Robotic pill technology, which is already being used for diagnostic purposes, will likely be embraced for the oral delivery of biologic drugs as well. Biologic therapies currently require injections in most cases, but some are exploring specialized robotic pills as a pain-free approach that could increase convenience and compliance, and thus efficacy, of medicines. Several established companies and research centers are working on both diagnostic and biologic therapeutic applications of pill-based technologies.

Swiss-based Vivior AG has developed a wearable Visual Behavior Monitor (VBM) designed to help surgical ophthalmologists determine the best treatment options for patients. The company's initial target is the $2.15bn global refractive and cataract surgery market.

Infused with a fresh round of financing led by Boston Scientific, RenovoRx has begun a multicenter Phase 3 study of its dual-balloon infusion catheter to treat pancreatic cancer. The study will randomize therapy to either the RenovoCath System with the drug gemcitabine or to systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine and Celgene’s drug nab-paclitaxel delivered intravenously. The goal is to extend the current standard-of-care survival period from about one year to over two years.

Whether used for training surgeons outside of the operating room or as a valuable reference tool during surgery, the recent AAOS annual conference shows that orthopedic surgeons rank among several pioneering clinician groups who are embracing surgical solutions that extend into the worlds of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. With the global shift toward value-based health care, Proponents say these new technologies may offer surgeons new ways to improve operating times and efficiency, better patient outcomes and cut overall costs.

Aiming to improve the lives of patients living with chronic, intractable pain, Australian start-up Saluda Medical Pty Limited is the first and only neuromodulation company in the world to develop a closed-loop spinal cord stimulation system (SCS). Unlike other SCS systems marketed today, Saluda’s device, currently in clinical trials, is designed to measure the spinal cord’s response to electrical stimulation, and then respond to patient's preferred stimulation. 

EpicHeart by CorInnova is an advanced cardiac compression device that combines the advantages of a flexible endoskeleton and soft robotics to provide biventricular cardiac support for heart-failure patients. Because the device does not touch the blood, many adverse events such as stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding associated with existing cardiac-assist technologies are eliminated. Delivered minimally invasively, the potential patient population is also much larger than for a chronic left ventricular assist device.