At Medical Murray, we are deeply committed to the development of pediatric medical devices and the life-changing impact they can have on young patients. Manufacturing pediatric devices presents both technical and emotional challenges, but the reward of contributing to children’s healthcare is immeasurable. Many companies are adopting a “pediatric first” strategy, which focuses on creating pediatric devices before adapting them for adult use. This approach is growing in popularity due to several key advantages unique to pediatric device development.
The Unique Medical Device Needs of Pediatric Patients
Pediatric patients present distinct challenges in medical device development. Unlike adults, children’s bodies are growing and changing, so devices designed for them must consider growth as one of the design factors. Simply stated, children are not adults, and the design input is more than just making devices smaller.
For example, congenital heart defects like Tetralogy of Fallot require valve interventions at different stages of the child’s growth. Therefore, a device designed for this population is ideally small enough for tiny bodies and also adaptable to growth.
From catheters to vascular implants like stents or flow restrictors, miniaturization is also one of the key factors in pediatric devices.
Materials and designs suitable for adult devices often need to be re-engineered to function more effectively in smaller, more delicate pediatric structures.
Designing for Life-Changing Outcomes
The goal of pediatric medical devices is to improve life-long outcomes for children. Across the medical device industry, innovations continue to emerge that significantly impact pediatric care. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) and atrial septal defect (ASD) repairs often involve occlusion devices that help close openings in the heart, and these devices need to be flexible enough to work without causing strain on a child’s developing body.
In the neurological space, devices like pediatric flow diverters are used to treat brain aneurysms and vascular malformations. These devices must be small but durable, navigating the narrow vessels of a child’s brain while providing the necessary strength to divert blood flow safely.
Cardiac devices and implants that are size-adjustable to meet the growth needs of children are another major innovation.
Feeding tubes and gastrointestinal stents also require unique design considerations to ensure comfort and long-term reliability in small, sensitive digestive systems.
Why “Pediatric First” Makes Sense for Medical Device Manufacturing
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages the development of pediatric medical devices and recognizes the unique challenges involved. The evaluation requirements may differ due to the uniqueness of the patient population, however safety and efficacy remain paramount in all pediatric device development.
The strong collaboration within the pediatric medtech community also plays a significant role. There is a passionate network of innovators, clinicians, and companies all working together to improve pediatric care. Projects are often supported by grants and foundations, making it easier to secure funding while maintaining equity. This supportive ecosystem makes pediatric device development both feasible and deeply fulfilling.
The Rewarding Nature of Pediatric Medical Device Development
Developing pediatric devices is both challenging and deeply rewarding. At Medical Murray, we’re proud to contribute to these efforts, working alongside teams to design and manufacture solutions that improve children’s health outcomes. Whether it’s a stent for life-saving surgery, a heart valve that size adjust with growth of the patient, or a catheter that delivers precise interventions in small vessels, these devices offer hope and an improved quality of life for young patients and their families.
The complexity of this work is matched by its immense impact. Seeing positive outcomes for children drives us to continue innovating in pediatric device development.
If you’re working on a pediatric device or want to learn more about how we contribute to pediatric innovations, we’d love to explore how we can help bring your project to life. Contact Medical Murray’s team of experts to get started.