- ADI healthcare technology expert Thomas O’Dwyer offers insights on trends impacting next-generation medical testing devices.

Cambridge, MA (12/04/2009) - Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) Healthcare Technology Director Thomas O’Dwyer took part in the MIT Next-Generation Medical Electronic Systems Forum held December 3-4, 2009, in Cambridge, Mass. O’Dwyer spoke about trends impacting next-generation medical testing devices. The two-day MIT forum was attended by experts from academia, the semiconductor and medical device industry, and the medical profession to exchange technical ideas, explore collaboration opportunities and define directions related to healthcare systems. The forum focused on a discussion of next-generation medical systems, including wearable monitoring devices, portable systems, and implantable electronics.

During his presentation, Mr. O’Dwyer explained that while many medical tests are conducted in hospital laboratories, this is often a slow and inconvenient process for patients. “For example, patients who require blood coagulation therapy need to make an appointment with their doctor for a blood sample to be taken, and then must wait a week or more to receive the results,” said Mr. O’Dwyer. “To address this problem, medical device manufacturers are now designing new types of testing devices, which patients can buy in a local pharmacy and then use in the privacy and convenience of their own home. These tests reduce the need for costly office and hospital visits, and especially benefit patients who don’t live near a doctor or hospital. The new medical testing devices are today a reality because of sophisticated semiconductor technology.”

Mr. O’Dwyer discussed some of the new semiconductor products on the market that are solving the challenges of designing next-generation medical testing devices. Examples he cited included Analog Devices’ AD5398 programmable current sink used to drive LED (light-emitting diode) illumination systems and the ADuM4160 USB (universal serial bus) isolator, which makes it possible for engineers to design USB-enabled medical devices that help facilitate better patient care.

About Thomas O’Dwyer

As ADI’s Healthcare Group Technology Director, Thomas O’Dwyer is responsible for identifying and developing technology to address the emerging needs of the medical market, including laboratory equipment, imaging, patient monitoring, consumer healthcare, and implanted devices. He was instrumental in setting up ADI’s initial venture into portable medical diagnostics. O’Dwyer is a founding member and active participant in the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute, a $30 million joint industrial-academic research organization focused on the development of novel portable diagnostics and based at Dublin City University.

Making a Difference for Healthcare Customers

Analog Devices offers healthcare customers a comprehensive portfolio of linear, mixed-signal, MEMS and digital signal processing technologies for medical imaging, patient monitoring, medical instrumentation, and consumer/home healthcare. Backed by leading design tools, applications support, and systems expertise, ADI’s products and technologies enable differentiation in healthcare designs – helping shape the future of diagnostics and monitoring equipment, as well as health and wellness devices. ADI’s healthcare offerings can be found at http://healthcare.analog.com.

About Analog Devices

Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars on which Analog Devices has built one of the longest standing, highest growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, Analog Devices serves over 60,000 customers, representing virtually all types of electronic equipment. Celebrating over 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications, Analog Devices is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, with design and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Analog Devices' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “ADI” and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

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