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Welcome to The Wave Engineering Newsletter, your weekly guide to the cutting edge of engineering. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an eager student, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to inform, inspire, and connect.

More than just a newsletter, we tell the human stories behind the tech—spotlighting the innovators, dreamers, and changemakers shaping our world. Backed by insights from Pipeline Design & Engineering and the Being an Engineer Podcast, we deliver the latest advancements, impactful collaborations, and stories that redefine what’s possible.

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How is the traditional divide between engineering and medicine disappearing, and what innovations emerge from this convergence?

In an era where technology and medicine increasingly intersect, engineers are quietly reshaping healthcare from multiple angles. From autonomous surgical robots that promise to standardize care regardless of hospital location, to embedded engineering teams crafting patient-specific implants within medical institutions, to entrepreneurial engineers building specialized testing equipment for medical devices—the boundaries between engineering disciplines and healthcare delivery are blurring. This newsletter explores three distinct perspectives on this evolution: how cutting-edge automation is transforming surgical precision, how embedded engineering teams are revolutionizing medical manufacturing, and how career disruption can lead engineers to find their true calling in healthcare innovation. Together, these stories reveal a common thread: the most powerful medical advancements often emerge at the intersection of engineering ingenuity, medical necessity, and human adaptability.

Johns Hopkins University researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in surgical robotics with their Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR). Led by Dr. Axel Krieger, the team recently demonstrated the first autonomous keyhole surgery, successfully performing intestinal anastomosis (reconnection of tubular structures) with minimal human intervention.

Unlike conventional surgical robots that simply extend a surgeon's capabilities, the STAR robot operates with "supervised autonomy" – completing 83% of the procedure independently while allowing surgeons to intervene when necessary. The system combines custom 3D vision technology, infrared markers, and sophisticated planning algorithms to achieve greater consistency and fewer errors than both manual surgery and current robotic systems.

"The idea is that you can democratize access to the best results for everybody," explains Dr. Krieger. "It doesn't matter which hospital you go to, who your operating surgeon is, how many thousands of procedures that surgeon has done, or if they're brand new from medical school."

While still in preclinical trials and several years away from human studies, the STAR robot represents a promising step toward standardizing surgical outcomes across different hospitals and surgical teams. Rather than replacing surgeons, this technology aims to complement their expertise while potentially extending surgical capabilities to settings where specialized surgeons aren't available.

Listen to the full interview here.

Mayo Clinic's journey with 3D printing began in 2006 with a life-saving application: creating anatomical models for separating conjoined twins who shared a liver. This pivotal case—where surgeons used the models to plan exactly where to cut, leading to a successful outcome that endures today—launched the institution's expanding investment in additive manufacturing technology.

Sean McEligot, Director of the Additive Manufacturing Facility at Mayo Clinic's Division of Engineering, explains that their 3D printing capabilities now span multiple technologies, including fused filament fabrication, Multi Jet Fusion for polymers, stereolithography, and most notably, selective laser melting for implant-grade titanium. This impressive arsenal supports two distinct applications: the Anatomical Modeling Unit creates surgical planning models from patient imaging data, while the Division of Engineering develops one-of-a-kind medical devices and laboratory instruments.

The next frontier? Patient-specific implants. Mayo Clinic is leveraging its metal printing capabilities to create custom mandible plates for tumor patients, aiming to compress the entire process—from imaging to implant design, printing, and sterilization—into just five days. This rapid turnaround aligns with Mayo's "destination medical center" model, where patients arrive Monday and undergo surgery by Friday.

What makes this approach particularly powerful is the integration of engineers within the medical institution. Unlike commercial medical device engineers who struggle to access clinical environments, Mayo's engineering team can observe surgeries directly and collaborate closely with physicians who actively seek their expertise. This embedded model accelerates innovation and ensures solutions address real clinical needs—creating a paradigm where engineering and medicine advance together, one precisely crafted device at a time.

Want to learn more? Read our full article to discover how Mayo Clinic developed an automated fruit fly counter that revolutionized neural research, and get McEligot's advice for engineers aspiring to enter the medical device field here.

When engineer Aaron Moncur lost his job during the 2008 recession, he had no idea it would become "one of the best things" to happen in his career. What began as freelance work to pay the bills evolved into Pipeline Design and Engineering, a specialized firm creating test fixtures for medical device companies.

Initially questioning whether he even enjoyed engineering anymore, Moncur discovered it wasn't the profession he'd grown tired of, but his role within it. "Instead of being a cog in the machine, I could be the entire machine," he explains of his transition to freelancing. This realization not only rekindled his passion for engineering but revealed an unexpected enthusiasm for business ownership.

Today, Pipeline employs nine people and has built lasting partnerships with major companies by emphasizing quality, systems, and what Moncur calls "kindergarten skills" – the interpersonal abilities that make someone pleasant to work with regardless of technical prowess. His approach to hiring balances technical capabilities with these fundamental social skills, reflecting his core value: "We treat our customers well; we treat our team members better."

Moncur's journey offers a refreshing counterpoint to typical startup narratives, demonstrating how career disruption can become a catalyst for professional evolution when we're willing to reimagine our relationship with our work.

Read the full article to discover Moncur's insights on building engineering systems, the surprising importance of aesthetics in test fixture design, and the book he recommends to all aspiring entrepreneurs.

Engineering is about solving, innovating, and connecting ideas to make a difference. Progress is a collective effort and your curiosity is what drives it forward. Thank you for exploring the dynamic world of engineering with all of us at Pipeline Design & Engineering and The Wave.

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“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” - Steve Jobs

In collaboration and creativity,
Brad Hirayama
Blueprinting tomorrow, today