Comment: The med-tech transforming diagnosis and treatment - The Engineer

The UK government recently announced that a raft[i] of new therapies for cancer will be trialled in the UK, furthering the nation’s life sciences industry as one of the great drivers of economic growth. NHS cancer patients will benefit from new partnerships, backed by public and private sector investment, which will look to tackle cancer and other diseases with faster diagnoses and improved treatments, deploying innovative technologies and approaches.

This could unleash a host of new medical technology products onto the global market, including more flexible medical scanning[ii] and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help spot lung cancer[iii] sooner.

AI: a game-changer in medical imaging

AI has swiftly become a credible part of the healthcare ecosystem, and when used responsibly, it will significantly improve healthcare outcomes. It is already being applied in imaging to process vast quantities of data to accelerate diagnosis and treatment.

Integrating AI across medical technologies

Identifying cancers or other illnesses can take a considerable amount of time. However, AI algorithms are now being developed and employed to expedite the diagnostic process.

An example of AI used to rapidly process ultrasound images for the prediction of cancer was recently published[v] in the Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology journal, showing how AI can be trained for the improved detection of breast cancer, demonstrating a high level of differentiation between benign and malignant cases.

Future applications and capabilities for biomedical imaging will further integrate AI technologies, creating a near seamless stream of data and communication between the patient, medical care provider, and the clinician for rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment tailored to the patient’s needs.

Advancements in AI driven ultrasonic devices

There are also exciting developments in ultrasonic devices for complex surgeries. In general, ultrasonic surgery has been around for several decades, traditionally focusing on dental applications in the 1950s[vi] through to osteotomy in the 1970s[vii], with the following decades seeing progress in the development of ultrasonic devices for soft-tissue surgeries[viii].

Some UK based companies are currently engineering new robotically-assisted ultrasonic surgical platforms, using miniaturised configurations of ultrasonic devices and scalpels mounted on robotic systems to provide clinicians and surgeons with the precision and control they require for complex operations.

Robotic surgery is now being applied across urology, cardiology, and gynaecology. While other organisations have innovated a torsional ultrasonic scalpel, which can rapidly and reliably seal vessels.

Patient-focussed technology from surgical devices…

The advantages of ultrasonics in surgery include the greater operational precision and control achievable, in addition to faster patient recovery times and lower levels of damage to surrounding tissues.

Recently there have been some notable developments in ultrasonic surgical devices to meet current technology demands, including the requirements of modern devices to be flexible, adaptable, and controllable.

Further to the selected diagnostic and treatment approaches detailed thus far, there continues to be innovations in the monitoring and treatment of a range of medical conditions in the home, putting the patient at the centre of treatment and recovery.

…to monitoring devices

The popularity of wearable technologies for healthcare monitoring has accelerated recently. In addition to the well-known applications of wearables for monitoring health markers, including blood pressure, wearables can now be used to monitor conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease[ix], neurological and psychiatric conditions[x], and even to monitor and promote wound healing[xi].

Biosensors are typically engineered using silicones and polymeric materials, often referred to as electronic skin, which can transfer electrical signals under the application of a mechanical force, such as through a stretching motion.

These can be tailored to capture a range of physical measurements, including temperature and applied pressure. Advances in wearable technologies will also include AI capabilities over the coming years, opening many clinical possibilities for the patient in the home.

The future of AI in Medtech

According to “The Impact of Technology in 2025 and Beyond: IEEE A Global Study”[xii], healthcare is one of the top industry sectors that will be most impacted by technology over the next year. AI is significantly influencing the development of medical technology devices, from imaging tools to wearable monitoring devices to robotically assisted ultrasonic platforms. As its capabilities grow, it will become more embedded in everyday medical practice with speed and precision.

Dr Andrew Feeney is IEEE Member and Senior Lecturer in Ultrasonics at the University of Glasgow

[i] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-government-tech-deals-boost-the-business-of-cancer-detection

[ii] https://news.sky.com/story/new-miniature-scanner-could-revolutionise-diagnosis-of-diseases-like-cancer-diabetes-and-arthritis-13225175

[iii] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-67993386

[iv] https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/science-innovation-technology/future-womens-health-technology/ai-ultrasounds

[v] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301562924002175?casa_token=DC1lET8PhjEAAAAA:Yc5RB4vj-MoEL038QM3D_MLvx6uzbIK1Kkf21UPqN9dIHtaDZ9MV7q2ORS5qzZSfPZ6vRLjIoA

[vi] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0300571291900303

[vii] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4991263/

[viii] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9781782420286000235

[ix] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-024-00755-6

[x] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/INMD.20230037

[xi] https://techxplore.com/news/2019-04-wearable-sensors-mimic-skin-wound.html