Medical devices often perform vital tasks. Inside these devices are usually embedded systems, which therefore have a critical function. In the future, AI is expected to expand the range of functions even further. Software is playing an increasingly important role in embedded systems, and not just through AI.
The growth prospects for the embedded sector are very optimistic, with annual growth of around 7.5 percent. Analysts expect even slightly higher figures for embedded systems in the medical sector in the coming years. They see the reasons for this in the increasing digitization of the medical sector, the introduction of artificial intelligence in medical devices, the aging of society and the resulting increase in demand for medical devices.
Embedded systems already play a central role in modern medical devices, as they ensure the functionality and control of these devices. Specialized computer systems designed for specific tasks have long been integrated into most medical devices. They are used to monitor, control and automate the various functions of these devices.
Embedded systems are particularly important for portable health devices and telemedicine solutions. Among other things, they enable remote monitoring of patients' health and personalized treatments. In addition, healthcare providers are increasingly striving for automation and improved data analysis. This is leading to greater dissemination and increased efficiency of embedded systems. Embedded systems such as control units or IoT modules can thus be updated, adapted and functionally expanded after production without replacing the hardware. Traditionally, embedded systems are strongly defined by the hardware.
Real-time systems in the medical sector
Medical devices such as pacemakers, infusion pumps and ventilators usually require precise real-time control to function correctly. Embedded systems perform these tasks by controlling the sensors and actuators and ensuring that the devices operate according to the specified parameters. Specialized operating systems, such as Embedded Linux, ensure compliance with strict regulatory safety standards such as ISO 14971 and enable secure data transmission in telemedicine. This ISO standard regulates risk management for medical devices.
Looking ahead, experts expect embedded systems in medical devices to increasingly combine connectivity, intelligence and patient-centred design to deliver better patient care outcomes. The focus on patient-centred design is expected to result in easier handling, longer battery life and greater tolerance to operator error.
Networking is becoming increasingly relevant as medical devices more and more need to communicate with each other and collect and exchange data in real time. One example of this is mobile devices such as wearables for monitoring vital signs, which continuously transmit data to cloud-based systems or hospital networks to enable ongoing monitoring of the patient's health status. In the future, more devices are likely to integrate into existing digital health systems via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity, thereby ensuring better patient care and more efficient diagnoses.
Megatrend AI
Embedded systems are also increasingly being combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to analyze complex medical data, recognize patterns and provide predictive analytics. For example, in imaging procedures such as MRI or X-rays, embedded systems could be equipped with AI algorithms for image processing to automatically detect tumors or other abnormalities. AI endoscopy is expected to perform automatic tissue classification during surgery. The integration of AI and ML is likely to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnostic processes, and devices are becoming increasingly intelligent.
Consequently, a technological generational change is currently taking place in modern medical technology. NVIDIA also wants to play an important role in this segment and has positioned its Jetson platform for this purpose. It is designed to provide the computing power required for AI-intensive clinical applications and is increasingly being used in real-time image processing and surgical robots. Some components even have configurable power consumption.
At the same time, RISC-V is establishing itself as a flexible, energy-efficient standard for miniaturised medical devices. In recent years, RISC-V has evolved from a research project at the University of California, Berkeley, into a global standard for instruction set architecture (ISA) in embedded systems. One of the advantages of RISC-V is the high adaptability of the instruction set. Manufacturers can use it to produce processors tailored precisely to a medical application without having to pay licence fees to development companies for specific processor architectures such as ARM. Developers can thus implement only the instruction sets required for a specific application, such as an ECG sensor. This saves space on the chip and massively reduces energy consumption.
Software defines hardware
Another development is also changing the market: software-defined devices. In these systems, the software determines the hardware functionality. Software-defined devices (SDDs) play a central role in the modernization of embedded systems by shifting the focus from rigid, hardware-based functionality to flexible, software-controlled functionality. Embedded systems such as control units or IoT modules can thus be updated, adapted and functionally expanded after production without having to replace the hardware. Traditionally, embedded systems are strongly defined by the hardware. Moving away from hardware dependency allows embedded systems based on software-defined devices to be made more adaptable, durable and intelligent. In medical devices, SDD could become the driving force behind many new developments in the field of embedded systems.
Sources
The content of this article is based on a series of selected specialist and market analyses. Among other sources, it draws on the market study “Embedded System Market Size Forecast” by Industry Research, supplemented by the report “Embedded Systems Market Outlook, Insights and Forecast” by Skyquest , which highlights key trends and forecasts for the industry. In addition, assessments from “MedTech in 2026: what’s changing device innovation” were consulted, which describe current developments in the medical technology sector. For regulatory aspects, the “ISO 14971 standard” as described on Wikipedia was taken into account. Technical information is also sourced from the “NVIDIA: Jetson Platform” and the official website of the organisation “RISC-V International”, which provides a comprehensive insight into the open processor architecture.