Think about the living in the 1950s. Color television was introduced. The auto industry was experimenting with their new concept of “the sportscar.” And the medical industry was making its biggest strides to date. The antibiotic erythromycin was launched commercially by Eli Lilly; Jonas Salk announced his polio vaccine, the first open-heart surgery was performed using the heart–lung machine developed by John H. Gibbon Jr. and the FDA approved BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) as a food preservative. (Coincidentally, McDonald’s was franchised that same year.)
While these all mark large strides in the medical industry, there was still a great deal that was unknown. Medical equipment was large, cumbersome and expensive. Not all practitioners had access to these devices, and as such medical diagnosis was slow coming and cumbersome. Doctors relied on the description from the patient and their observation of symptoms to make a diagnosis and prescribe medicine. Not very scientific.
Fortunately for us, advancements in medical technology have far exceeded the expectations of medical practitioners who practiced in the 1950s. Scientists, researchers, and engineers have developed large-scale medical machines like ECG, CT scanners, MRI, X-ray, electronic defibrillators - these machines and take images of bones, tissue and the structure and movement of the body’s organs. Even though these medical devices range in size from a breadbox to a china cabinet, they do contain the same embedded technology powers the electronics in your car and your wearable technology - yes embedded systems. Recent advances in embedded systems technology are rapidly transforming healthcare solutions. Thanks to the progress in embedded technology and IoT (Internet of Things); we are headed to a future of smaller, smarter, wearable and connected medical devices.
You may not realize it, but embedded systems have long been part of the development of medical devices and the reason for the vast improvements in the technology. These devices are smaller and more portable than ever. Smart devices like blood pressure monitors and glucose monitors are allowing patients to proactively monitor their medical conditions from anywhere. Gone are the times when they were required to go to the hospital or even their home for daily tests. On top of that, medical devices are shrinking in size from cart-sized heavy machines to lightweight handheld devices to implanted devices that are smaller than a matchbook.
Importance and impact of embedded medical devices
Simply put, embedded systems are driving the technology behind medical issues that require daily monitoring and maintenance. From monitoring health conditions at one end of the spectrum to treating diseases at the other, embedded technology delivers precise, accurate results with a small footprint. Let’s look at how embedded technology in medical devices is changing healthcare for the better.
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Clinical Care - Hospitalized patients that require constant attention can be monitored using embedded technology, noninvasive monitoring. Equipped with accurate sensors and powerful processors, these devices can collect comprehensive physiological information and send it wirelessly to the doctors or caregivers for further analysis. In short, embedded technology-based monitoring equipment are replacing the need for having a doctor come by and check the patient’s vital signs. It is not only improving the quality of healthcare but also reducing the cost of care by providing an automated and continuous flow of health-related information.
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Remote Patient Monitoring – People are living increasingly busier lives. They don’t have time to visit the Doctor or drive a loved-one to see the physician on a daily basis. But, smart, small and powerful monitoring devices powered by embedded technology and connected with the help of IoT are helping these people monitor and treat their health conditions. These devices, mostly in the form of wearables, analyze the health-related data and share it with medical professionals who can respond with the appropriate recommendations. As a result, such patients are less likely to develop complications in the future.
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Early intervention and prevention with the help of self-monitoring – With the aid of smart embedded technology-based medical devices, casual users can now be more proactive about their personal health. Smart devices enable users to continuously monitor their heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, weight and various other parameters. It is also worth mentioning that embedded technology-based devices are now coming with better connectivity and it is possible to seamlessly transmit data collected by these wearable devices to doctors.
In addition, there is an emerging class of embedded technology-based medical device that are taking things to the next level. These devices are can automatically deliver measured doses of drugs based on the person’s health condition. Or they can be worn inside your undergarments and be used to detect breast cancer.
Future of embedded medical devices
The future of embedded technology-based medical devices couldn’t be brighter. With the convergence of IoT, the influence of embedded systems in healthcare is all set to soar higher.
Don’t be surprised that if in the next decade newborn babies get a tattoo smaller than a postage stamp that is an integrated circuit (IC) designed to monitor biometric parameters. The collected data would be accessible to the pediatricians and parents on a real-time basis through smartphone apps.
It doesn’t end there. Another report indicates that in a few decades from now, a microbot could perform an array of surgical procedures. From removing blockages to collecting cell samples, this miniature robot inserted into a patient’s artery through a small incision, can even carry a tiny camera to give doctors a view into the patient’s body. It might sound a lot like the science fiction movie “Inner Space” but with advances in embedded technology; it is all very real.