AI in Medical Devices: Introduction

AI in Medical Devices

Artificial intelligence, as a dividend of the fourth industrial revolution, will create better healthcare outcomes, says the new WEF’s report confirming that AI-driven health solutions have proven more efficient and have become even more effective.
From helping treat heart failure, to remote monitoring for patients during COVID-19 quarantine, there are numerous examples of real practices that are driving investment in digital and AI technologies within healthcare.
How is it possible to incorporate such technologies in a complex field that deals with patients and provide them care? One way is by using medical devices as a “second pair of hands” to the medical professionals.

Medical Devices in the world of AI

Medical devices with artificial intelligence hold the promise of revolutionizing the healthcare industry as they help in developing more accurate and effective diagnoses and patient’s treatments.

The techniques to incorporate AI in medical devices are based on deep learning techniques using neural networks.

According to the definition, neural networks refer to a set of algorithms that are modeled after the human brain and are designed to recognize patterns. When exposed to data through neural networks, the deep learning techniques of machines [medical devices] are able to mimic human learning patterns and change without being programmed.

In this article we are going to analyze AI software as a medical device and its applications. The term Software as a Medical Device is defined as “software intended to be used for one or more medical purposes that perform these purposes without being part of a hardware medical device.” and can be used for:

AI in Medical Devices
The term Software as a Medical Device is defined as “software intended to be used for one or more medical purposes that perform these purposes without being part of a hardware medical device.” and paired with AI can be used for different purposes in healthcare.

Use cases

Building trust with AI

Integrating AI into clinicians’ daily work will not only significantly improve patients’ treatments, but the overall healthcare as well. However, to gain the trust needed for broader adoption, AI in healthcare must follow the principles of building responsible AI, as algorithms can sometimes introduce bias into their analyses, which has harmful effects on real human beings, and transparency around technology’s limitations.

Having understood the general introduction of AI in medical devices with this article and touching upon the process of building trust in AI systems used in medical devices, the next article will outline the path to establishing AI systems that comply with regulations, reduce risk and harms, and understand the human impact of the model.

Conclusion

With the rapid developments in machine learning algorithms and improvements in machine performances, the AI technology is expected to play an important role in performing healthcare practices, collecting, analyzing and monitoring medical data and patients’ treatments and care overall. This will be done through the use of artificial intelligence in medical devices. According to research, “…The Artificial Intelligence Based Medical Device Market Ecosystem is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 25.7% by Forecast Year 2027…”, it is clear that the adoption of AI enabled medical devices is one significant stepping stone into the future of AI in healthcare.

This article is part of the series covering the topic of AI and Medical devices. The next article will outline the path to establishing AI systems within medical devices that comply with regulation, reduce risk and harms, and understand the human impact of the model.

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KOSA AI

Making technology more inclusive of all ages, genders, and races.