As the second half of 2011 has begun, I take a look back at some
of the trends that started to emerge or continue to grow strong
this year. I also asked around amongst our medical advisors and in
some of NTEC's online groups. Here are 3 areas in medical
technology that I believe are poised for growth in 2011 and beyond
based on many conversations and my own observations:
1) Electronic Healthcare Continuum -
as EHR's and all things medical go online, there are many
opportunities, including EMR's but also "mobile health" (FDA
directive just issued on standards) for patients and healthcare
providers, telemedicine, and connected healthcare devices and
diagnostics. These are driven by desires to improve healthcare,
manage chronic diseases, keep patients out of hospitals and reduce
costs, while at the same time shifting decision making and
information-sharing to patients and other healthcare delivery
team-members (not just doctors).
2) Personalized Medicine: This may
include specialty drug development, genetic testing, specific
cancer typing, autologous tissue-derived treatments, tissue
regeneration or organ reconstruction/growing organs. This trend is
supported by our increasing desire to tailor treatments to the
individuals instead of using the shotgun approach and accepting
treatment failure. With improved computing power, diagnostic
testing and individualized treatments available this now is
becoming a reality.
3) Neurostimulation: Whether it is
neurostimulation with electrodes, surface stimulation or other
methods, the market is huge and full of new innovative ideas. There
are lots of implantable electronic stimulators to help with organ
function like stimulating non-functioning muscles, interfering with
pain signals or treating migraines, depression and epilepsy.
There are many more important trends and innovations, superb ideas
and devices that we get to see on a daily basis. These 3 are some
of the bigger themes that I see more business plans for. In some
cases, as in the "Electronic Healthcare Continuum", the trend feeds
the growth of other non-electronic home health devices, many of
which are designed to allow seniors more independence and keep them
in their own homes longer. Post your top 3 trends below.
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