Patient pull: the changing influences on medical device design, Part I

The medical device and pharmaceutical industries are in the process of a major paradigm shift, driven by increasing levels of regulatory control, cost-containment and patient involvement in treatment programmes. The role of the patient is changing from passive participant to active partner, and this will have a significant impact on the design and development of medical devices. Part I of this two-part article discusses the key drivers of change, the implications for various stakeholders and how these will influence the design of medical devices.