Medical devices have traditionally relied on advanced hardware technology to provide the majority of the application-specific features for a given device function.

Today, medical devices are becoming more connected, and the multifunction software that runs on devices is more complex and more often a key differentiator in the success of the product. In addition, manufacturers must design a user-friendly interface (for home use) and provide field-upgradable units. These design elements lead to the use of off-the-shelf software components that are more commonly found in consumer devices and computers in the home.

This article looks at some of the embedded software technologies that can be used today to create medical devices to meet these new demands, including a real-life example of a company that creates leading-edge medical products using key software technologies. It will also look at how the medical industry can take advantage of emerging hardware and software technologies that help bring embedded and traditional computer systems together.

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