The Next-Generation of Medical Technologies: Digitized, Miniaturized, and Connected

This is the final article in an 8-part series featuring articles on Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare. The series focuses on electronic systems that enable innovation in the healthcare industry. This series is sponsored by Mouser Electronics. Through the sponsorship, Mouser Electronics shares its passion for technologies that enable smarter and connected applications.

Modern robotic devices have made it possible for surgeons to carry out minimally invasive surgeries, reducing the time taken for the patient to recover. In the meantime,  wearable devices administer medicines while merging seamlessly with the patient’s day-to-day activities. The device also transmits biodata to a doctor, who uses the information to track the patient’s condition in real-time.

This is just a snapshot of the potential of medical technologies in the present times. Technological developments in sensing, wireless data transmission, and miniaturization of components have enabled several innovations like minimally invasive procedures and remote healthcare. 

This article is a roundup of the technologies presented in the Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare series. It discusses recent key innovations in the medical industry to understand the trends in the digital healthcare space as they become an everyday reality. 

Drug-Delivery Devices

The ways in which medications are administered to the patient's body are crucial to how well a treatment would work out. The traditional method of taking medicines orally doesn’t take into account an individual's absorption rate due to variances in metabolic systems and other variables. Digitized drug delivery is the next breakthrough technology in the pharmaceutical sector that aims to understand the interactions and effects of medicines on the patient’s body.

Molex and its medical delivery division, Phillips-Medisize, commissioned a survey on digital health and the future of pharma in April 2021, gathering responses from 215 qualified pharmaceutical professionals representing a range of roles and regions.^[1] 

The findings confirm an increasing adoption of digitized drug delivery and uncovered opportunities and challenges involved with this new technology. For example, a third of survey respondents are already marketing digital drug delivery therapy, and 65 percent believe the technology is extremely or very important to their companies’ future plans.

Respondents were largely in agreement about drug-delivery devices’ impact on healthcare, with 92 percent expecting better health outcomes. They felt the therapeutic areas that had the greatest potential for benefiting from these devices include endocrine, respiratory, inflammatory/immune, cardiovascular, and infectious disease.

Additionally, these devices make treatment more convenient for patients, which potentially can improve medication compliance and, ultimately, outcomes. In the survey, 69 percent of respondents cited increased patient engagement as one of the factors driving their organizations’ interest in drug-delivery solutions.

However, to optimize the benefits of remote healthcare, engineers need to design wearables that encourage regular use by addressing durability and reliability requirements while also providing patient comfort. 

Consumer and Medical Wearables

 Monitoring multiple physiological parameters like temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and more, has become more accessible and simplified owing to the growth in consumer wearables. Devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers combine features of various medical testing equipment and present them to users in a compact form factor.

Despite the differences in the regulatory hurdles they face, both medical and consumer wearables have common design challenges inherent in creating a comfortable and easy-to-use device while also being reliable and accurate. 

Supporting the need to keep wearables lightweight and compact, some auto-injector and wearable systems require microminiaturization and wireless connectivity. Electronic device manufacturers are focusing on developing compact connectors and antennas that enable a wide range of wired connectivity options like USB and wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, and Near Field Communication (NFC), even on flexible circuits. 

Article 1 of the Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare Series discussed wearable devices in more detail.

Many of the goals of wearables for improving healthcare outcomes, along with some of the design challenges, are shared by another cutting-edge medical technology development—robotic surgery.

Surgeons Using Robots

Robotic devices help surgeons perform operations with previously unachievable precision. However, combining functionality into a single machine requires complex electronic systems, and designers are under pressure to deliver the best possible performance, along with low latency, in the smallest possible package. This complex problem of integrating multiple devices on small assemblies becomes even more significant when the time comes to connect the robot to the outside world.

Compact electronic systems for small robotics require durability to meet various medical applications where minute operations are required to be carried out. 

Adapted from the traditional data communication and telecommunication inter-chassis connections, the modern interconnect system has proved valuable in robotic-assist surgical and Picture Archival Communications Systems (PACS) applications. When space constraints are an issue, hybrid designs can reduce the number of connectors needed and provide easy installation for most applications. The use of hybrid connectivity also can bridge the transition from electrical to optical by combining fiber and copper in a single connector housing. 

Read more about electronic solutions for robotic surgery by visiting article 2 of the Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare series.

Multifunctional Cardiovascular Devices

Due to the unhealthy lifestyle, the number of cases of cardiovascular diseases have been constantly increasing. In the quest to develop effective methods of treating these diseases, doctors are turning to innovative energy sources and advanced technologies to guide diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring after treatment. Microwaves, cryo-energy. and even lasers are providing physicians with the ability to treat patients using minimally invasive techniques that deliver the best clinical outcomes. Compared to open surgeries, minimally invasive surgeries are considered safer too.

The integration of multiple modalities in a single cardiac catheter brings with it considerable complexity. For example, the high number of wires and cables required means that the connectors need to feature high contact densities while also delivering superior performance.

Article 3 of the Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare series continues the discussion on technologies enabling cardiovascular surgeries. 

Brain-Computer Interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces make it possible to control machines by thoughts. These devices measure the electrical activity of the brain, which is nothing but a result of human thoughts.  With enough data in hand, it is possible to classify and map different thoughts with a specific kind of electrical activity.

The technology can find its applications in a variety of different healthcare treatments and rehabilitation procedures. Controlling prosthetic devices, restoring lost senses, or treating visual impairment are some possible applications of the technology that may get common in the future.

Article 4 demystifies brain-computer interfaces by introducing readers to the working principle and enabling technologies of this cutting-edge advancement in digital healthcare.

Flexible electronics and Printed Circuits

Designing sensing equipment and wearable devices for the healthcare industry requires assembling electronic circuits on surfaces that are not always flat and rigid. It is not uncommon for wearable devices to have circuits built on thin sheets of plastic or other flexible materials. These circuits are lightweight and can be small in size, making them perfect for use in portable devices.

Meeting the design requirements of medical applications can be challenging especially when the requirements can differ vastly. Flexible electronic circuits used in disposable medical equipment must offer affordability and reliability, whereas other applications may require them to be rugged, withstand extremities, and last for a long time.

Article 5 presents a webchat focused on flexible electronics, and some emerging transformations going on in the healthcare sector.

Immersive Technologies

Technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) are known for creating life-like experiences. These technologies can be used to create learning content and simulations for training the professionals working in the healthcare industry.

While making education personalized, fun, and engaging, immersive technologies also make it more accessible and safe. Read the complete discussion on how immersive technologies are shaping the future of medical education in Article 6 of the Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare series.

Connected Health and Patient Monitoring

In a period when everyone is digitally connected, it is natural for the healthcare industry to see a rise in remote health monitoring devices. Different consumer wearables are readily available for end-users and don’t require any specialized training to operate. These devices enable doctors and healthcare service providers to monitor patients without having to be in contact with them. 

Article 7 explains the role of wearable devices in revolutionizing connected healthcare. It showcases the examples of devices like heart rate monitors, and continuous glucose monitors to understand how remote patient monitoring is a huge step in going from reactive health care to preventive healthcare.

Connectivity solutions by Molex on Mouser Electronics

Molex provides wired and wireless connectivity solutions for medical applications that require transfer of both signal and power. With high-performance electronic solutions for different use cases, Molex facilitates innovation in healthcare.

Molex’s compact 433MHz ISM Antenna delivers more space savings and higher radiation efficiency (>50 to >56 percent, 50mm to 300mm cable length) for its size (90.00mm by 40.00mm). The Molex 868MHz and 915MHz ISM Antennas with MobliquA™ Technology enable significant antenna volume reduction while eliminating the need for expensive circuits and the frequency tuning required for ground plane-dependence issues.

Fig. 1: Molex ISM Standalone Antennas

Additionally, cardiovascular device applications require both power and a signal. Molex has been at the forefront with connectors such as the Mini-Fit Connector Family, which offers up to 8.5A with a 3.00mm pitch, delivering power in a compact package. 

Fig. 2: Molex Mini-Fit Connector Family

Because reliability is crucial in cardiovascular devices, Molex offers the Micro-Fit TPA Connector Family, which helps prevent failure in end products by providing terminal position assurance (TPA).

Fig. 3: Molex Micro-Fit TPA Connector Family

Conclusion

Innovations in healthcare technologies are driven by advancements in microelectronics, sensors, and communication technologies. High-performance connectors, antennas, jumpers, and cable assemblies with an ability to transfer data reliably and in real-time, are the key enabling technologies that power the next generation of healthcare devices.

This article was initially published by Mouser and Molex in an e-magazine. It has been substantially edited by the Wevolver team and Electrical Engineer Ravi Y Rao. It's the fifth article from the Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare Series. Future articles will introduce readers to some more interesting applications of electronics in healthcare.

Introductory article covered the fundamentals of biomedical instruments and the ways in which digitizing them is transforming healthcare. 

Article 1 explored the design challenges in Consumer and Medical wearables. It showcased how technologies once limited to hospitals are now made available to everyone for monitoring personal health.

Article 2 was focused on the present state of robotic surgery. It explained how advancements in robotics and communication, combined with the expertise of surgeons, enable customized treatments for patients. 

Article 3 presents an overview of how new sensing, communication, and energy systems, engineered for the healthcare sector can be used to transform cardiovascular disease treatment procedures.

Article 4 examined Brain-Computer Interfaces and how they help in enhancing human vision, motor recovery for disabled limbs, and more.

Article 5 featured an informative webchat between Mike Depp, and Glen Capek from Molex, as they discussed trends in flexible electronics driving new solutions for medical wearables applications. 

Article 6 discussed how immersive digital technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) make medical learning more engaging through lifelike experiences.

Article 7 explained the role of wearable devices and their enabling technologies in revolutionizing continuous health monitoring. 

Final article was a roundup of the entire series that tried to give readers a snapshot of the potential of medical technologies in the present times.

About the sponsor: Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics is a worldwide leading authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,100 manufacturer brands. They specialize in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies for design engineers and buyers. Their extensive product offering includes semiconductors, interconnects, passives, and electromechanical components.

References

[1] Pharmaceutical Insights: Advanced Medical Innovation, Design and Production, Molex, [Online], Available from: https://experience.molex.com/electronic-solutions/healthcare/