Medical device startups must stay on top of the latest MedTech development trends to compete and succeed. Unfortunately, developing and producing a commercially viable medical device takes longer than medical software. As a result, medical device startups need to regularly review development trends and incorporate them as much as possible to keep up with the latest consumer demands and expectations.
This post will explore the latest MedTech trends affecting product design and development for medical device startups. Plus, we’ll review some of the most promising medical device startups to give you an idea of what is currently trending with consumers and investors.
Top Medical Device Development Trends
Medical devices must be paired with quality software to deliver the results many medical device startups seek. Often, this comes in the form of a paired mobile application, but it could also be a web portal, the operating system of a connected device, etc. Currently, the top trends driving medical device development are:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Virtual Reality
- Biometric wearables
- 5G
- Cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is trending in many different industries, but it has profoundly impacted MedTech. AI and Machine Learning algorithms can be included in almost any application. These algorithms are particularly useful when you are collecting a lot of data and need to analyze it quickly, which is often the case with medical devices.
AI can be used for more than data analysis, however. Your medical device startup can also employ AI to actively monitor user health status, provide virtual health assistance, submit and analyze lab work, review diagnostics and test results, identify anomalies and potential health concerns, and create a personalized User Experience for your users.
AI is being used every day by dermatologists and radiologists to assist with detecting and diagnosing cancerous and precancerous changes in the human body. The capabilities of AI are still being developed, but now is the time to include AI features in your medical device offering.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is typically associated with gaming and EdTech, but it can be very effectively paired with medical devices. For example, you can include VR features in your medical device to facilitate medical training, provide patient treatment, improve disease awareness, and more.
VR is a Hitech feature that can help your medical device stand out from the competition. Users love Virtual Reality features because this technology is still new and novel. However, while VR is still new to users, this technology has significantly improved over the past few years and is far more capable than it once was.
It is primarily used for medical training, but innovative medical device startups can find exciting ways to incorporate this technology into their medical devices.
Biometric Wearables
The Apple Watch not only created consumer demand for health tracking but illustrated how popular a wearable medical device could be with consumers of all ages. The healthcare industry has benefited greatly from the adoption of wearable medical technology. If your startup is working on a medical device, you would be wise to follow the trend pioneered by the Apple Watch.
Consumers want wearable technology that tracks their biometrics and connects with various MedTech apps. Recent medical device products like the Oura ring demonstrate how popular this trend still is with consumers.
5G
5G technologies are commonly associated with mobile phones, but 5G networks can greatly improve real-time data transfers. Better, quicker, more reliable communication is vital for fast and accurate diagnosis. 5G-enabled medical devices are two to five times faster than those based on 4G or wi-fi.
5G networking is the future of telecommunications. If your startup builds a medical device, you must focus on 5G. You can include other capabilities like Bluetooth and wi-fi, but your medical device should be 5G-enabled.
Cyber Security
Cyber attacks are on the rise everywhere. However, medical devices and MedTech applications must be especially careful since they handle sensitive data. HIPAA calls for a decent level of security, but cyber attackers are always getting more effective. Therefore, medical device startups must avoid cyber attacks and build robust defense protocols.
The reputational damage of a significant security breach can devastate your medical device startup as it is trying to gain a foothold in the industry. One cyber security trend medical device startups have employed is strengthening authentication protocols. There are several good ways to combat cyber attacks, but the best defense starts with vigilance and internal training.
A Few Promising Medical Device Startups
There are several great medical device startups out there. We have picked a few of the ones we find the most innovative to highlight the various possibilities open to your startup.
TytoCare
TytoCare is an innovative medical device startup that wants to help users avoid the waiting room and get the care they need fast. The TytoCare device is used to collect data on a user’s current symptoms. Based on the symptoms recorded by the device, it performs the necessary medical exams and forwards the results to the user’s primary care physician. Upon review of these results, the primary care physician can prescribe medication or recommend a course of treatment.
LightPoint Medical
LightPoint has created a medical device that allows surgeons to detect cancerous tissues during surgery. The device is designed to provide more accurate cancerous tissue detection in tight, small spaces to help surgeons remove all of the affected tissue, which ultimately leads to better health results for patients. The LightPoint device can be moved in a complete sphere of motion, so no tissue is missed.
Synchron
Synchron is building a brain-computer interface that will restore mobility to patients with paralysis. Synchron promises that its device will be implanted without the need for open brain surgery. In addition, this medical device will help paralyzed patients improve their ability to communicate and perform daily tasks.
Final Thoughts
MedTech is always improving and innovating. However, if you are a medical device startup, you need to carefully consider the latest development trends and how they can benefit your product. If you need help determining which development path is the most beneficial for your startup, reach out to an app development partner. Medical device startups need to be smart about the decisions they make if they want to succeed.
