The 6 best medical diagnostic devices
The interest in diagnostic medical equipment is rising, mainly pushed by several market drivers:
- The rising geriatric population, which fuels the need for better out-of-hospital care
- The evolution of technology
- Increasing adoption of different-form diagnostic devices across units
- Increasing demand for portable diagnostic devices
The diagnostic medical devices market size is expected to streamline software development:
- From over $43 billion in 2024
- To almost $60 billion by 2032, which demonstrates the trend towards integrating medical devices
Today’s medical diagnostic devices are no standalone tools – they’re part of interlinked healthcare ecosystems. From spirometers to thermometers, these tools now feed data directly into centralized healthcare systems, thereby powering smart strategies.
The shift isn’t just about convenience – it’s about driving speed and accuracy to free up valuable human hours.
Let’s talk about diagnostic medical devices examples changing traditional paradigms and how these transform the daily clinical workflow if incorporated in the software development business strategy.
The types of diagnostic medical devices
Wearable devices
Wearable devices are worn on the patient’s body to capture health indicators in real-time or at fixed intervals. Smart watches and trackers, adhesive patches, and other popular devices in this broad category are leveraged to monitor general indicators, sleep patterns, and other health metrics.
Non-wearable devices
Non-wearable devices are placed either near or around patients under medical observation, not on the body. Under-mattress monitors, contactless thermometers, and other non-intrusive devices can be especially useful in eldercare or settings where minimal patient interaction with technology is preferred.
Implantable devices
Implantable devices are surgically placed inside the body to monitor or regulate serious or complex conditions. Given their invasive character, they require strict approval, in particular in biocompatibility.
Smart accessories
Smart accessories are add-ons or enhancements for existing medical equipment, but aren’t standalone devices. Some examples are sensors that track inhaler usage, Bluetooth modules, connected pillboxes, as well as similar “extra” extensions.
Key features of diagnostic medical devices
Form factor & portability
Compact and lightweight designs allow assessment at the patient’s bedside, outpatient settings, or in the field. Connectivity and battery operation further extend the use in resource-limited, remote locations.
Data throughput
Rapid turnaround – whether seconds for point-of-care glucose meters or minutes for ultrasound – is essential. High throughput (batch testing, multi-sample analyzers) is critical for loaded lab workflows and emergencies where bottlenecks are unwanted.
Diagnostic accuracy & sensitivity
Diagnostic devices must deliver close-match measurements to gold-standard clinical equipment and specificity. Rigorous validation – often against reference instruments – are essential to establish performance benchmarks and minimize false results both during software development and exploitation.
To provide more insight, we explored the topic of integrating medical devices:
- Medical device integration with healthcare systems
- Medical device integration for telehealth purposes
Regulatory approval & compliance
Regulatory standards – FDA 21 CFR Part 820/807/809, ISO & IEC protocols – demonstrate safety and efficacy. Risking non-compliance means facing product recall, market withdrawal, legal liabilities, missed opportunities, and other business damage, which can be omitted beforehand during software development.
To avoid legal drama, we recommend to partner with providers who have relevant expertise and portfolio:
- Medical device integration with telemedicine application
- Medical platform with integrated telemedicine features
The 6 best medical diagnostic devices
Lung Monitor BT Smart
Company: Vitalograph
Country: UK
Users: People with chronic diseases
Metrics: Lung function
A handheld diagnostic spirometer that delivers clinic-quality testing of patient lung function at point-of-care. By measuring key parameters (FEV, FVC, PEF, FEF), the product can empower healthcare experts and patients to track respiratory health and detect early declines.
The user simply exhales into the device’s flowhead, and the pulmonary function is assessed all automatically.
In2itive Spirometer
Company: Vitalograph
Country: UK
Users: People with chronic diseases
Metrics: Forced vital capacity, normal expiratory volume, bronchodilator responsiveness
A hospital-grade diagnostic spirometer that allows high-accuracy testing of patient lung function in real-time. The accurate pulmonary testing can capture several metrics – forced vital capacity, normal expiratory volume, and patient’s bronchodilator responsiveness – without delay.
The convenient, detachable flowhead and the guided interface make the entire workflow even easier:
- The clinician first attaches the flowhead and selects the protocol
- The patient, after being quickly coached through expirations, then exhales into the device’s flowhead
And the test results are captured and displayed in real-time, that’s it.
iHealth Thermometers
Company: iHealth
Country: USA
Users: Anyone interested in an accurate reading
Metrics: Body temperature
A line of thermometers that deliver accurate readings for all age groups, from infants and children to seniors. The options include forehead and ear, as well as no-touch infrared models that deliver precise measurements in under two seconds.
A convenient, ergonomic option among available home medical diagnostic devices, with built-in fever alerts and memory recall functionality.
iHealth Scales
Company: iHealth
Country: USA (assumed based on brand)
Users: Anyone interested in an accurate reading, in particular professional athletes
Metrics: Body composition (weight, fat, muscle mass, bone mass)
Going beyond basic readings, these scales can analyze body composition – muscle and bone mass, and more. By using bioelectrical impedance, the scales can support weight-management and health-conscious individuals, in particular professional athletes.
The device is challenging the competition of other new medical diagnostic devices by providing:
- Historical graphs
- And engaging goal-setting features to adjust lifestyle choices
Besides synchronization with the companion application (either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi).
Vein Scanner
Company: AccuVein
Country: USA
Users: Healthcare professionals
Metrics: Vein visualization
A handheld, non-contact device that projects vein maps directly onto patient skin by using near-infrared light. Not requiring any connectivity, it integrates into loaded clinical workflows without needing additional pairing.
Talking about portable medical diagnostic devices, the innovative vein scanner is introducing new opportunities for venipuncture, IV insertions, and cannulations.
BT Ultrasound
Company: Clarius
Country: Canada
Target audience: Healthcare professionals
Metrics: Diagnostic imaging through ultrasound
A pocket-sized, wireless ultrasound that pairs with smartphones and tablets to deliver high-resolution imaging. It emits sound waves and captures the echoes to visualize soft tissues and organs to transmit valuable insights without carts or cables.
Among available portable diagnostic medical devices, this one is the perfect option to perform FAST testing, musculoskeletal scans, vascular assessments, and other clinical exams requiring accuracy.
The integration of medical diagnostic devices
Let’s face the truth, gone are the days of maintaining paper-based documentation that get lost mysteriously. Forget about manually entering patient readings, hunting down laboratory reports, and other old-school stuff – by integrating diagnostic devices, you transform your outdated clinical workflows.
This means, you obtain:
- Increased alignment between departments
- Reduced errors
- Better documentation
- Data-backed decision-making
By accessing Abto Software’s healthcare expertise, you delegate the complex technical issues to professionals. Cloud architecture, interoperability frameworks, data standards, connectivity protocols – we’re the right team for domain-specific software development.
We help you reimagine:
- Chronic disease management practices
- Remote patient monitoring methods
- Post-operative care and recovery
- Elderly care and assistance
- Occupational medicine
- Emergency response
- Sports medicine
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation, and other narrow-focused domains
How we can help
In the healthcare field for over 18 years, Abto Software is the best-match partner to deliver healthcare services. By handling every stage, from careful data processing to deployment and release, we integrate medical devices into existing healthcare workflows, prioritizing domain-specific software development.
Partner with Abto Software to unlock critical insights from gathered medical device data without security risks.
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