Eric Larson
Eric R. Larson is a mechanical engineer with over 30 years' experience in plastics. He has helped develop products ranging from boogie boards, water basketball games and SCUBA diving equipment to disposable lighters, cell phones and handheld medical devices. Eric is owner of Art of Mass Production (AMP), an engineering consulting company based in San Diego, CA. AMP provides services to manufacturing companies in the consumer electronics, wireless, and medical device industries. Eric is also moderator of the blog site plasticsguy.com, where he writes about plastics technology and its effect on people and the planet.
ARTICLES BY ERIC LARSON
Medtech Material Selection For Performance And Feel
When designing a medical device, material selection can be difficult, especially with thousands of plastic material options available. While material properties, environmental effects, regulatory requirements, and cost almost always are considered, "feel" is often overlooked – despite its importance to user and patient satisfaction, as well as market success.
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Medical Plastics: Material Selection Based On Feel
From prioritizing material properties to establishing desired values for each property, selecting plastic materials based on feel is a complicated undertaking. To elicit the most desirable user response from the device, it can be helpful to consider the what, rather than the how.
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08.28.25 -- The U.K. Now Classifies Ambient Voice Technology As SaMD
08/28/25 Med Device Online Newsletter
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08.26.25 -- The 2025 FDA Enforcement Wake-Up Call
08/26/25 Med Device Online Newsletter
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Emerging Markets Are Pioneering Hybrid Clinical Trial Models For Medtech Products
This article shares insights into how Latin America, southeast Asia, and Africa are pioneering hybrid clinical trial models for medtech products.
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More Than Meets The Eye - PFAs In Medical Devices And The Suppy Chain
Explore PFAs use in medical devices, regulatory challenges, supply chain risks, testing strategies, and the critical need for manufacturers to proactively manage compliance and safety.
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08.24.25 -- Latin America Is Becoming The Testing Ground For AI-Enabled Medical Device Clinical Trials
08/24/25 Med Device Online Newsletter
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08.21.25 -- Improving Drug-Device Combination Product Co-Development
08/21/25 Med Device Online Newsletter
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When Devices Outlast Their Defenses: Why Legacy Medical Devices Are A Growing Cybersecurity Threat
Legacy medical devices remain in use despite outdated security. Manufacturers must apply structured, risk-informed strategies to assess, update, mitigate, or document risks while ensuring compliance and patient safety.
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Managing Cyber Risk: A Systematic Approach For Legacy Medical Devices
Legacy medical devices pose growing cybersecurity and regulatory risks. Manufacturers need structured, risk-informed strategies—balancing updates, mitigations, and documentation—to ensure safety, compliance, and trust without reopening full product lifecycles.
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