New Electronic Component Technologies Enable Innovative Medical Devices

New electronic component technologies with advancedcapabilities and features are enabling the development of smaller medicaldevices, as well as the creation of technologies for faster and more compactimaging systems. Significant new components include low-power parts, real-timedigital signal processors (DSP), FPGA control and fiber optics. Also, advancedtechnologies such as wireless, GPS, Smartphone and machine-to-machine interfaceare having a transformative impact on the medical device industry.

New low-power componentscombined with new circuitry and battery technology enable enhanced developmentof innovative handheld and portable medical devices. These component and systemimprovements extend battery life, reduce product size, lower costs, increasesafety and require fewer battery changes throughout the lifetime of a device.TechEn's customers often use low-power components, such as PIC XLP MCUs or TI MSP 430 parts to achieve this mostimportant capability and to differentiate their products in the marketplace.

The newer microprocessors, DSPchips and FPGA components offer fast (sub-microsecond) and reliable functionsfor acquisition of sensor inputs and processing the results in real time.Components such as Analog Devices' SHARCand Microchip's dsPIC enable powerful analysis of acquired sensor data,offering new understandings to improve patient care.

One example of powerful DSPcomponents is the emerging medical use of non-invasive, portable opticalimaging technology. With the introduction of very fast real-time processing,optical imaging technology has advanced from research into translationalmedical products that address critical patient needs. DSP technology processesdetected optical signals and measures changes in blood hemoglobin duringactivation in tissue (muscle and brain). Such technology is being used to helpassess concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and potentially offersmedical benefits that complement functional magnetic resonant imaging (fMRI).Other optical imaging applications are being developed to advance theunderstanding for such critical areas as mammography and breast cancer screenings,pain and pain management and cochlear implants for young children.

Other recent examples ofmedical-electronics applications that are component-driven include implantabledevices (cardiac rhythm management, neural stimulation, drug delivery, bariatrictherapy); portable devices (diagnostic imaging, oxygen therapy, patientmonitoring); home-use devices (vital-sign monitoring, disease management,rehabilitation, compliance monitoring and medical information terminals); andsecurity (authentication of consumables and data confidentiality), according toMicrochip Technology Inc. The use of accelerometers, vibrators and mc/speakertones also provide new opportunities for ease of use and increased devicefeatures.

New technologies as well ascomponents are being introduced to advance medical products. High-speed, new RFwireless (nRF) modules, robust GPS and M2M will have a transformative impact onthe delivery of medical care. Driven by an aging population, improved wirelessmodules will enable significant advancements to support senior living and homecare with wearable patient monitoring. Devices will collect and send patientdata in real time to their primary care physician, and patients will thenreceive feedback and analysis. The analysis will be based on their personaldata records and a database library of reliable health informatics. Thesereal-time capabilities combined with management of patient data will be used tomore effectively enable patient home care, with improved compliance and outcomes,at lower costs. Two-way, interactive RF wireless data communications willenable faster, lower-cost and more effective treatments and home care.

New low-cost globalpositioning satellite (GPS) technologies with improved resolution will enablefuture devices to provide both incremental evolution as well as transformativeimpacts. As an example, in the future GPS will be used to track location withinchallenging hospital environments for supplies and equipment, and for patientsin assisted living homes.

Machine-to-machine (M2M)capabilities evolve from components and software that will enable medicaldevices to transmit data to collection points that process, display criticalinformation and flag medical anomalies of interest that may be inconsistentwith previous patterns. M2M represents a "disruptive" technology that maychange medical procedures and decision making in hospitals.

The emergence of powerful newembedded platforms and Smartphone applications are providing high expectationsfor delivery of point-of-care monitoring. With increases in processing power,graphics performance and power consumption, medical professionals, caregiversand patients expect enhanced capabilities and ease-of-use from the devices. Thedevelopment of small embedded devices and displays will enable the use of appsor single-purpose medical devices. Notwithstanding regulations, these productsoffer the great potential for lower-cost home care and compliance monitoring.As an example, an innovative product jointly using an iPhone and app solutionlets users self-monitor their blood pressure from the convenience of theirhome, track results, and share the data or graphical results with friends,family and most importantly, their doctor.

There are many challenges thatexist in the development of electronic medical products using new componentsand technologies. Designers of medical electronic devices must make trade-offsfrom competing product requirements including power, size and cost, achievingperformance criteria for noise, linearity, reliability, EMI and governmentregulations. Also, to meet the technical, performance and regulatoryrequirements, medical device design requires understanding of each medicalapplication. Knowledge of regulatory requirements and experience with themedical approvals processes are essential to achieve successful innovation.

New electronic components area vital link in the innovation ofmedical devices. With the increasedmarket demands for worldwide health care solutions, medical devices are focusedon portable, low-power, specialized devices. Next-generation successful medicaldevices will emerge that are based on high-value electronic components thatoffer lower risk for ease of regulatory approval. Longer term, real-time,interactive medical electronic devices will provide a sizable market for evensmarter devices with enhanced capabilities. New electronic componenttechnologies offer exciting opportunities to successfully achieve effectivedelivery of improved patient care at lower costs.

Arthur DiMartino is president of TechEn Inc.