Semiconductors in the medical sector
12 December 2024
The use of chips is now ubiquitous in all industries, and the healthcare sector is no exception. Chips are used in a wide range of equipment and devices, from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to insulin pumps used by diabetic patients.
More than 50% of medical devices contain electronic components – and their reliability, safety and speed in delivering results depend on the electronic system inside.
Despite continuous progress in science and medicine, more and more countries are cutting back on funding, making healthcare systems, including Italy’s, increasingly weak and inadequate.
Semiconductors are most used in devices that monitor a patient’s vital signs, and in those used by diabetic patients to automatically regulate the release of insulin. The chips in these devices can detect changes in the blood.
Another application is undoubtedly in radiology, where image enhancement and the possibility of 3D resolution allow the doctor to view X-rays and/or MRIs in a more realistic and precise manner.
There have also been many developments in nuclear medicine. Using special chips based on silicon or germanium, it is possible to measure the effect of charged particles or photons that can detect radiation. These devices are very similar to photovoltaic cells. Ionising radiation entering the semiconductor interacts with the silicon or germanium, exciting an electron and leaving a hole; the detection signal is then formed by collecting electron-hole pairs. Semiconductor detectors are used for radiation protection and in the analysis of radioactive materials.
Semiconductors are also used in therapeutic applications. Think of the pacemaker, which uses precise electrical stimulation to regulate heart rate; neurostimulators, which use targeted electrical pulses to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy; and cochlear implants, which use controlled electrical signals to restore hearing.
These devices rely on semiconductors to deliver high-precision electrical pulses that are critical to the safe and effective treatment of these conditions.
As mentioned previously, today’s semiconductors have also changed the way drugs are delivered, enabling the development of personalized, controlled, wireless systems that improve patient outcomes and minimise side effects. This allows healthcare professionals to deliver drugs in precise doses and at precise times.
As semiconductors become more powerful, smaller and more energy-efficient, it will be possible to create increasingly advanced devices, implantable systems and diagnostics that can be used directly on patients wherever they are (point-of-care), enabling diseases to be detected faster, reducing healthcare costs and involving patients more fully.
The increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms will open up new possibilities for data analysis, prediction and decision-making, facilitating more accurate diagnoses and personalised treatment plans.
Since they affect public health, medical devices require conformity and safety to be basic conditions, not just necessities.
In order to ensure the highest quality and most reliable supply, we select the independent test house with the most experience in the specific item andy rely on them to suggest the tests to be performed on that specific item based on its history and their experience.
Every item is tested and the test reports are made available to the customer before the material leaves the test house. The customer is also given the opportunity to select the warranty period that best suits them, to ensure that the material is compliant before the order is placed.
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