Beyond Hardware: How Software is Redefining Medical Devices

How Software is Redefining Medical Devices The world of healthcare is evolving rapidly, and at the center of this transformation lies a shift that’s reshaping the definition of a medical device itself. Traditionally, medical devices were seen as physical instruments—scalpels, pacemakers, MRI machines—built with hardware-centric engineering. But today, software has taken center stage, giving rise to a new class of intelligent, adaptive, and often invisible medical solutions. Welcome to the era where software is not just powering medical devices—it’s becoming the device . 🧠 The Rise of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) refers to software that performs a medical function without being part of a physical hardware device. It can diagnose conditions, recommend treatments, monitor health metrics, or even administer therapy—all through code. Examples include: AI-based imaging interpretation tools Mobile apps that guide behavioral therapy...