The advancements in embedded technology back medical device innovations.
FREMONT, CA: The medical device innovations have primarily been influenced by embedded systems. Memory devices, sensors, batteries, microcontrollers, and more are contributing to wired as well as wireless medical monitoring, imaging, and surgery purposes. The growth in the demand for better medical equipment is leading to innovations in embedded technology. The proliferation of sensor-embedded devices such as wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers demand higher accuracy, better security, and more functionality. This enables embedded manufacturers to focus on medical and healthcare applications.
The demand for IoT-based medical devices have also gained momentum and is leading to improved precision across a range of medical applications such as cardiac monitors, imaging devices, respiratory monitors and implantable devices. According to Embedded.com, the proliferation of embedded technology creates new opportunities for medical devices to serve doctors as well as patients by adding connectivity to conventionally offline devices.
The major factor that determines the design consideration for wearable healthcare includes the sensitivity and accuracy of the devices. Further, consumers also expect smaller, more power-efficient, and easy-to-use sensor devices. For instance, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones are constantly replacing traditional electric-condenser microphones in hearing aids. Power management is also a crucial factor when it comes to keeping the sensor devices up and running. Power management in a medical device covers not only external power supplies and batteries but also integrates semiconductor systems that assist in managing energy in any application, ranging from portable and implantable devices to high-power imaging systems.
Medical devices include an array of products, from fitness trackers to ultrasound equipment, and each application has varied requirements. However, all the devices will look for microprocessors (MPUs) and microcontrollers (MCUs) that can deliver performance in the areas of reliability, security, execution, power saving, and connectivity. Such ultra-low-power processors will determine the future of medical advancements and offer higher-quality sensor devices in the long run.
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