MedTech's Innovation and Challenges: Key Q&As from 2024 on AI, Robotics, and Regulation

In 2024, the medtech industry saw robust discussions among leaders regarding emerging technologies and market challenges. Mark Slack, co-founder of CMR Surgical, spoke about the company's efforts to disrupt Intuitive Surgical's two-decade dominance in the soft tissue robotic surgery space, emphasizing the need for healthy market competition. Similarly, the conversation expanded to artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing influence in various aspects of healthcare. Medtronic’s leadership highlighted the role AI is playing in improving cardiovascular diagnostics by reducing false positives, while leaders from Abbott and Johnson & Johnson discussed the potential and realities of pulsed field ablation in treating heart disease and how digital technologies are transforming orthopedics.

The year also featured significant insights from both device manufacturers and regulators. FDA officials discussed the regulatory challenges surrounding AI in medical devices, especially as global regulators struggle to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology. In addition to the technological front, companies like Canary Medical made strides in smart implantable devices, with collaborations focused on improving treatment for knee and heart conditions. Throughout 2024, the industry tackled pressing issues such as cybersecurity in medical devices, with CDRH officials outlining compliance with new rules and addressing ongoing security threats in healthcare.