By Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief

Developing medical devices is a complex and exciting process, one that depends on creativity, collaboration, and continuous refinement. Each design iteration brings new insights that move a concept closer to success. To keep projects moving efficiently, designers often look for new technologies and components that can help them find the perfect fit for their application.

To make this easier, many suppliers provide sample parts that allow developers to explore different options firsthand. But when samples are collected—such as at trade shows—it can sometimes be tricky to keep track of part details or specifications, which may slow down the next step in sourcing the right component.

Recognizing this, Qosina created a simple, innovative solution to help engineers organize and order physical samples more efficiently during product development. In the following Q&A, Ashley Turrell, the company’s Director of Marketing, shares how this new approach supports designers in bringing their ideas to life faster—and how Qosina continues to make it easier for innovators to turn concepts into finished products.

Sean Fenske: What trends are currently driving medical device design that impact Qosina offerings?

Ashley Turrell: A lot of what people call “trends” are really just the realities of the industry now. The number one pressure point for our customers is speed. Companies are expected to move faster from concept to market, and at the same time, solve increasingly complicated challenges as devices continue to get smaller and more complex.

That’s where Qosina comes in, building speed into the more critical points: inventory on hand, downloadable CAD files, and regulatory documentation at the ready. We keep a huge inventory of components ready to ship so engineers don’t lose time waiting on parts to arrive. We make CAD models available so they can plug real components straight into their designs; this is a critical advantage for engineers, as they don’t need to waste time recreating the wheel. Even better, we back it all up with on-demand, downloadable product and regulatory documentation. For engineers under pressure to meet compliance requirements, that’s just as important as the part itself—especially since gathering and organizing this kind of documentation can take weeks if you have to do it on your own.

Fenske: Why is it important for Qosina to offer samples to customers? Are these used in prototypes?

Turrell: Imagine you are building something for the very first time, and you aren’t sure which one of a handful of products is going to work for you. But when you go to try and purchase these parts, you are told that you need to purchase 100s or 1,000s of each, just to test out. It’s maddening, it’s a waste of resources, and it doesn’t serve your true needs. That’s why Qosina offers samples—to connect engineers with the components they need, without high minimum order quantities, long lead times, or unnecessary hoops to jump through.

Samples are the bridge between an idea and a validated design. We see engineers using them at every stage of development: from very early concept work, where they’re just testing a connection or material, to later rounds of prototyping, where they’re comparing multiple variations side by side.

The real value of a physical sample is that it shows you things CAD can’t always catch, like how a part seals under pressure, how it behaves in a simulated-use environment, and how it feels to assemble. That hands-on validation saves time and money by surfacing issues early. In addition, since our samples come with product and regulatory documentation, customers also know they’re choosing parts that fit both technically and from a compliance perspective.

Fenske: You mentioned that you provide CAD versions of your parts that can be incorporated into digital designs? Why is this important?

Turrell: That’s correct. Most of our catalog is available as 3D CAD files. Engineers can drop them right into their assemblies and start testing how parts interact before they’ve even ordered a single sample.

Again, it comes down to speed. This isn’t just about visualization; it’s about making better decisions faster. With CAD files, teams can spot clearance or tolerance issues early, compare different options digitally, and then order the most promising samples to test on the bench. Because our models tie directly to real part numbers and documentation, it also makes life easier for quality and procurement teams. What we see more and more is customers starting digitally, then moving to samples once they’ve narrowed the field. It’s a faster, smarter workflow.

Fenske: I understand Qosina even has a vending machine for on-site samples at trade shows and similar events. What’s the reasoning behind this development?

Turrell: The vending machine came out of a simple question: How do we give people parts right when they need them? In medical device design, waiting even a few days for samples can slow down prototyping. We wanted a way for engineers to get components instantly without the usual back-and-forth of requests and shipments. These are showing up right now at tradeshows, but you will begin to see these at incubators and Qosina customer locations for their engineers to access any time.

Instead of static displays or bins, the vending machine makes the experience interactive and more practical. Engineers can grab what they need right away, see critical product information, and follow a QR code to get access to more detailed specifications and resources on that component. Since each transaction is tracked, and each product is in a resealable labeled package, this helps to eliminate the “Which product is this?” or “Where did I put that one valve?” questions that often happen in the heat of development.

It’s not just about rethinking how sampling works; it’s about opening up additional opportunities for engagement, inventory management, and product reliability.

Fenske: What functions does the vending machine offer that couldn’t be offered by having samples in containers at an event?

Turrell: It’s really about turning something passive into something active. We have always offered samples at our events, which is why our booths are known as “The Candy Store for Engineers.” However, previously, when customers took samples, they were in unlabeled packaging. That means by the time a customer gets back to their labs a few days later, they risk having no idea which component or product number they took. We regularly receive emails from customers with just a picture of a part and a question: “Hey, do you know what part number this is?”

Now, instead of loose parts, everything is organized, branded, and easy to access, which reflects the level of precision Qosina represents. In addition, beyond trade shows, the vending machine can be set up in customer labs or R&D sites, so teams have ongoing access without someone needing to manage distribution. It’s a smarter, more scalable way to keep parts in engineers’ hands.

Fenske: When requesting samples for a product design, what are your best practice suggestions based on what seems to work well for customers?

Turrell: The biggest mistakes we see are waiting too long and not asking for help. Samples should be an early part of the process, not something you tack on at the end. When engineers request samples early, they have time to test, adjust, and work out issues before costs become a more significant concern.

It also helps to think broadly. Requesting variations—different sizes, materials, or configurations—often leads to discoveries that wouldn’t come up if you just picked a single part. That’s especially true for medical device work, where slight differences in flexibility or dimension can make a big impact. We encourage customers to reach out to us directly, as our technical support team can suggest multiple component options, substitutions, and variations.

Most of our customers now use a hybrid approach; they start with CAD files to narrow the field and then order physical samples for the finalists. Further, when they loop in our technical support team, we can suggest alternatives and options, which also saves them time. The teams that follow this kind of early, exploratory, hybrid process usually have smoother design cycles and far fewer surprises later.

Fenske: Do you have any additional comments you’d like to share based on any of the topics we discussed or something you’d like to tell medical device manufacturers?

Turrell: The way we see it, medical device companies are under more pressure than ever before. They have to innovate faster, manage more complex designs, and keep up with tougher regulatory requirements. In that kind of environment, access to components alone isn’t enough—you need a partner who helps remove obstacles.

That’s the role Qosina wants to play. We back up one of the largest inventories of ready-to-ship parts with CAD models, documentation, and innovations like sample vending machines. All of it is about giving engineers and sourcing teams easier, faster, and more confident access to the parts they need.

At the end of the day, our mission is pretty simple: make it easier for medical device manufacturers to design, test, and refine so they can get safe, effective products to patients faster.

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