How Are the World’s Top Medical Device Manufacturers Combating COVID-19?

Medical device manufacturers

Medical devices are in especially high demand right now, as healthcare institutions around the world find themselves in need of medical ventilators and other devices in order to treat patients with COVID-19. Medical device manufacturers are ramping up production and partnering with companies in other fields in order to help meet supply needs in numerous countries.

The medical devices industry is on the rise, projected to grow by over $87 billion by 2024 even before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus is of course impacting the global market, and many medical device manufacturers are unable to keep up with demand. The industry is expected to feel the effects of the pandemic even after the spread of the virus has been contained, and it is estimated that it will take over six months for economies to return to normal once the pandemic has passed.


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The World’s Leading Medical Device Manufacturers

With so much need for life-saving equipment and treatments, medical device manufacturers are restructuring, building additional facilities, teaming up with governments and other companies, and more. Find out who the world’s top medical device manufacturers are and what they’re doing to help fight COVID-19.

BD

Becton, Dickinson and Company is a global medical technology company that was founded in 1897. It operates in the areas of patient and healthcare worker safety as well as medical technologies for research and clinical laboratories. Its areas of focus include surgery, urology and critical care, diagnostic solutions, medication delivery solutions, genomic sciences, and much more.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BD has been working to provide technologies and solutions to healthcare organizations to help research the virus, diagnose patients, and support patient care. The medical device company has partnered with BioMedomics on an antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 infections and is developing new testing options that can be deployed at scale. It has also launched molecular tests that can be completed in hospital labs, and is supplying swabs and other sample collection products.

Roche

Founded in Switzerland in 1896, F. Hoffmann-La Roche produces medicines and diagnostic tests for patients around the world. The medical equipment company is a leader in the biotech industry, developing treatments for many different types of cancer as well as many other medicines. Roche also produces diagnostics in vitro diagnostics, cancer diagnostics, and tools for diabetes management.

To combat the coronavirus, Roche is supplying tests and medicines and is working with front-line healthcare providers. The medical devices manufacturer has initiated a clinical trial of its own and is collecting data from other trials around the world.

Fresenius

Fresenius is a global healthcare group with employees spread across 100 countries around the world. It develops dialysis machines, operates private hospitals and healthcare facilities, and supplies drugs, clinical nutrition products, medical devices, and services.

In response to the coronavirus, Fresenius is dedicating resources from its rehabilitation facilities and clinics to help treat patients of the virus, as well as expanding its production of its products where possible. The medical equipment company is also working too provide care to dialysis patients who are infected with or exposed to COVID-19, and is providing extra dialysis machines to US hospitals to help treat patients with the virus. In addition, Fresenius is increasing production of Novalung, its heart and lung support system.

GE Healthcare

General Electric has been in business for over 125 years and has a presence in more than 180 countries. Its healthcare division develops products, services, and solutions for patient diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. It also develops and produces biopharmaceuticals. GE’s healthcare systems include imaging, ultrasound, enterprise software and solutions, and life care solutions.

GE is working with Ford to manufacture ventilators that can be scaled quickly in order to help meet the urgent demand for the machines due to COVID-19. The medical device manufacturer is also providing guidance on the use of its anesthesia systems for patients that require mechanical ventilation, and working to increase its own output of ventilators.

Suggested reading: How Companies are Finding Creative Solutions to the Medical Ventilators Shortage

Johnson & Johnson

Multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson has been operating for over 30 years, providing healthcare products across numerous areas such as wound care, cough and cold, baby care, oral care, and more. Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies operate in the areas of surgery, orthopedics, vision, and interventional solutions.

Through Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, J&J has begun developing a vaccine for COVID-19, and will be running a clinical trial starting in July. The company is also accelerating its manufacturing capacity around the world with the intent to supply over one billion doses of a vaccine once it is available.

Philips

Founded over 120 years ago to manufacture lamps and other electrical products, Philips has since expanded into health technology, operating in areas such as diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring, and consumer health and home care.

The company is currently working to help patients and health organizations during the pandemic in multiple ways. It has partnered with the American Telemedicine Association and is creating AI-powered solutions to improve patient monitoring and diagnosis during the pandemic. Philips has also produced a wireless wearable biosensor to help manage COVID-19 patients in the hospital, and is developing other monitoring and diagnostic devices as well.

Suggested reading: How is COVID-19 Impacting the Smartphone Industry?

Medtronic

Medtronic was founded in 1949, producing a pacemaker as its first therapy. It has since developed many other products, including implantable mechanical devices, drug and biologic delivery devices, and powered surgical instruments. One of the world’s leading medical device manufacturers, Medtronic operates in over 150 countries around the world.

With ventilators and other medical devices in extremely high demand during the coronavirus pandemic, Medtronic is maximizing its production of products and therapies that can help virus patients. The company has open sourced ventilator production and is working with other businesses in order to produce new units quickly and at higher volumes.

Olympus

Olympus Corporation was founded in 1919 and is based in Japan. The company manufactures diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for a range of applications from early diagnosis to minimally invasive therapy.

To help combat the coronavirus, Olympus has donated 100 million JPY to global relief efforts. The medical devices company has been continuing its operations with health and safety practices implemented in order to continue supplying its products and services.

Siemens

Founded over 170 years ago, Seimens develops products in the areas of electrification, automation, and digitalization. It supplies power generation and transmission systems, as well as medical diagnostic systems. The company’s healthcare branch, Siements Healthineers, provides technologies and services for diagnostic and therapeutic imaging, molecular medicine, digital health, and more.

Many of Siemens’ products and solutions are being put to use to support healthcare providers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, point-of-care testing, and digital health solutions.

Stryker

Founded in 1941, Stryker is a global medical technology company with over 36,000 employees around the world. The company develops products and services in the orthopedics, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine sectors.

To help provide care to COVID-19 patients, Stryker has developed a low-cost emergency response bed for front-line healthcare workers. The company has also worked with the US FDA to provide non-sterile versions of its PPE products, which allows it to produce PPE more quickly and increase its availability to healthcare workers. It is also working to decontaminate N95 respirators so that they can be reused.


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