The healthcare industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by telemedicine, real-time diagnostics, smart hospitals and access to digital therapies, as well as the growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality (AR), robotics and data management practices. In the last three years alone, there have been over 106,000 patents filed and granted in the healthcare industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Cellular imaging techniques.
However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilising and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
200+ innovations will shape the healthcare industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the healthcare industry using innovation intensity models built on over 443,000 patents, there are 200+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, drug delivery device security, microscopic image analysis models, and cellular imaging techniques are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Smart balloon catheters, automated immunoassay analysers, and AI-assisted MRI are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are smart fitness training system and non-invasive physiological monitoring, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry
Cellular imaging techniques is a key innovation area in artificial intelligence
Cellular imaging techniques are methods that enable the identification and study of cellular organelles and macromolecules using light-based or electron-based microscopes. Several methods of cellular imaging techniques include phase-contrast microscopy, fluorescent imaging, brightfield microscopy, confocal microscopy, 4D live-cell imaging, automated microscopy, etc. The technique is very useful in biological, medical, and pharmaceutical research.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 60+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established healthcare companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of cellular imaging techniques.
Key players in cellular imaging techniques – a disruptive innovation in the healthcare industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to cellular imaging techniques
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Heartflow is the leading patent filer in the cellular imaging techniques market. Some other leading patent filers include Microsoft and F.Hoffmann-La Roche.
In terms of application diversity, Light AI leads the pack, followed by Theator and Magic Leap. By means of geographic reach, ATSR held the top position, followed by Furukawa and Transmural Biotech in second and third spots, respectively.
Cellular imaging tools are crucial in cell biology labs because they provide an overview of the cellular organelles and reveal novel therapeutic approaches. The technology has led the path for improved medication delivery systems, antibiotics, and cancer treatments. Fluorescence microscopy cell imaging proved to be an effective technique for drug screening and visualisation. There is still much to learn about stem cells and other cell regeneration.
To further understand how artificial intelligence is disrupting the healthcare industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on AI in Healthcare - 2021.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
