3 Medical Device Industry Trends to Watch

From the global semiconductor shortage to the uptake of artificial intelligence, we look at the medical device industry trends to watch.

In the last few decades, everybody has experienced rapid advancements and revolutions in technology. Think about it; twenty years ago, you had to get off the Internet to use your phone. Now, you have the Internet on your phone.

As technology advances in society, several industries continue to grow at an unbelievable pace. One such industry is the medical field.

If you've ever been to a hospital, or even a regular check-up with a doctor, you've seen how much this industry relies on technology. Now, several medical device industry trends show that the field is developing new solutions and tools.

So, what are some of these trends? If you're wondering about these developments, you've come to the right place! We'll examine the top three tools and devices that make the medical field more efficient below.

1. Wearable Technology Medical Device Industry Trends

For years now, people have walked around with Fitbit watches. In more recent times, the development of smartwatches from companies like Apple and Samsung has also grown more common.

Because of how widespread these devices are, wearable medical tech may not seem like a new development. However, smartwatches and Fitbits cannot match the quality of this wearable technology.

A Fitbit may be able to count your steps, but it doesn't provide much information beyond this point. However, there's a growing movement of people who want to monitor their own health.

As technology develops, more people have become comfortable with using mobile devices to monitor their health data. They enjoy apps that monitor their heart rate and oxygen consumption during exercise.

As it turns out, many people seem to want more personalized options to suit their habits. This desire has spurred health-tech businesses to create new products that meet these needs. One of the main results of this process is wearable biosensors.

These biosensors have gained significant clinical interest. This intrigue comes from their ability to offer continuous, real-time physiological data without invasive methods.

Thanks to this ability, doctors and medical researchers have a consistent stream of medical data to examine at their patients' requests. As a result, they can better ascertain their patients' health and physical needs.

These biosensors can then serve as diagnostic devices. Their information can help doctors diagnose conditions and aid in early prevention.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Medical Function

Another technological development that's changed the landscape is artificial intelligence. Like wearable technology, this technology is not exactly "new." Apple's Siri, one of the most well-known forms of AI, first premiered in October 2011. 

However, the medical field has discovered new ways to apply AI technology in its industry. Increasingly, medical experts can use AI to diagnose conditions and diseases. It also helps them to monitor data trends and increase laboratory efficiency.

Doctors can also use artificial intelligence to predict the likelihood of particular outcomes in patients. Of course, experts can also use this technology to conduct medical research for new treatments.

The FDA demonstrates the use of these developments most clearly. Since 2015, the executive agency authorized over 100 devices that utilize AI. In fact, a few of these devices helped to screen COVID-19 patients.

However, AI has some flaws in its system. As things stand, AI can have high levels of bias in its analysis. Sometimes their datasets remain incomplete or unrepresentative.

If this biased data becomes a crucial feature of technological development, it can lead to inefficient technology. Fortunately, doctors often know how to strike the balance between artificial and human intelligence.

All of this indicates that, although AI currently has tremendous value, it still has room to grow. As developers continue to improve AI systems, these systems can continue to advance medical technology.

3. Telemedicine and Telehealth Options

As we've mentioned earlier in this article, there is a growing movement of people who want to take control of their health. Telemedicine and telehealth sources can help them do so.

 Telemedicine

Telemedicine, however, provides remote clinical services. These help your healthcare become more accessible and affordable.

Telemedicine, in particular, has seen substantive growth in the past few years. One way this occurs is through interactive medicine.

Interactive medicine is a way of referring to real-time, online discussions between doctors and patients. Typically, this occurs through patient portals.

Patient portals have several features that benefit their users. They provide quick access to lab results, medical records, appointment schedules, and instant-messaging or video-calling features to talk with a physician.

The best part of patient portals is that they maintain HIPAA compliance. You gain access to immense convenience without compromising your privacy.

Another option in telemedicine is remote patient monitoring. With this technology, healthcare providers can collect health and medical data from patients.

From there, they can send that information electronically to other providers. This ability allows doctors to get the opinion of other physicians, giving you more expertise in your treatments and diagnoses.

Telehealth

Telehealth covers remote healthcare services, such as non-clinical services, administrative meetings, and other options. Telehealth has several benefits for both doctors and patients.

First, it saves the doctor's office and the patient time. Patients no longer have to spend hours on the phone with receptionists to schedule appointments. Patients can also avoid taking the time to drive to the doctor's office.

Find the Best Way to Benefit from These Systems

If you work in the medical industry, there are several ways you can benefit from medical device industry trends. All you have to do is find the technology that can best help your office.

If you need help making this decision, consider meeting with a medical consultant! We at Trinity M Consulting offer aid in regulating affairs, as well as medical writing and project management services. Contact us today to learn more!