Critical elements in the design, development and use of medical devices. A systemic perspective of orthopedic devices landscape in low- and middle-income countries

Towards Inclusive Diagnostics for Neglected Tropical Diseases: User Experience of a New Digital Diagnostic Device in Low-Income Settings

Designing new and inclusive diagnostic tools to detect Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to achieve rational disease control requires a co-design process where end-users’ input is important. Failure to involve all potential end-users in new diagnostics for NTDs can result in low use and adoption failure, leading to persistent infection hot spots and ineffective disease control. There are different categories of potential end-users of new diagnostic tools for NTD control, and it is unclear if there are differences between the user efficiency, effectiveness, perception, and acceptability across these end-user categories. This study evaluated the usability, user perception, contextual factors affecting the user’s experience, and acceptability of a new digital optical diagnostic device for NTDs across three types of potential end users. A total of 21 participants were tested. Laboratory scientists, technicians, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in training achieved similar scores on the usability and user perception questionnaires with no statistically significant difference between end-user categories. All participants also have high scores for the user perception domains which strongly correlate with the acceptability of the AiDx NTDx Assist device. This study indicates that, by providing digital diagnostic tools in combination with minimal training and support, CHEWs undergoing training and, by extension, CHEWs post-training, can be involved in the diagnoses of NTDs, potentially enhancing a community’s capabilities to diagnose, treat, and control NTDs.

Medical Device Product Innovation Choices in Asia: An Empirical Analysis Based on Product Space

Due to the increasing demand for health care, identifying and evaluating the feasibility of local medical device innovation and production is an important guarantee for the long-term sustainable development of a national health system, especially for Asian countries/regions that are plagued by aging populations. This article analyzes the international trade data of 46 HS 6-digit medical device products exported from 49 countries from 1999 to 2019, and constructs a global medical device product space. Furthermore, the innovation potential and opportunities of potential medical device products in major Asian countries are evaluated by examining the dynamic relationship between the product distance and the acquisition of comparative advantages for medical device products based on an empirical model. The regression results suggest that a close product distance improves the feasibility of developing a new medical device product. The smaller the product distance is, the more likely it is to increase the diversity of the medical device products of a country by maintaining the existing comparative advantages and gaining potential comparative advantages. Furthermore, we follow the conclusions of the empirical model and analyze the product space evolution, and potential product distance and gains of major Asian medical device exporters. These conclusions may help entrepreneurs identify potential development directions and help government policy-makers formulate policies that are in line with national realities.