Developing medical devices with emerging technologies: trends, challenges, and future directions

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of the rapid advancement and integration of emerging technologies in medical device development, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), Augmented Reality (AR), and cybersecurity. Using data from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, we analyzed 3,094 publications from 2010 to 2024 to map trends, challenges, and future directions in the field. The analysis shows substantial progress in patient care through AI and IoMT, which enable predictive analytics, personalized treatment planning, and real-time monitoring; AR is reshaping medical training and surgical precision; and cybersecurity has become critical to protecting sensitive health data. Persistent challenges include data-privacy concerns, infrastructure limitations, and interoperability issues. We also examine Africa's contributions, with particular emphasis on Morocco's emerging role. Three major research clusters are identified: AI and AR, IoT and cybersecurity, and embedded systems. Beyond the bibliometric mapping, we provide a comparative evaluation of the technologies, representative case studies of advanced medical devices, an expanded treatment of cybersecurity for AI-enabled devices, and a dedicated discussion of ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations. As a bibliometric analysis, the study characterizes research activity and does not perform critical appraisal or risk-of-bias assessment of individual studies. The work offers a foundation for further research and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.