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How AI is Being Used in Medical Technology

Posted by on 25 July 2018
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The three trillion dollar per year medical industry is constantly growing and changing; within this rapidly changing field, medical devices are an integral part of the process of changing people's lives in healthier ways.

The United States has been a pivotal part of changing the healthcare industry, with over 160 billion dollars of revenue generated by the distribution and sale of medical devices to other countries.

Though it might scare some, the AI movement is upon us, and it is a game changer for any industry that chooses to integrate the technology. Research of artificial intelligence technology has been focused into three main areas around medical research:

  • Different types of AI available to the medical community
  • Trends in innovation and the future of these inventions in the healthcare industry
  • AI applications that are the most valuable in the healthcare industry

How Is AI Used To Advance The Field Of Medicine?

Visionaries in the medical community strongly suggest that the future of medical technology will integrate artificial intelligence into all aspects of patient care and research. Although we aren't quite there yet, artificial intelligence is already being used to further the following medical treatments:

AI For Management Of Chronic Diseases

Medical companies are using smart technology to assess patient medication needs, reading biosensors and automating the administration of medication and other treatments using connected mobile applications. In the case of diabetes, the administration of insulin using automated technology has been implemented successfully for many years now. As a result of the automated response to patient needs, lives have been saved using this technology.

AI Used In Medical Imaging

Companies are implementing the use of artificial intelligence to improve the clarity and accuracy of images while reducing exposure to harmful radiation. Clinical outcomes of patient care have dramatically improved by knowing more about the kind of care that is needed.

AI and The Internet Of Things

Companies are combining the technologies of AI and IOT to monitor patient diligence and adherence to treatment protocols. Being able to monitor patient care while in critical condition will ensure that the best care is being provided based on the data that is received. Technologies such as these are revolutionizing the way the medical community is able to care for and heal patients.

AI In Robotic Surgery

Artificial intelligence is being used for all kinds of surgical procedures, from things as routine as a tonsillectomy to very involved brain surgeries. One clear advantage that AI technology has over human intelligence is the issue of endurance--an artificially intelligent robot can perform surgical procedures for hours after human endurance would have been tapped out. AI technologies also have the remarkable ability to adjust to unforeseen situations that might arise, allowing for changes to be made in procedure and length.

Companies Leading The Way

Medical technology companies are leading the way in the development of technological devices that improve patient care dramatically.

Metronic, as recently as June 2017, launched the MiniMed 670G system, an automated insulin pump designed for diabetics. People that have trouble monitoring and controlling their blood sugar are able to wear this smart pump which delivers a constant supply of insulin and glucose, depending on what the patient's needs are. The issue of self-monitoring and administration of insulin becomes virtually obsolete with the development of this technology.

GE Healthcare has been a leader in medical imaging, designing new products, services, and technology to improve the speed and accuracy of CT scans. Increased speed means less radiation exposure for patients and caregivers, and a better image delivered means that any care plan created as a result of examination of the films is more effective.

Philips Healthcare has fast become a leader in the field of wearable biofeedback technology. In fact, analysts project that this will be a $25 million dollar sector of the healthcare industry by 2019. The existence of "early intervention systems" ensures that high-risk patients experience life-saving measures when a systemic problem is detected.

With the development of any new technology, there is a learning curve and much time and effort spent on minimizing mistakes and increasing its effectiveness among a wider population. AI is now being used to increase the effectiveness of many applications within the medical community. From improving the accounts receivable process to assisting skilled surgeons with the complex process of craniofacial surgery, its benefits are becoming increasingly lauded as the "newest lifesaving measure in medicine". With these recent innovations, Americans are now living longer, healthier lives. As artificial intelligence becomes the norm in the medical community, we will embrace the changes and expect brighter, longer, healthier futures.

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