Innovation in the medical devices sector

The global healthcare sector is undergoing significant changes with far reaching implications for innovation in the medical devices sphere.  Historically, the healthcare sector has been dominated by major commercial players working in conjunction with academic research institutes, in-house research and development (R&D) functions or well established manufacturers offering a range of services and products.  The sector is now being heavily influenced by changes in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, the emergence of customer/patient focused delivery models, and new business and research arrangements that are evolving to reflect the technological changes.  Cyber security threats, the potential of disruptive technologies like Internet of things (IoT), and government led initiatives to expand healthcare to more segments of the population are seen as pressures on the sector to evolve quickly.

Robotic and AI are critical drivers shaping the future of the medical devices sector.  Robotics for surgical intervention, keyhole surgery, and automation of some procedures is a crucial part of all aspects of medical devices innovation, from design to manufacture to market entry to end use in a surgical environment. Wheelchair design is currently undergoing a sharp upward curve in innovation, due in no small part to the explosion in advanced robotics capability in the last five to ten years. Disinfecting robotics is a big area for hospitals attempting to maintain high levels of cleanliness and prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).  The origami robot, which is swallowed, repairs internal stomach wounds. Companion robots, designed to be lovable, are forming part of efforts to combat social isolation and depression, to work with traumatised children and to help with assisted living needs.

AI and machine learning offer efficiencies in the manufacture and supply chain management of medical devices.  Additionally, AI is critical to managing the vast amounts of clinical and patient data generated by health services. Some companies are investing heavily in the potential of AI to impact healthcare in dramatic ways. These Moon-shot projects often look at global patterns in chronic disease management or behavioural trends around medical device adoption.

Behavioural psychology tracking the speed at which humans adopt new technologies, new surfaces and new materials in their therapeutic environment has shown that patients are increasingly informed about their own care and the devices available to them. This produces pressure on suppliers to ensure ‘right first time’ usability for devices, hence the growing use of intelligent systems design and intensive data analytics.

Innovation in the medical devices sector is responding to demographical changes (aging population, increase in need for chronic disease management), growth in independent, home and community care, intelligent systems design, the rise of the ‘expert patient’ who is more informed about medical device options,  and economic pressures on costs, supply chain and delivery. It is a very diverse sector, from wellness apps targeting consumers to complex Big Data systems for use in clinical discovery and treatment.  Automated workflow systems, data tracking across services, and apps that provide clinical data on weight, sleep, movement and prescription drug use all churn out digitised data that feeds clinical, purchase for value, and supply chain management decision-making for health care providers.  Big data and social listening shape brand stories, customer engagement, and commercial analyses around product uptake, new launches and potential market gaps. The healthcare sector is attracting interest from companies like Apple and Samsung who are bringing both fresh thinking into the sector and a deep understanding of what technology and innovative thinking can bring to the medical devices space.