Medical technology – what is it?
Medical technology is the basis for first-class medical care. More than 500,000 products are part of everyday life in hospitals, medical practices and in nursing. They save lives and improve the quality of life of patients, people with disabilities and the elderly. Medical technology innovations to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases support a self-determined life.
Medical technology – made for all situations
Medical technology is more than just wheelchairs, pacemakers and computed tomography. Medical technology is also omnipresent in the life of healthy people, accompanying them for a lifetime. It is already present even before birth: the ultrasound device enables parents to have a first look at their future child. After birth, fever thermometers and plasters become constant companions. As a teenager, X-ray devices help to check tooth position, and contact lenses correct shortsightedness. After a bicycle accident, metal splints stabilise a broken wrist. The coil prevents pregnancies, while pregnancy tests confirm them. When age takes its toll, blood pressure monitors serve well here and telemedicine supports independent living in the individual's own home.
Medical devices perform an invaluable service for diagnosing, monitoring and treating diseases. They help with medical care after accidents, or make life easier for people with disabilities. What's more, when the going gets tough, medical technology products such as defibrillators or heart-lung machines save lives. Around 10,000 product families show the diversity of medical technology. They are made to protect, improve and maintain the health of every single individual in accordance with their specific needs.
What is a medical device?
Source: Swissmedic
Legaldefinition
«Medical devices are products, including instruments, apparatus, in-vitro diagnostics, software and other goods or substances which are intended to have, or are presented as having, a medical use and whose principal effect is not obtained with a medicinal product.»
(Law on Therapeutic Products Article 4 paragraph b)
Product groups
Medical goods
for equipping hospitals, medical practices, retirement and nursing homes, rehabilitation clinics and medical laboratories, as well as devices for use at home.
Consumables
such as plasters, syringes, scalpels or cannulas.
Rehabilitation products
including everyday aids support people with limited mobility. Robotic and sensor-based devices help patients to relearn motion functions.
Orthoses
correct, support or relieve the torso or limbs, while prostheses replace body parts.
In-vitro diagnostic devices
and laboratory supplies are used to examine blood and tissue samples.
Orthopaedic products
help with the treatment of deformities, diseases, wear or fractures/ruptures of the musculoskeletal system.
Dental products
support the prevention, detection and treatment of diseases and deformities in the dental, oral and jaw area.
Imaging equipment
provides two, three or four dimensional image data of the patient's organs and skeletal system. It is primarily used to detect disease-induced changes or to visually depict findings.
Radiotherapy apparatus
uses ionising radiation to heal tumour-induced diseases or to delay their progression. X-ray, electron or gamma radiation, as well as protons, heavy ions or neutrons are used for this.
Cardiology products
support the diagnosis and treatment of the cardiovascular system.
Ophthalmic products and instruments
are used for diagnosis and treatment of diseases and dysfunctions of the eye.
Aids for administering medication
help, for example, with monitoring and treating chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Wound management products
are used to assess, clean and care for wounds and promote their healing process.
ENT products
help with diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, deformities and dysfunctions of the ears, nose and mouth, throat, larynx and oesophagus.
e-health applications
such as telemedicine support the treatment and care processes with electronic processing of information and its exchange. m-health adds e-health solutions to mobile devices. Healthcare applications help to diagnose, prevent, treat and monitor diseases.
How do medical devices come onto the market?
Source: Swissmedic