Wisdom Healthcare Research Society | The Order of Learning: MATLAB's Role in Medical Innovation Files IPO Prospectus

The rapid advancements in technology and AI are driving the swift development and continuous innovation of the medical device industry. From hemodialysis machines to ventilators, from surgical robots to cardiac/cerebral pacemakers, and from angiography systems to electrophysiological ablation, R&D investment in innovative medical devices is booming. Even in vertically specialized niches such as digital PCR, significant financing rounds are being secured. The healthcare industry, once perceived as conservative and closed, is now gradually demonstrating robust vitality and innovative capacity.

Within the industry, this era of transformation is jokingly referred to as the “Decade of Frenzy.” The author prefers to characterize it as a decade in which colleagues have striven with a scientific research spirit grounded in the sequential learning process of “Learning, Questioning, Reflecting, Discriminating, and Practicing,” navigating the thorny path of knowledge-seeking and exploration. Leveraging MATLAB as the scientific computing platform and Simulink as the system simulation tool, and based on the seamless integration of Model-Based Design and AI technologies, let us together gain insights into the impact of MATLAB on medical innovation.

High-end medical devices involve complex technologies and multidisciplinary applications. Whether for ventilators, hemodialysis machines, or surgical robots, the traditional development process requires the full integration of mechanical, electrical, and control algorithm components before simulation and validation can be conducted. Relying on physical hardware prototypes results in prolonged debugging and iteration cycles, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive.So, is it possible to conduct closed-loop verification at an early stage of the project, achieving rapid prototyping while ensuring the high reliability of the device?

In the realm of high-end medical imaging innovation, FPGAs and ASICs are widely utilized, ranging from endoscopes, angiography systems, and CT scanners to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) devices and even pacemakers. However, the lengthy and complex design process for FPGAs and ASICs makes the hardware implementation of many advanced algorithms extremely challenging. This is particularly true in the field of medical imaging, where real-time prototyping is often required to determine the feasibility of numerous algorithms.How to Address the Complexity and Real-Time Prototyping Challenges in FPGA/ASIC Design Flows to Accelerate Hardware Implementation of Medical Imaging Algorithms?

During the traditional R&D phase, active electrophysiological medical devices are typically limited to open-loop testing. However, many issues only emerge during closed-loop testing involving the interaction between the device and organs, such as pacemaker-mediated tachycardia (PMT) and pacemaker-mediated arrhythmia (PMA).What innovative R&D approaches are employed in the development of electrophysiological medical devices to address the limitations of traditional methods and enhance product performance and safety?

The greatest advantage of the Model-Based Design (MBD) workflow is the ability to perform full-system closed-loop simulation, encompassing electrical, mechanical, and control domains, during the early stages. By leveraging automatic code generation, Simulink models are automatically converted into embedded code that runs on real-time simulation hardware, enabling rapid verification and iterative optimization through rapid prototyping and real-time simulation.This real-time simulation can also verify extreme operating conditions, fault testing/injection, and more, significantly improving test coverage at a low cost.

Model-Based Design for High-End Surgical/Therapeutic Devices

With MATLAB and Simulink, engineers, researchers, and scientists can use model-based design to design, simulate, and test therapeutic devices while complying with industry regulations and standards.