Artificial Intelligence is everywhere and is disrupting the medical technology space at great speed. With a £50m boost for research into healthcare AI in 2018, it’s set to be one of the biggest technologies to impact the space over the next few years.

So how is AI set to change the face of Medical Technology?

Medical Imaging

One of the biggest applications of AI in the medtech world is its use in medical imaging. It is set to improve the accuracy of diagnoses via medical imaging, as well as aiding in the development of personalised treatment plans for patients.

AI is already proving to be successful in this area. Five new AI medical centres which will use software to to digitise scans are set to open in the UK, and NVIDIA’s deep learning AI platform, Clara, was adopted by King’s College London, making them the first European clinical partner to adopt the software.

Ophthalmology

AI is expected to provide new automated tools for both diagnosing and treating ocular issues. AI-based systems are already being used to detect retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

AI will have a wide application in the ophthalmic market, and ophthalmologists will be able to use it as a both a tool for learning and for diagnosis. These systems can verify diagnoses, perfect IOL calculations and may even be able to predict the onset of certain diseases.

Surgical outcomes

As we’ve previously discussed, surgical robots are changing the face of surgery. Robots enabled with artificial intelligence are assisting in surgical procedures to improve patient outcomes. Machine learning and analytics are helping to reduce surgical variations and can help surgeons during procedures by providing data in real-time.

Experts say to expect far more AI-enabled, robot-aided surgery over the coming years!

Personalised care

One of the major applications of AI in the medtech space relates to its use for personalised medicine. Whilst in its infancy, these technologies will help to shape more effective treatments for oncology patients, from diagnosis through to treatment.

REVOLVER is a technology developed by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research and The University of Edinburgh that uses machine learning in the identification of patterns in DNA mutation within cancers. The genetic changes that occur within the tumors of patients cause the cancer’s growth and spread, and the reactions they have to treatment. Deep-learning hopes to identify these genetic changes so that hospitals can provide increasingly personalised, effective treatments.

Recruitment with AI in mind

It’s no surprise that AI is hailed as being one of the most exciting medtech developments happening right now. As with all new technological developments, the rise of AI in all areas of medtech will change the recruitment landscape…

• The demand for skills will increase and companies will need to consider both up-skilling their existing workforces and recruiting new talent
• Companies developing AI technologies will be looking for top talent to support their products, including sales teams, marketers and engineers
• Recruitment plans are increasingly important to stay competitive and make the most of the market

Get in touch!

If you’re looking for the next step in your career or are a hiring manager eager to expand their team, FMC Meditech can help! Get in touch with us on meditech@fmctalent.com