In recent years, the medical device manufacturing sector has witnessed rapid evolution, fuelled by advances in materials science, digital health, and engineering innovation. Yet, despite all this progress, one critical dimension has often been overlooked: time.
The newly launched 4D Health Tech Initiative, spearheaded by researchers at the University of Birmingham and Imperial College London, seeks to change that.
Backed by £1.2 million in funding from UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the initiative introduces a new approach to medical device design, one that takes into account how devices interact with the body over time.
In doing so, it promises to reshape how medical manufacturers develop, prototype and deliver devices to meet the dynamic needs of patients across diverse populations.
At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, where we manufacture complex medical components and orthopaedic devices with ISO 13485-certified precision, we see the 4D Health Tech Initiative as a major step forward, not just for innovation’s sake, but for patient care and long-term device performance.
What Is 4D Health Tech?
At its core, 4D Health Tech moves beyond static product development. Traditional medical devices are designed in 3D, focusing on shape, fit, and material interaction at a single moment in time.
But the human body is not static. It grows, moves, heals, and degenerates.
This initiative proposes the development of 4D medical devices: implants, instruments and therapeutic technologies that adapt, evolve or degrade predictably over time to support healing and optimise long-term outcomes.
Incorporating adaptive design, predictable biodegradability, and automated manufacturing processes, 4D Health Tech aims to create smarter, more sustainable and more effective medical technologies. From orthopaedic implants that dissolve after use, to patient-specific devices that account for individual healing trajectories, the scope for innovation is vast.
Bridging research and industry
The initiative’s NetworkPlus model brings together researchers, clinicians, manufacturers, and policymakers. This collaboration will support the creation of new testbeds and pre-clinical evaluation strategies that are more representative of diverse patient groups. It also promotes the development of sustainable materials and encourages circular economy thinking in device manufacturing.
For medical device manufacturers like us at Kirkstall, these developments open doors to entirely new ways of thinking about how products are designed, prototyped, validated, and ultimately delivered to market. Importantly, it also brings manufacturing into the conversation much earlier, allowing for more efficient design-for-manufacture workflows that save time and reduce cost.
Why the Fourth Dimension matters
Medical devices often fail not because of design flaws, but because they do not adapt well to the changing conditions of the body. For example, an implant designed for initial stability may cause complications months or years down the line due to wear, bone regrowth, or patient-specific healing factors. 4D devices can mitigate these risks by integrating temporal change into their functionality.
As explained by Dr. Sophie Cox, Associate Professor in Healthcare Technologies at Birmingham University, “Medical devices designed to replace or repair our bodies typically neglect the dimension of time, a reality that compromises their function and lifespan.” This initiative, she says, will create “a new culture of 4D Health Tech embedding innovative thinking, patient perspective and diversity.”
Implications for manufacturers
For precision engineering firms working in medtech, 4D design introduces exciting possibilities, and challenges. It means investing in:
- Advanced prototyping: Devices that change over time require testing in new and more rigorous ways. Simulation and digital twin technologies may play a bigger role.
- Material innovation: Manufacturers will need to work with materials that are not only biocompatible but also biodegradable or bioresponsive.
- Cross-sector collaboration: Partnerships with clinicians and researchers will become essential to understand how patient biology intersects with device design.
At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, these challenges align with our ongoing investment in talent, technology, and collaborative thinking. We’re already engaging in prototyping strategies that bring surgeons and researchers into the early stages of development, ensuring devices are functional not only at the point of implantation, but throughout their lifecycle.
Where the industry Is heading
According to GlobalData, the 3D printing market for medical devices is expected to hit $4 billion by 2026. But as 4D printing and smart materials gain traction, we’re likely to see even faster growth in applications where adaptability and personalisation are key.
Companies like Pixee Medical, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, and Globus Medical are already pioneering adaptive orthopaedic solutions. These innovations will only accelerate as initiatives like 4D Health Tech generate new research, funding, and talent pipelines.
The EPSRC’s Tomorrow’s Engineering Research Challenges whitepaper, which underpins the funding strategy, also highlights the importance of remanufacturing, reuse, and sustainability, further reinforcing the alignment between 4D innovation and the circular economy.
Why it matters to us
At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, we understand that a medical device is never just a product. It’s a partnership with clinicians. A promise to patients. And increasingly, a collaboration with researchers exploring what’s next.
The 4D Health Tech Initiative reflects many of the values we hold dear: collaboration, innovation, and a focus on outcomes. It’s also a timely reminder that the best medical technology is not only designed to work, it’s designed to evolve.
As we continue to manufacture tools, implants and instruments that support surgical precision and patient safety, we’re inspired by the possibilities 4D thinking introduces. The future of medical device manufacturing may not be fully here yet, but it’s moving faster than ever.
And we’re ready to meet it.