Rigwed is a materials and biocompatibility consultant with over a decade of experience in medical devices and drug delivery systems. As the Extractables and Leachables Program Lead at PSN Labs, Rigwed leads the chemical characterization and material testing programs, interfacing with and supporting clients on material selection and development, screening evaluations and biocompatibility risk mitigation and root sourcing. His team consists of experts who review, characterize and risk assess materials in the resin stage and the final device stage. Rigwed’s passion lies in assessing patient risk, by studying front-end material decisions to gain a vantage point for back-end biocompatibility outcomes. Rigwed’s background embodies the development of innovative materials for surgical implants, catheters, and pharmaceutical therapies. Rigwed holds a Master of Science in Materials Science and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
As medical devices transition from product development into manufacturing, early design decisions around design requirements and production strategy can significantly impact operational efficiency, cost, quality, and time to scale. This presentation describes an engineering driven approach to designing medical devices for process robustness and clinical success by aligning material selection, operational processes, and validation planning from the outset. Emphasis is placed on using design to improve operations through manufacturability, assembly, automation, and lights out readiness. This is articulated through a surgical device case study that includes reshoring considerations, reduced process variability, and improved manufacturing KPIs such as yield, cycle time, labor content, and scrap. Attendees will learn how early, intentional design choices enable faster operational response to material or process changes while minimizing risk during the transition to sustained manufacturing.