In this issue

Welcome to the new and improved Medical Technology. While the design may be a little different to our previous editions, rest assured that we are still hard at work to bring you the same high-quality content that you have come to expect from us.

As we begin to look to the year ahead, it's hard to ignore the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the medical device market. There are new rules to adhere to and new challenges to overcome in order to bring concepts to market and keep companies afloat in the coming months. But while this may sound like an intimidating prospect, it opens up the playing field for innovative and exciting developments.

This changing norm can be seen in a recent consensus paper exploring the concept of brain death by neurologic criteria. To find out why the common standard of brain death is being bought into question, we speak to the academics behind the paper to get up-to-date on the best ways to measure the exact arrival time at every patient’s final destination, and how this tricky area can be standardised.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine is also becoming a hot topic for debate. In a growing number of clinical settings AI is being used to inform treatment plans, but should patients be made aware of the fact that technology is being used to determine their care? We find out. Plus, we examine the use of AI in IVF, as researchers test whether the technology can improve the odds of a successful fertilisation.

All this and more in our new, shiny format. I hope you enjoy it.

Stay safe.

Eloise Mclennan, editor