March_AI Medical Topics|AI /ML Intelligence leads to a new generation of medical equipment innovation.
The hottest topic right now is the ChatGPT chatbot, the world's craziest chatbot, AI (Artificial Intelligence) / ML (Machine Learning) is now more popular in life applications such as autonomous driving, voice assistants, and chatbots, and with the power and completeness of the AI / ML functions in recent years, it is also gradually creating an integration of the application of the medical end of the crazy tide.
From the perspective of three major trends, AI/ML application in medical devices is developing rapidly, (1) the cumulative number of US FDA-approved AI/ML-embedded medical devices continues to rise, and as of October 2022, the US FDA has approved 521 pieces of AI/ML-assisted medical devices; (2) with the full-scale application of AI in digital wearable devices in the 2023 CES, AI/ML seems to be the standard configuration for new-generation medical devices and innovative digital health devices; and (3) recent acquisitions by international medical manufacturers have placed more emphasis on AI/ML-assisted content, and AI/ML has become the standard configuration for new generation of medical devices and innovative digital health devices. AI/ML has become the standard configuration for new generation medical devices and innovative digital health devices; and (3) recent acquisitions by international medical manufacturers have placed more emphasis on the content of AI/ML assistance, and AI/ML has become the preferred target for acquisitions, all of which demonstrate the importance of AI/ML applications in medical devices. In addition, with the future trend of medical demand for "telemedicine" and "virtual clinic", the public will have a hybrid model of virtual and real medical care, and through ICT technology to synchronize and connect medical and health information at the hospital, clinic, and home care ends, AI /ML will be introduced into more medical equipment and digital health devices, and the application of basic algorithms to complex AI/ML-assisted diagnostic products will be helpful in creating precision and high efficiency, This trend will also promote the innovation and value-added of new-generation medical products, allowing manufacturers to seek to sell a wider variety of devices to hospitals. This trend will also promote the innovation and value-added of new-generation medical products, allowing manufacturers to seek to sell a wider variety of equipment and instruments to hospitals.
According to Grand View Research's Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market Report, the global healthcare AI market will reach US$15.4 billion in 2022, with a CAGR of 37.5% from 2023 to 2030, and the market will reach US$208.2 billion in 2030. AI/ML is considered a new growth point for medical devices. AI/ML is regarded as a new growth point for medical devices. Unlike the past, medical devices are not only developing towards portability, lightweight and affordability, but are also developing towards intelligence and integration in response to the use of medical devices in hospitals, emergency clinics, or home healthcare. AI/ML-enabled medical devices combine continuous digital medical records, electronic medical records, data databases, or alarm systems to help medical professionals monitor and assess patient conditions, and provide intensive diagnostic assistance that physicians cannot perform, allowing physicians to seamlessly integrate their tasks with the smart medical system, and thus AI/ML is changing the rules of the game in the healthcare market.
AI/ML輔助診療已成為國際醫材市場超車賽道,也將是台廠攻城掠地的契機
從US FDA核准521件AI /ML醫材清單來看,以放射學領域核准數量最多約佔75%,其次為心血管領域約佔11%,主要受惠於醫學影像和心電圖容易取得大量數據,經演算法產生輔助診斷的加值效益,因此成為兵家必爭之地。而目前擁有最多US FDA 核准的 AI/ML 醫療設備公司分別是GE Healthcare的42 件和Siemens的29件,其中GE Healthcare的42 件中大部分都用於放射醫學設備。從企業佈局和收購方面來看,GE Healthcare已開發Edison AI平台廣泛應用於自家CT、MRI、X光和超音波設備,並透過收購caption health再取得AI超音波心力衰竭輔助診斷,來完善超音波設備的領先地位;手術醫材大廠Stryker也透過收購Vocera Communications和Gauss Surgical分別取得AI敗血症輔助診斷,以及AI剖腹產和分娩失血量監測,以強化手術護理效益,心血管醫材大廠Abbott開發Ultreon平台應用於AI冠狀動脈血流和阻塞監測,來增進心血管領域業務優勢。以上都可看出國際醫材大廠佈局AI /ML新賽道的態勢,其一致的目標是進行產品和技術整合,在提高病患診斷療效和體驗的同時,進一步促進醫療設備的創新和發展,此外更覬覦AI/ML新賽道帶來的產業優勢。
台灣過去承襲技術加工和成本製造效率,將台灣醫材產業從製造業切入國際代工、再走入品牌,在血糖監測、隱形眼鏡、微創醫材及高階影像等領域都有不錯表現。現階段則從結合醫療服務、意見領袖醫師和AI/ML輔助診療優勢,將可帶動醫療科技產業朝向精深化升級。借鏡Butterfly和Caption health合作模式的外擴效益,Butterfly是輕量化手持式超音波診斷探頭製造商,Caption health是AI輔助超音波系統開發商,經兩家創新醫療科技公司的強強聯手,在原本就競爭激烈的醫療超音波設備市場中,創造出突圍市場的。AI手持式超音波診斷具有操作簡便、速度高效和準確性,除廣泛被市場接受外,AI輔助診斷的應用已逐漸清晰,最終促使醫療超音波巨頭GE醫療對Caption health的收購,來鞏固其在善超音波設備的領先地位。因此搭上AI/ML的趨勢,有望讓台灣中小型廠商另闢蹊徑,在國際大廠盤據的醫療設備市場中異軍突起,這也將是台廠切入醫療設備市場攻城掠地的契機。






