Medical Device & Diagnostics Industry

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>>30 Years/30 Devices

Some of the devices nominated by our readers are small enough to travel through a blood vessel. Some are so large they fill an entire room. Some cost thousands of dollars but will stay in the body for 10 years, and some cost pennies and are designed to be thrown away after one use. This industry is characterized by innovators looking for the best way to engineer a solution to a problem. And device designers are noted for their ability to borrow ideas from other industries.

In the last 30 years, we have witnessed the industry’s coming of age, with its first blockbuster device and its shift from individual inventors and small start-ups to globally recognized brand names. Here is a look back at the devices that have changed the industry and the world.

CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System 1999

Photo courtesy of ACCURAY

The CyberKnife is a miniature linear accelerator mounted to a robotic arm. It noninvasively delivers concentrated beams of radiation to a targeted tumor from multiple positions and angles. The tumor receives a cumulative dose of radiation high enough to control or kill the tumor cells while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. It delivers to almost all parts of the body, particularly for surgically complex tumors. In 1999, the device was approved for treatment of tumors in the head and base of skull. In 2001, FDA cleared enhancements to the CyberKnife System for tumors anywhere in the body.

da Vinci Surgical System 1999

Image courtesy of INTUITIVE SURGICAL

The da Vinci surgical system has made it possible to treat a broader range of conditions with a minimally invasive approach. The system’s microchip technology and 3-D optics enable surgeons to perform complex procedures by making tiny incisions. The da Vinci offers users greater precision, an increased range of motion, improved dexterity, and enhanced visibility. Because of the device, patients may experience less pain, less scarring, reduced risk of infection, and a faster recovery time. The surgical system has been used to treat heart conditions, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, morbid obesity, and mitral valve regurgitation.