Eyedea Medtech Education provides specialised workshops in advanced catheter design and manufacturing. Based in Galway the company’s mission is to equip professionals in the medical device space with the tools and knowledge to enhance expertise and advance innovation. The provision of comprehensive and impactful training in this area necessitates a strong understanding of real-world device behaviour and failure modes.
Traditionally, accessing specialised testing facilities and expertise can be time-consuming and costly, often requiring sending devices off-site and waiting weeks for results. This lag hindered the immediacy and depth of the learning experience for workshop participants. Eyedea founder Damian Carr sought a more agile and insightful approach to integrate practical device analysis into his educational offerings.
Recognising the critical need for hands-on testing and failure analysis expertise, Damian forged a dynamic collaboration with the MET Technology Gateway at Atlantic Technological University (ATU). This partnership has acted as an “on-hand test house,” providing immediate access to diverse testing equipment and expert knowledge, significantly accelerating Eyedea’s ability to understand device performance, troubleshoot issues, and ultimately empower the next generation of MedTech innovators through cutting-edge education.
An Agile and Insightful “Test House”
The Medical and Engineering Technologies (MET) Gateway is a hub for innovation in the West, connecting industry with leading academic expertise at ATU Galway City Campus. Specialising in MedTech, Life Sciences, and Engineering, MET accelerates research and development to deliver cutting-edge, market-ready solutions that drive business growth
The Gateway has become an invaluable extension of Eyedea Medtech Education’s capabilities, offering:
Immediate Access to Diverse Testing Equipment:
From initial tensile testing on catheter shafts in 2020, Damian quickly recognised the breadth of MET’s capabilities, including compression, 3-point bend testing, and tracking – a comprehensive suite readily available on-site. This eliminated the significant time and cost associated with external testing.
Game-Changing Cone Beam CT Imaging:
The availability of large-scale Cone Beam CT imaging proved to be a “game changer” for investigating internal failure modes invisible to external observation. This advanced imaging capability, often exceeding the limitations of in-house digital fluoroscope/x-ray/ultrasound in MedTech companies, has saved Eyedea Medtech Education months of investigative work.
Expert-Led, On-Site Learning:
The MET team’s willingness to educate while conducting tests has been a significant benefit. Damian actively participates in the testing process, gaining invaluable real-time understanding of device behaviour and strategically planning future testing requirements, leading to significant time efficiencies
Above: Philips Azurion 7 M20 Digital Fluoroscope and Cone Beam CT Imaging at MET Gateway
From Innovation to Real-World Impact
The collaboration with MET has profoundly transformed Eyedea Medtech Education’s offerings. Damian Carr, stated that “Unveiling Hidden Issues, the investigation of an intermittent electrical issue within a control unit exemplifies how MET’s expertise overcame a critical technological bottleneck for Eyedea Medtech Education (and indirectly for the end-user company). Cone Beam CT imaging swiftly pinpointed the hidden connection issue across multiple failing units, allowing for targeted process correction. Without this advanced imaging, Damian estimates that he and the team would have spent 2-3 months pursuing incorrect leads”.
Dr. Jamie Meehan, MET Technology Gateway Manager, agreed that “this dynamic collaboration underscores our commitment to empowering MedTech pioneers with the practical resources they need, precisely when they need them, right here in the Atlantic Technological University ecosystem”.
Future Collaboration
Empowering the Next Generation, MET’s consistent support has enabled Damian to tailor his advanced catheter design and manufacturing workshops to include strong exposure to MET’s capabilities. This encourages workshop participants to avail of MET’s services for their own R&D needs, fostering a culture of collaboration and leveraging external expertise within the wider MedTech industry. Working closely with MET has provided Damian with foresight into the future of advanced catheter technologies, allowing him to continuously update his educational offerings with cutting-edge insights.
The partnership between Eyedea Medtech Education and MET Technology Gateway demonstrates the transformative power of agile access to specialised testing facilities and expert knowledge. MET has evolved into a crucial “on-hand test house” for Eyedea, accelerating understanding, enabling effective failure analysis, and ultimately empowering the education of future MedTech innovators. This collaboration not only addresses immediate analytical needs but also fosters a culture of innovation and highlights the invaluable role of technology gateways in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application within the dynamic MedTech landscape.
Contact MET:
Please contact jamie.meehan@atu.ie to explore how MET can accelerate the growth of your business. To find out more about MET Technology Gateway, check out their website or follow them on LinkedIn.