INDUSTRY FOCUS MEDICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL DIGITAL TWINS, AI AND THE IND


THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL DEV Digitalisation and the application of powerful technologies like the digital twin, AI and the industrial metaverse, will enable manufacturers of medical devices and pharmaceuticals to build a foundation for transformative


capabilities that will enable them to develop new generations of devices and therapeutic drugs. By Dale Tutt and James Thompson, Siemens Digital Industries Software


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hallenges and upheaval have greatly affected the medical device and pharmaceutical industries in recent times.


Supply chain challenges and growing complexity have impacted the industry at a time when speed and agility have become critical in the delivery of new therapies, devices and drugs. Meanwhile, the management of risk and protection of patient safety and privacy have remained paramount despite shortening timelines. This disruption, however, has sparked a


wave of innovation and ingenuity in the design and production of medical devices and pharmaceuticals.


DIGITALISATION IN HEALTHCARE Digital elements, electronics and software have powered the creation of smarter and less expensive medical devices, while accelerating the development of new drugs. The ongoing digitalisation in the delivery of healthcare is also laying the foundation for a shift in how care is delivered, where home is becoming the new hospital. Not only did the pandemic highlight the


risk associated with highly global supply chains, but it also prioritised condensing already shrinking development cycles. Disruptions to semiconductor production also hampered production, impacting nearly every industry. However, the rapid development of COVID


diagnostic tests and vaccines demonstrated that faster timelines can be achieved within the current regulatory framework, catalysing device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies to search for better means of managing the complexities of drug and device development to minimise development cycles.


REMOTE PATIENT CARE With limited space and growing costs in traditional hospital and clinical settings, the ability to deliver high quality care remotely and to support patients outside the confines of the hospital is becoming crucial. This requires increasingly intelligent, robust


and safe medical devices that can be distributed to patients for use in their homes or on the go. For device manufacturers, the result is increased complexity in the design, engineering and


Digital twins are being adopted by the medical industry for their ability to improve underlying engineering, design and data management processes


regulatory clearance of new devices to ensure safety, efficacy and ease-of-use by untrained users. For example, smart glucose monitors are now available that can be worn or implanted, helping diabetes patients manage their condition more easily and reduce episodic emergency clinical care. The smart device continuously monitors blood glucose levels, displaying this information for the patient to use in tracking their blood sugar and its responses to diet, exercise, stress and other factors.


SOFTWARE-DEFINED CARE Software is an increasingly central piece of the delivery of modern therapies, and this will only heighten in the future. It is used in the design, production, operations, delivery and management of devices and drugs; and increasingly as a medical device itself. The integration of software into such a multitude of processes has enabled remarkable advancements in the technology of medicine, aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, the management of chronic conditions and the organisation and security of patient data. Yet, the growing application of software and digitalisation in the medical space incurs some challenges. All this software, including


42 DESIGN SOLUTIONS JULY/AUGUST 2025


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