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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, ultrasonic nebulizers and intra-oral 3D imaging are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Intraocular pressure monitoring, automated diabetes management, and tissue repair implants are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas is CPR assistance devices, which is now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for the medical devices industry

Pulmonary medication delivery is a key innovation area in medical devices

Pulmonary medication delivery is a targeted method of administering drugs into the bloodstream through the lungs. Allowing for direct and rapid absorption of medications in the form of aerosols, dry powder, or nebulized solutions, it's used to treat respiratory and lung-related conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis.

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 90+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established medical devices companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of pulmonary medication delivery.

Key players in pulmonary medication delivery – 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 pulmonary medication delivery

Chiesi Farmaceutici is one of the leading patent filers in the field of pulmonary medication delivery. Some other key patent filers in the field include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, AstraZeneca, and Syqe Medical.

In terms of application diversity, AlgiPharma leads the pack, while Orbia Advance and C. H. Boehringer Sohn stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, AstraZeneca held the top position, followed by Insmed, and Sumitomo Chemical.

Pulmonary medication delivery offers efficient ways to manage respiratory conditions, while minimizing side effects and improving patient adherence. It has received favorable attention and can be considered promising for its role in targeted treatment due to its ability to provide localized, rapid, and highly effective therapy, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for patients with respiratory conditions. The outlook for this drug delivery system is expected to be significantly improved by innovations in drug development, personalized medicine, and advancements in healthcare technologies.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the medical devices industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Medical Devices.

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.