Digital technologies have the potential to transform surgery and medical device manufacturers are now evolving to advance this technology-driven revolution. So, how could ‘digital surgery’ lead to reduced variation, improved outcomes, and increased efficiency? Louise Frampton reports.
Pioneering medical technology firms are transforming the way surgical care is being delivered, driving a revolution in what has been coined ‘digital surgery’. One of the key innovators in this field is Johnson & Johnson MedTech. The Clinical Services Journal spoke to the J&J MedTech UK & Ireland leadership team to gain an insight into how technology is changing surgical approaches and improving outcomes for patients
The increasing emphasis on connected digital technologies has been reflected in a recent company name change from ‘Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices’ to ‘Johnson & Johnson MedTech’. Transitioning from ‘Medical Devices’ encapsulates the company’s strategic decision to move increasingly deeper into the world of digital technology.
At the start of this year, J&J MedTech announced a partnership with Microsoft to further enhance and broaden its ‘digital surgery ecosystem’ – the focus being on advancing surgical skills, enhancing workflows, and improving surgical decision-making, by leveraging Microsoft technologies to accelerate innovation. The company is bringing together the power of next-generation robotics, instrumentation, advanced imaging and visualisation, data and analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
“The world is becoming increasingly digital,” explains Hugo Breda, managing director of J&J MedTech for the UK & Ireland. “As a company, we are developing innovation that is changing the trajectory of healthcare. Innovation is in our DNA and there have been lots of ‘firsts’ in surgeries that have changed the way surgery is performed. Now, we are changing our name, as we believe the future is in combining medical devices and implants, with digital technologies and data analytics.
“Digital technology will play an important role in surgery and the move from analogue to digital will be a game changer – we want to lead that transformation. It will ultimately transform healthcare and allow clinicians to treat more patients.”
Breda believes digital technology will be particularly important in tackling the backlog, in the wake of the pandemic, but it will also mean better outcomes and a better experience for patients.
By Louise Frampton | Clinical Services Journal
Image Credit: Louise Frampton / Clinical Services Journal
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