Electronics
stress disorder (PTSD), depression, autism and dementia, according to research cited by the National Institutes of Health and other neuroscience sources. If barriers like immense cost and low accessibility are lowered for this technology, mental health clinicians could potentially diagnose and treat a greater number of patients faster.
Knappe notes the unique challenges of developing HEDscan as a small OEM and said the company also faced broader hurdles including issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, a chip shortage and contending with lapses in SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research programme) funding. “The challenges have been to figure out consistencies and how to scale the technology – there remain some supply chain uncertainties. One of the biggest hurdles was the inertia of the market towards a new technology. It took ten years of cross- validation but also requires generating a new market, and that will take a lot of investment.”
Promises vs reality
New quantum sensing technologies in medicine are undeniably promising, but much needs to be done to ensure further development and adoption, according to a report from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium released in December 2024. The report, ‘Quantum Sensing for Biomedical Applications’, recommended three priorities for making quantum sensors more usable in biomedical settings: increase collaboration between quantum sensor developers and end users, improve cross-sector cooperation and establish more labs for testing at national labs or research universities, and expand funding for high-impact, high-feasibility biomedical research. “I think the way to accelerate progress in the case of something like quantum sensing is to bring together these different disciplines,” says Dr Celia Merzbacher, executive director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium. “Biomedical researchers who don’t really know anything about quantum technology read the headlines and say this is coming, but not for 20 years. I’m not a physicist, so I’ll just wait for now.”
Merzbacher notes that communication between device-makers focused on patient solutions and quantum sensing scientists and researchers is poor but that government-led programmes like the Quantum Economic Development Consortium are working to bridge gaps and build relationships. The report highlighted quantum sensors with high potential for biomedical applications, including optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), optical frequency combs and diamond-based sensors with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres. It identified high-feasibility, high-impact use cases such as more accurate and less invasive diagnostics across infectious diseases, cancer, drug metabolism and other biomedical areas, while also pointing to
www.medicaldevice-developments.com Edge AI in medtech
Most AI systems in healthcare still depend on the cloud. Data is collected, sent away for processing and the results come back later. Edge AI flips that model. Instead of shipping information off-site, the analysis happens directly on the device – whether that’s a scanner, a wearable or a portable diagnostic tool sitting on a clinician’s desk. That shift matters for two reasons: speed and privacy. Medical data is very tightly regulated information anywhere, particularly in the UK under the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR. When patient data stays on the device, there’s simply less opportunity for it to leak, be intercepted, or mishandled in transit. Fewer moving parts generally means fewer points of failure. You can see the practical benefits in everyday monitoring. Wearable sensors already track heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels. With edge AI, those devices don’t just collect numbers, they interpret them immediately. If something drifts outside a safe range, the system can flag it on the spot rather than waiting for remote analysis. The same logic applies to diagnostics. Imaging systems can run AI models locally to examine X-rays, CT scans or MRIs as soon as they’re captured, highlighting possible fractures, tumours or other abnormalities for clinicians to review. It doesn’t replace medical expertise but it can speed up the first pass through large volumes of images. Edge processing also makes a difference outside major hospitals. In rural clinics or underserved regions, reliable connectivity isn’t always guaranteed. Devices that can analyse data locally – portable ultrasound systems are a good example – allow healthcare workers to run screenings and basic diagnostics without relying on distant laboratories or constant internet access.
When time is tight, systems that can analyse patient data instantly can help
responders triage cases and prioritise treatment more effectively. Source: National Edge AI Hub
opportunities in applications like sub-cellular imaging and systemic disease detection.
Merzbacher is currently involved in initiatives exploring quantum communication networks that use quantum states rather than classical optical or electrical signals, though the potential capabilities for medical devices are not yet clear. “We’re still looking into the fog,” she says. “I know
there’s a lot of progress being made on many fronts – including quantum computing and the ability to connect quantum devices to each other – that will lead to experimentation, especially in medical and other research arenas.” This experimentation will eventually lead to practical use cases in medical devices, Merzbacher predicts.
While she acknowledged that AI has been developing faster than quantum sensing in medical devices, Merzbacher believes both technologies working together will significantly shape future medical device technologies and other industries. Those who develop quantum sensing technology are often scientists and engineers from research organisations and universities, says Merzbacher. “There’s a lot of learning to be done” on both the R&D and business sides to further develop quantum sensing technologies in medical devices. “I just came back from a meeting of the clinical trial community and there’s currently a focus on computational needs and how they can be improved. There’s a lot of applications of quantum in the whole spectrum of activities that involve biomedical outcomes being better,” she explained. “I think there’s an enormous suite of technologies that are going to be enabled for medical devices and medicine in general.” ●
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