Ten Top Technologies That Will Transform The Healthcare Industry

As healthcare moves to a model of any-time, any-place, continuous and personalized care, it is

important to identify the key technologies that will enable this transition and work toward their
implementation into different care settings. Frost & Sullivans Visionary Healthcare research has
identified several technologies that are most likely to impact healthcare paradigms by 2025.

It is interesting to note that technological advances in the fields of computing, machine learning,
nanotechnology and electronics are all playing a role in helping reshape the industry. The figure
below provides an overview of the top technologies that will change this industry dramatically, and
an analysis of the time frame for their commercialization and maturation.

We are now beginning to see larger data sets in healthcare research and delivery to analyze and
make sense of entire genome sequences; impact of environmental, behavioral and hereditary factors
on health; population health data; patient generated health data; etc. The amount of such data
becoming available is only set to increase exponentially by 2025. The available computing prowess,
even those of supercomputers, will not be adequate to generate quick and actionable insights from
such large data sets. But quantum computing, which has a far greater calculation capacity than
traditional computers, could help solve some of the highly complex healthcare problems. One
noteworthy company in this field is Canadian D-Wave Systems, which boasts of clients like NASA and
Google. However, the possibility of widespread quantum computing is prevented by the problem of
quantum incoherence, which, it is hoped, will be solved sometime soon.

Artificial Intelligence

While the human capacity to analyze and make deductions is superior to any other species on the
planet, it is still limited in terms of the volume of information that can be processed quickly. Artificial
intelligence makes this process faster by several degrees and far more efficient than humanly
possible. IBMs Watson, for example, can read 40 million documents in 15 seconds. With machine
learning capabilities, the technologys healthcare applications are boundless. Some of the
applications currently being developed are assisting physicians and radiologists to make accurate
diagnoses (IBM Watson Health), predicting which potential therapeutic candidates are most likely to
work as efficient drugs (Atomwise) and mining medical records data to improve healthcare service
delivery (Google DeepMind Health).

Robotic Care

Robots have been in healthcare for a long time nowthe Da Vinci surgical robot is a case in point. But
several other robotic applications are emerging and we should expect a lot more robots operating in
the healthcare space by 2025. Consider the simplistic telepresence robots like those offered by
InTouch Health, allowing the doctor to "move around" and examine patients, while being seated at
his or her computer at a distant location. Or Aethons TUG robots that help hospitals internally
transport their pharmacy supplies, lab samples, patient food, clean or soiled linen or even trash, all
by themselves. Then there are the patient and elderly care robots that help in lifting patients from
beds to wheelchairs and back, like the Robear robot or the Riba robot in Japan. Finally, robots can
also play a role in pediatric therapy for autism disorders, phobias and as distractions; several
examples exist--Phobot, PARO, NAO and Milo.
Nanorobots

At the nanoscale, robots can play entirely different roles, this time inside the human body, traveling
through bloodstreams. Ongoing research is exploring the potential nanorobots can have in vitals
monitoring, performing body functions (e.g. carrying oxygen, destroying infectious agents like
bacteria), targeted drug delivery (e.g. cancer therapy, blood clotting) or even to perform nanoscale,
in situ surgeries. The actual list of applications of nanomedicine, the umbrella term for
nanotechnology applications in healthcare, is even larger and more fascinating. It includes assisting
biological research (cell simulations), being intracellular sensors for diagnostics and playing a role in
molecular medicine (genetic therapy). At the very least, we should see the beginning of testing of
such applications by 2025.

Cyborgization

The year 2025 should bring not just the introduction of robots inside our bodies, but also the
transformation of the human body itself into partial robotic beings. This can manifest in several
forms, some of which are visible even todaylimb replacements, organ replacements, internal
electronics and capabilities, limbs or senses that are enhanced in function compared to their normal
counterparts. Apart from the "bionic" prosthetics movement, an estimated 30,00050,000 people
already have an implanted RFID chip inside their bodies. In the future, we are likely to see enhanced
capabilities in terms of vision and hearing or with limbs, especially in defense application areas. The
artificial pancreas is a subject of intense research, and it is likely that more sophisticated versions of
these devices may even be implanted in the human body in the futureto supplement or even
completely replace a normal pancreas.

Brain-Computer Interfaces

Another form of cyborgization is the use of brain-computer interfaces to connect a wired brain
directly to an external device. Apart from the research and brain-mapping applications currently in
use, the technology is being developed for "neural bypass" applications--helping paralyzed patients
regain control of their limbs via "external" connections to the limbs. Similar applications are being
developed wherein the bodys neural framework is tapped using electric stimulation to modify
certain functions.

Existing examples include cochlear implants and pacemakers, while applications being developed
include retinal implants (to restore sight) and spinal cord stimulators (for pain relief).

Medical Tricorder (Diagnostic Device)

Taking cue from the device popularized by the Star Trek franchise, efforts are aimed at developing a
hand-held portable diagnostic device that can scan the human body and diagnose their ailments
within seconds. While the fantasy version of the device could do this, current efforts are more
realistic in their approach. The $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize competition launched in
2012, for example, aims at diagnosing 13 medical conditions (10 required, 3 elective) including strep
throat, sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, with a consumer-friendly interface device weighing no
more than five pounds. With the winners of this competition set to be announced in 2017, we could
expect such devices to be commercially available by 2025.
Digital Avatars

After self-diagnosing using a tricorder, patients in 2025 will want to get in touch with a doctor. Of
course, telehealth will be an option, but there might be another option available for satisfying
queries or getting more information on the diagnosisjust like the generic voice assistants available
today. While Siri or Cortana are voice-only assistants, the Dr. WebMD of 2025 can be a digital avatar
that can appear in holographic projections to assist patients and caregivers with their healthcare
queries. The holographic projection of a human doctor, backed by artificial intelligence technologies,
will allow for it to handle several queries simultaneously. Beyond answering queries, it could
schedule appointments for a physical checkup with a doctor in your network, and share notes of your
conversation with a doctor, in a digital-physical care coordination model.

Augmented/Virtual Reality

The applications of the two related technologies are manifold and relevant to both sides of the care
delivery equationproviders as well as patients. Providers can benefit from using enabled glasses for
medical education--to study the human anatomy, for example, and for observing and studying
surgeries as they were performed. Augmented reality could also be used during live surgeries to "see
through" anatomical structures to know the location of organs and blood vessels. On the patient
side, one of the most advanced applications already in use is the treatment of various phobias and
other mental health disorders. As the technology advances, we can expect more advanced
applications to emerge by 2025, especially for healthcare providers.

3D Printing

3D printing is a well-known technology with several existing applications in healthcare, including

orthopedic devices and several implants. Another application that is being considered is of 3D-
printed medicines, which can allow alteration of daily dosage and enable personalized medicine by
customizing formulations of the drugs. Another niche that is now opening up is that of 3D
bioprintingthe possibility of "printing" tissues or even organs. Applications range from skin tissue for
burn victims to organ replacements for patients. Tissues thus printed can also be used in drug
development, a service currently being offered by Organovo.

Companies within the healthcare industry must examine and study the impact of these technologies
on their business, as well as investing into utilizing these in the future if they are to continue to
sustain themselves profitably in the new environment.

Source: forbes.com

Recommended by : ROBERT M. CASE

President / C-Suite Executive

Medical Device / Diagnostics / Pharma / Consumer

Strategy / P&L / Innovation / Restructuring / M&A / Commercialization

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

rcase31@aim.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcase1/

Brady Corp / Precision Dynamics / Lifescan Inc.