.
Biocompatibility
Biocompatibility considers the ultimate purpose of a device, and how it interacts with the biology of the patient. For these reasons, all aspects of the hardware, from its individual components to its production processes and design are relevant. The objective is suitable biocompatibility.
“The nature of medical hardware selection and design means that the question of biocompatibility can really only be answered once the product has been completed and it in situ with a patient, but the risk at this stage is too great to gamble upon. What if biocompatibility fails at this juncture? That is too costly too even consider, so is why entity resolution becomes the solution. And how do we approach this challenge of entity resolution? A pairwise comparison,” says Malcolm Anderson, a science writer at Study demic and Oxessays.
Each individual component of the hardware should be exposed to biocompatibility assessment, and full details of what this includes is laid out in ISO 10993-1:2009.
“Yet determination of the range of tests to be implemented ultimately boils down to consideration of the intended use of the device, how it will come into contact with the patient, how long the patient will be exposed to the device and components, and the conditions under which the device will operate. Of course, this is not a simple process and can be complex and time-consuming, which is why the development process can be lengthy and delays can become possible,” points out Belinda Matherson, a physics blogger at Eliteassignmenthelp and Revieweal.
Conclusion
A pairwise comparison approach can produce accurate probability models for the success of medical devices, particularly in the selection of hardware which has an impact on considerations such as aesthetics, cost efficiency, durability, sustainability and then of course performance. Yet the number of options presents one of the biggest challenges in this regards, so streamlined selection processes are becoming increasingly favored. Selection of efficient and respected manufacturing partners, and the establishment of a solid supply chain are also fundamental aspects of the process.
Molly Crockett is a successful marketing writer for Essay editing and Big Assignments, where she shares her unique lifestyle tips and personal development advice with her audience. In her spare time, Molly enjoys teaching writing skills to young people at Best Australian Writers blog.