Electronics
are becoming key pillars of clinical research and personalised healthcare. Wearable glucose monitors revolutionising the treatment of diabetes, and innovative work by the likes of MIT on ingestible sensors to diagnose gastrointestinal diseases, are among many examples here.
“Recent innovations include several breakthroughs that hold great promise for enhancing medical treatments and patient outcomes,” says Dr Thomas Dietrich, CEO at IVAM Microtechnology Network, a trade organisation that has done extensive work on both wearable and hybrid organic electronics. “Closed-loop systems for diabetes management – which integrate continuous glucose monitors with insulin pumps, automate insulin delivery based on real-time glucose readings – provide more precise glucose control.” Dietrich also points to advances in bioelectronic medicine – using electrical impulses to modulate the body’s nervous system – which has shown promising results in treating rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and heart failure, among other conditions. Flexible and stretchable electronics also allow implantable devices to conform more naturally to the body’s tissues, reducing discomfort and improving integration and function.
“Advanced neuroprosthetics, particularly brain-machine interfaces, have seen significant improvements in electrode technology, signal processing algorithms, and wireless communication, providing greater independence for individuals with paralysis or limb loss,” Dietrich adds. “Innovative implantable drug delivery systems, including bioresorbable implants, offer controlled, long-term medication release, improving adherence to treatment regimens.” One tangible example comes from SetPoint Medical in California, which has been developing a bioelectronic therapy for inflammatory diseases. Its pilot studies have shown positive results in patients with Crohn’s symptoms. The study involved eight patients with severe Crohn’s disease not responsive to tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist drugs, who received an implant in their necks to deliver electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve. Then there’s the field of optogenetics, which uses light to control cells within living tissue. This has opened up new
Medical Device Developments /
www.nsmedicaldevices.com 67
avenues for the treatment of neurological disorders. Biodegradable electronics, which degrade naturally within the body, address major concerns around device removal and long-term biocompatibility.
Spoilt for choice With the growing incidence of chronic disease around the globe – dovetailed with rapid technological advancement, increased government funding and improvement in materials science – the possibilities for therapeutic applications seem endless. Yet if the sector could reach more than $270bn
by 2032, it’s in the cardiac arena that IMEs have arguably found their blockbuster application.
1.16m
The number of pacemakers fi tted globally in 2016. The number was estimated to reach 1.43m in 2023.
Statista
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