INDUSTRY FOCUS MEDICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL


PAVING THE WAY TO DIGITALISATION


Digitalisation is a significant priority in the NHS Long Term Plan, which emphasises that technology will help clinicians use their full range of skills, stimulate research


and give patients more control over the care they receive. With the sector on the cusp of the fourth healthcare revolution,


Stewart Goulding, managing director at precision drive system supplier Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS), looks at the technologies that are paving the way


A


lthough the digitalisation of the healthcare sector has previously


lagged behind other industries, this is starting to change. The NHS’s long term goals to


digitalise, along with the pressure to continue to provide healthcare services as safely as possible during the pandemic, has increased the adoption of digital technologies by both provider and patient. This will be catalysed by the £32 million of funding for research and development in transformative healthcare technology projects announced by the Government in September 2020, boosting the healthcare system into the fourth revolution.


PHARMACEUTICAL AUTOMATION Healthcare has a long way to go before it reaches the level of digitalisation the manufacturing industry possesses, which has undergone widespread adoption of automation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) over the past two decades. However, this slower pace doesn’t mean digitalisation isn’t already beginning to show its benefits in the medical sector. Key technologies that have been


used in industrial manufacturing have spread to pharmaceutical development and production. For example, Astra Zeneca’s NiCola-B robot can test up to 300,000 compounds a day and, being a collaborative robot, can adapt to the presence of humans and safely work alongside them in the lab. Dealing with paperwork and managing


administrative tasks can be a major bottleneck in pharmaceuticals. Robots are also capable of alleviating this stress by performing a variety of other tasks in the laboratory, such as scanning incoming medical test samples and


30 MARCH 2021 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS


TELEMEDICINE Adjacent to mobile health is telemedicine, the delivery of healthcare services and information electronically from a remote location. This can involve virtual consultations, medicine adherence appointments and outpatient monitoring meetings using video-conferencing tools. Robotics has the potential to take


telemedicine to the next stage. For example, InTouch Health’s RP-Vita telepresence robot has a screen mounted at the top that can be used for video calls from an offsite doctor. The robot can move to transport the doctor around the room, enabling a closer simulation of the real experience of meeting with a doctor. The telepresence robot uses high


precision FAULHABER DC micromotors to power the pan and tilt functions of the high definition camera used for remotely examining patients. All FAULHABER motors are made in a high precision manufacturing process, which makes them reliable with consistently high quality. EMS is the sole UK supplier of


FAULHABER motors, which have a high power density that makes them ideal for use in robotics. In particular, the new FAULHABER BXT series has a flat construction, therefore suiting small


sorting them into their designated area according to their digital records. In production, robots can help package medicines by accurately filling containers and placing caps on bottles — another time consuming and tedious task for human workers.


MOBILE HEALTH While the digitalisation of the laboratory goes on behind closed doors, new technologies are also available at patient’s fingertips. Mobile health (mHealth) is the practice of placing medicine and public health data on mobile devices. There are over 400,000 healthcare apps available, and a survey by digital health start up Quin found that the use of healthcare apps has increased by 37% since the start of the pandemic. Perhaps one of the most widely used


types of app is online prescription management platforms, where patients can request and organise the delivery of their medicines. Other digital healthcare services include education on mindfulness, online counselling, personalised diet plans, sleeping aids and health trackers. For example, the app mySugr allows users to input and track their diet and blood sugar levels, as well as having access to a personal coach for help and advice.


/ DESIGNSOLUTIONS


The new FAULHABER BXT series has a flat construction


space requirements to minimise bulk of the robot. Innovative winding technology allows the motors to deliver torque up to 134 millinewton metres (mNm), demonstrating high power in a small package.


Mobile health (mHealth) is the practice of placing medicine and public health data on mobile devices


ACCELERATING TECHNOLOGY In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, the widespread adoption of digital healthcare devices in 2020, combined with the Government’s injection of funding, will accelerate technological advancement of the sector and kickstart the fourth healthcare revolution. Research and implementation of innovative equipment will support healthcare professionals and increase the accessibility of medical treatment for patients.


EMS www.ems-limited.co.uk


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