Top 3 Upcoming Trends in the Medical Device Manufacturing Industry

The medical device manufacturing industry is in a period of transition.

For many years, the entire medical industry has been undergoing a shift from invasive, large-scale procedures to laparoscopic and catheter-oriented treatments. The factors that contribute to today’s medical device landscape began to appear in the 1990s, with major consolidations and a new focus on global partnership.

These trends show no sign of slowing down – but they will pivot around important upcoming technological advances. At the same time, regulatory and ethical issues surrounding these new advances will influence the choices healthcare providers make when delivering care.

While the demand for medical devices is expected to rise at a steady rate, regulators will have a heavy hand in determining what options make it to market and which ones do not. Manufacturers that position themselves to operate profitably within these conditions are best-positioned for lasting success.

The Future of Medical Device Manufacturing

There are three major areas in which upcoming development will have a major effect on medical device manufacturer’s capabilities and value propositions.

1. Internet of Things (IoT) Integration

So far, IoT technology is just beginning to showcase its unique value at the manufacturing level. The ability to implement high-level integrations between one or more physical buildings in manufacturer operations represents a key development for increasing overall efficiency.

But real transformation of the medical industry will come with the introduction of IoT-enabled consumer medical devices to market. Many of today’s clinical visits will be rendered obsolete through the deployment of implanted, Internet-connected devices that healthcare providers can access and adjust from the convenience of their offices.

2. 5G Connectivity

Manufacturing IoT medical devices requires greater bandwidth and lower energy consumption than today’s 4G devices offer. This is the promise of 5G networking.

More and more devices will have to offer 5G networking capabilities in order to remain competitive in the market and deliver state-of-the-art care. From the plastics manufacturing perspective, this will increase the need for adhesive patch welding while increasing the challenges faced by medical device manufacturers.

3. Data Security

The development of IoT medical solutions and the widespread proliferation of 5G-enabled medical implants will generate a need for stringent data security standards.

This is the area where regulation may play the most vital role. In today’s healthcare landscape, compromised medical data is a deep and concerning problem, but the ability to compromise an IoT-enabled medical device is a grave danger – and medical IoT ransomware is already here.

Medical device manufacturers will need to incorporate stringent regulations – think HIPAA for IoT – when bringing new designs to market. This may have a powerful effect on device usage and capabilities, since medical IoT devices offer limited space and processing power.

Localization for Emerging Markets

Medical device manufacturers in the United States and other highly developed countries will immediately feel the impact of these technological trends. Manufacturers in emerging markets may find themselves in a more advantageous position, being able to flexibly adopt new technologies towards meeting the specific needs of local markets.

Thermal Press delivers solutions for the assembly of plastics for wearable medical devices around the world including; adhesive patch, septum, ports, fitments and medical bags. Speak to an expert about your medical device manufacturing processes today.