The medical devices industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by increased need for homecare, preventative treatments, early diagnosis, reducing patient recovery times and improving outcomes, as well as a growing importance of technologies such as machine learning, augmented reality, 5G and digitalization. In the last three years alone, there have been over 710,000 patents filed and granted in the medical devices industry. , according to GlobalData’s report on Internet of Things in medical: wireless gastric stimulation devices. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
30+ innovations will shape the medical devices industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the medical devices industry using innovation intensity models built on over 155,000 patents, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, programmable infusion devices, wearable sleep assistance devices, and context-aware patient monitoring are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Remote dialysis monitoring, NFC implants, and medical ERS are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas is body area network (BAN), which is now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for Internet of Things in the medical devices industry
Wireless gastric stimulation devices is a key innovation area in Internet of Things
The gastric electrical stimulation system helps control chronic nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis by stimulating the smooth muscles of the lower stomach. A small, battery-powered gastric stimulator is implanted beneath the skin in the lower abdominal region.
In medical examinations on gastroparesis patients, gastric electrical stimulation was found to considerably relieve gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly nausea and vomiting, as well as decrease hospitalisations and medication use, thus improving the patient's quality of life. However, this invasive treatment might result in consequences such as implantation site discomfort, infection, dislodgement, and skin concerns, as well as the danger of device removal.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established medical devices companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of wireless gastric stimulation devices.
Key players in wireless gastric stimulation devices – a disruptive innovation in the medical devices industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to wireless gastric stimulation devices
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Implantica Patent Ltd | 285 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Milux Holding Sa | 175 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Boston Scientific Corp | 32 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nano Retina, Inc. | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Johnson & Johnson | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Synergia Medical SA | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Accenture Plc | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Provectus Biopharmaceuticals Inc | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Rainbow Medical Ltd | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| PixelOptics Inc | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Carl Zeiss Stiftung AG | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Millar Instruments, Inc. | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The Cleveland Clinic Foundation | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nalu Medical Inc | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| MarcTec, LLC | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Embracer Group AB | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ams Research, LLC | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Prosthesica AG | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nyxoah SA | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Apollo Endosurgery Inc | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Interventional Autonomics Corporation | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Teslux Holding Sa | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Abbott Laboratories | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Aphrodite Women'S Health, Llc | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Alphabet Inc | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ventracor Limited | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Qualcomm Inc | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Retina Implant AG | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Continence Control Systems International PTY. LTD. | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Implantica Patent is the leading patent filer in the field of wireless gastric stimulation devices. Some other key patent filers in the field include Milux, Boston Scientific, and Nano Retina.
In terms of application diversity, Qualcomm leads the pack, followed by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Millar Instruments. By geographic reach, Implantica Patent holds the top position, followed by Synergia Medical and Zimmer Biomet in second and third spots, respectively.
The wireless gastric stimulation device outperforms the conventional, big battery-based GES in terms of efficiency and lifespan. The requirement for recurrent procedures for battery replacement is replaced by wireless tiny stimulators. It is possible to implant them using endoscopic operations because of the device's small size. GES is possible with a minimally invasive wireless gadget. This technology has the potential to overcome the constraints of invasive traditional treatments and enhance the use of GES as a therapy option.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the medical devices industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Medical Devices.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
