Manufacturers of medical devices and equipment are under constant pressure to deliver safe, reliable products while meeting regulatory demands and reducing lifetime costs. In recent years, the management of such medical devices has also become more complex, since these devices are increasingly being integrated with digital networks and the requirements for accuracy, compliance, reliability, and safety are being emphasised more than ever before. Therefore, monitoring and maintaining medical equipment has become even more crucial and disruptive digital technologies like the Internet of Things are increasingly being deployed.
This blog explores what remote diagnostics means for the manufacturers of healthcare equipment, why integrating IoT is important, and what are the challenges of doing so. If you would like to find out about remote diagnostics in more detail, read here: Remote Diagnostics & Maintenance: 27.5 million devices aimed at optimising cost and overall equipment effectiveness.
Remote diagnostics refers to the continuous or on-demand monitoring of medical devices in the field using connected sensors, embedded telemetry, and cloud analytics. Smart sensors are used to collect data from medical equipment and such data (which can include device performance metrics, error logs, usage patterns, and environmental conditions) are collected remotely and analysed to detect anomalies, diagnose faults, and trigger corrective action. This helps in predictive and pre-emptive maintenance of the equipment, reduces downtime, and improves healthcare services for patients.
Healthcare environments can’t afford downtime. A single device failure can disrupt patient care and potentially patient safety, increase operational cost, and expose manufacturers and providers to lawsuits and economic liabilities. Therefore, healthcare manufacturers are increasingly deploying smart sensors to monitor equipment. Some of the benefits are summarised in the graphic below and explored in more detail the following sections.
IoT-based smart sensors enable predictive maintenance by detecting part wear, drift, or performance anomalies early. This reduces unplanned downtime, minimises emergency repairs, and keeps critical medical equipment consistently operational. For instance, the New York Presbyterian Hospital deployed smart sensors to track the performance of their X-ray machines. The collected data was continuously monitored and analysed to identify patterns that indicate performance degradation. Eventually, by leveraging predictive maintenance strategies, the hospital was able to better schedule maintenance tasks, which not only minimised disruptions (including in terms of equipment break downs), but also improved the reliability of the machines.
Remote diagnostics allow manufacturers to troubleshoot, update software, or adjust device settings without on-site visits. This significantly reduces maintenance costs, travel time, and service interruptions while improving responsiveness to customer needs. To cite an example, Toronto General Hospital deployed smart IoT-based sensors to monitor the performance of their surgical robots. The sensors collected real-time data about the robots’ performance, which allowed the hospital to identify potential issues and by analysing the data trends the hospital reduced maintenance costs.
Continuous monitoring helps identify potential risks before they impact clinical performance. IoT-enabled systems can maintain auditable logs and secure data trails, supporting regulatory compliance and post-market surveillance requirements. For example, Seattle Children’s Hospital deployed IoT sensors on anaesthesia machines to monitor the key parameters of the machines, and so enhanced reliability and safety of the equipment.
Field telemetry and analytics reveal how devices are used and how they perform in real-world conditions, guiding future design improvements. By offering connected monitoring as a service, manufacturers not only enhance product reliability but also strengthen customer loyalty and can create new recurring revenue streams. For example, N-iX (a global software solutions provider) has developed telemetry support for the MEDUCORE Standard smart defibrillator. The solution monitors a range of indicators, based on which maintenance experts can monitor the health of the equipment and identify issues, which in turn reduces downtime and device failures.
Despite the benefits of remote monitoring of medical equipment, there are certain drawbacks to this kind of approach as well. These are explored in the following sections.
Developing IoT solutions for healthcare can be a both expensive and time-consuming process. Devices must be highly reliable, rigorously tested, and capable of delivering accurate real-time data, especially for critical equipment. Moreover, the need for stringent quality assurance, regulatory certifications, and continuous updates increases both the cost and time required for large-scale adoption.
Healthcare data is classified as ‘sensitive’ under laws such as the EU’s GDPR, meaning it requires stringent protection. Any breach or unauthorised disclosure can have serious professional consequences and personal consequences for patients. These strict privacy regulations often slow down IoT implementation, as manufacturers must ensure robust data encryption, storage, and compliance frameworks.
The sale and use of medical IoT devices is tightly regulated. Achieving and demonstrating compliance with safety, efficacy, and performance standards can significantly delay product launches. Obtaining approvals for connected medical devices (especially those integrating AI or remote monitoring) requires detailed documentation, rigorous testing, and clinical validation, which collectively slow the adoption process.
Healthcare facilities often rely on expensive, long-lasting equipment such as MRI and CT scanners, which can operate for 10–15 years or more. Retrofitting these devices with IoT capabilities is often impractical or cost prohibitive. As a result, the rate of IoT adoption often depends on the natural replacement cycle, delaying the integration of newer connected technologies.
Remote diagnostics is no longer optional for forward-looking healthcare manufacturers, it’s a strategic capability that improves safety, reduces costs, and strengthens regulatory readiness. By combining secure telemetry, edge intelligence, cloud analytics, and strong service integration, manufacturers can deliver devices that are not only technologically advanced but also safer and more dependable in the healthcare industry.
