1 Jul 2025
  

How to Build Software for Medical Devices: Process, Costs & Types

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Rupanksha

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Medical Devices Software

The medical software field is growing rapidly and is predicted to reach $167.59 billion by 2032. This is a fantastic opportunity for those interested in designing software to support medical devices. However, it’s important to remember that creating software for this industry is usually tricky. It requires a unique mix of engineering expertise in software and a thorough knowledge of medical regulations and standards.

When we think of medical devices, many imagine large, complex equipment too bulky to be used outside of a hospital setting. However, progress doesn’t stop. Technological advancements and electronic technology have made health monitoring devices available and accessible from everywhere with the help of Medical Device Software (MDS). 

This kind of software could replace traditional healthcare equipment by integrating smartwatches, smartphones, and smartwatches that we carry around and can improve our patients’ health.

What is Medical Device Software?

Software for medical devices is embedded into medical devices or used as a standalone program to aid in medical procedures. It plays an essential part in diagnosing, treating, and managing healthcare by adhering to strict regulations to ensure the safety of patients and efficient outcomes.

Medical device software development is essential to functioning healthcare devices and systems. It includes embedded software that operates diagnostic equipment and mobile apps that aid in monitoring patients. With the rising demands for precise healthcare solutions, medical device software development is a highly specialized area requiring an in-depth understanding of regulatory compliance, safety standards, and new technology.

Medical Software Development

Understanding the software development lifecycle for medical devices is vital to ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency when delivering innovative healthcare solutions to the market. Medical software development could include standalone or embedded systems in medical equipment and instruments to aid clinicians in decision-making. However, developing software for medical devices isn’t an easy undertaking.

Who Needs Medical Device Software?

Software for medical devices is in demand in many sectors. These are the most popular areas and are in high demand.

1. Biotech Firms

Biotech companies develop products such as diagnostic tools, medications, and medical equipment. They rely on custom-built software to manage the massive amount of biological data they create. The software assists in analyzing and interpreting data, helping to discover new insights, and optimizing workflows.

2. Diagnostic Equipment Manufacturers

Businesses manufacturing diagnostic equipment such as MRI and CT scanners require sophisticated software to run the device, process the medical imaging data, and give exact results. Customized medical device software offers all this and more. This software provides superior image quality, customized workflows, and effortless integration to EMRs.

3. Healthtech Startups

Health tech startups invest in customized health device engineering software to develop unique solutions, such as health trackers and remote monitors. Agile development methodologies allow them to adapt to market demands and grow efficiently and quickly.

4. R&D Laboratories

R&D labs are crucial in developing medical research and identifying novel treatment options. They require specialized software that efficiently transforms scientific discoveries into practical medical equipment. This speeds up the transformation of discoveries from research into practical solutions that benefit patients and healthcare providers.

5. Medical Device Manufacturers

Medical device manufacturers design and construct products that offer healthcare-related functions, such as defibrillators and fitness trackers. However, the performance of their devices depends on creating custom healthcare device applications.

6. Clinical Research Organizations (CROs)

CROs conduct trials for healthcare firms. They utilize special software that collects and manages data, tracks patients remotely, and complies with regulations. These tools are tailored to make managing trials more efficient and speed up analyses and reports, which helps researchers develop medical devices more quickly.

7. Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals rely on various medical equipment and systems to provide patient care. Medical device software is crucial in managing EMR (electronic medical records), keeping track of vital signs, and operating equipment. These systems facilitate smooth data transfer, compatibility, and better decision-making, improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

8. Pharmaceutical Corporations

Pharmaceutical companies research illnesses and conduct vital research to discover cures. They utilize medical device software to run the specific systems they require to function. This can help improve administrative tasks and monitoring, resulting in faster and more efficient drug discovery.

9. Telehealth Service Providers

Telehealth services rely on telecommunications technology, such as videoconferencing and remote monitoring devices, to offer essential healthcare to underserved areas. They require special software integrated with medical devices to allow remote monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment for patients. The integration improves the patient’s involvement, enhances healthcare access, and transforms medical care delivery.

Types of Medical Device Software

The classification of software used in medical devices can be accomplished in a variety of ways:

Medical Device Software

1. Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)

The device classification includes a variety of software programs that don’t require medical equipment or special tools. These devices are subject to the same standard rules as the regulations for other instruments or medical devices. They are incorporated into different embedded systems as part of the development process of medical device software. They are compatible with desktops, smartphones, and tablets. They are employed in the telemedicine platform, healthcare data analytics tools, and electronic health record systems.

2. Embedded Medical Software

This program was created and designed to work inside the medical device. It is integrated into the device directly and operates without connecting to servers or systems from outside. They work with any type of medical equipment. Medical software is embedded in medical devices that can be exempt from the regulations. They are typically used in smart wearable devices for health, medical imaging, and glucose-monitoring systems.

3. Telemedicine Software

Although internet-based consultation was not necessary before the outbreak, it is now. Telemedicine software development is essential for everyone during a time of little or no communication. It is the ideal solution for people who live in remote areas or are disabled.

Telemedicine software allows patients and doctors to securely connect, get answers to their questions, book an appointment, monitor the progress of their care online, or conduct quick examinations.

4. Remote Patient Monitoring Software

This software helps detect a patient’s health status digitally. RPM tools gather health information and forward it to a physician to examine and make the appropriate decisions.

5. Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software

The well-known and handy medical software efficiently saves and organizes a patient’s entire medical history, including prescriptions they’ve received. It’s akin to a healthcare CRM created specifically for healthcare professionals. The patient’s diagnosis, the results of their tests, their current and past medical procedures, and so on.

The primary purpose of EHR health software is to reduce the burden on hospitals and other healthcare institutions by eliminating the requirement for human labor and data administration.

6. Hospital Management Software

Hospital administration software aims to simplify every aspect of a clinic or hospital’s routine operations, from preparing bills to scheduling visitors. This type of system can be incorporated with software for electronic health records to handle patients’ information and insurance records, payment processing, and many other tasks.

The main goal is to automate all administrative tasks. However, hospital administration software increases the efficiency of operations.

7. Medical Image Analysis Software

Any program that can analyze medical image data and assist in diagnosing and comparing pictures from the same person over time to evaluate what stage the illness is developing and give a prognosis for the patient is regarded as a medical image analysis program.

Medical web applications can independently detect irregularities in clinical medical images, such as CT, MRI, echocardiography, thermography, and more. The capabilities to analyze medical imaging programs are constantly updated with the latest technology.

Factors to Consider While Developing a Medical Device Software

Developing software for medical devices has many crucial elements that require thoughtful consideration and a meticulous plan. By considering all these elements, companies can create safe, efficient, and compliant software that meets the guidelines.

Medical Device Software

1. Data Privacy and Security

Access limits and encryption are crucial to keeping data in a secure location to ensure data security. To create trust and relations between patients and the healthcare system, regulations on data protection, such as HIPAA, must be implemented to safeguard the confidential information that patients provide.

2. Communication Between Medical Systems

Creating software that can communicate with other devices within the healthcare industry is crucial. Interoperability facilitates seamless data sharing, enhances patient outcomes, and speeds up the provision of healthcare services.

3. Collaboration with Stakeholders

It must include various stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals, patients, and regulatory agencies, to ensure the software can address issues and fill the gap. This increases the program’s effectiveness and utility in real-world healthcare and ensures compliance with regulatory and user standard requirements.

4. Consider Regulation Compliance

Adhering to strict guidelines set by the FDA is crucial. Conformity to these guidelines assures that the software used for medical devices is secure, efficient, and high-quality. Compliance with regulatory requirements is essential in ensuring that you meet the standards required to be approved for commercial use and in navigating the myriad of legal and quality standards that ensure the safety of patients.

5. User Experience and Usability

It is essential to create medical equipment software that is user-friendly and easy for health professionals to use. Well-designed and developed software will minimize errors and improve efficiency, making communication simple for users and physicians.

6. Risk Assessment

Comprehensive risk analysis processes are necessary to determine the potential dangers and reduce the risks associated with software. This includes a comprehensive analysis of risks, risk management, and mitigation strategies that ensure the safety of patients and limit potential injury.

Process to Develop a Software for Medical Devices

Developing customized programs for medical equipment involves essential steps to ensure adherence to standards, accuracy, and superior performance. We will go over the steps in more detail:

Software for Medical Devices

1. Regulatory Requirements

Creating medical device software involves getting lost in the maze of regulatory compliance standards set by the FDA, HIPAA, and numerous other local officials. These standards are the foundation for ensuring our software is secure, high-quality, and incredibly effective.

Approval of your software to be sold on the market and ensuring it’s safe for patients depends on your ability to navigate the rules. They will guide you through every step of the development process for medical software by helping you decide the functions your software can perform, the features it’ll contain, and the security measures it requires.

2. Understanding Market Demands and User Needs

A thorough market analysis is vital to the success of medical device software development. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the health industry, identifies current trends, and identifies users’ needs. Interaction with health professionals, patients, and others is essential to discovering users’ needs and preferences.

These insights are vital when defining the design, features, and operation aspects of software for medical devices. The ability to customize the software according to users’ specific needs creates an efficient and user-friendly product. This strategy highlights the importance of designing to improve software’s effectiveness and user experience for medical use.

3. Find a Skilled Medical Software Development Company

It is vital to find a reliable Medical device development software firm with a strong background in the field. The firm must also consistently meet regulatory agency requirements.

A reliable mobile app development company in UAE like Techugo plays a crucial part in the development process and in providing expertise. Their advice is essential in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring top-quality and reliable software, and providing new solutions.

4. Development Plan Using Your Chosen Company

Work with the company you have selected to develop medical software and begin planning the project. This involves defining the project’s scope, setting deadlines, and creating the development plan.

This is crucial in setting the stage for the development of medical device apps, ensuring that expectations are clear and synchronizing development efforts with clear objectives and timeframes. Effective planning is crucial in guiding the project to success, minimizing the chance of delays, and reaching the goals set.

5. Development and Integration

The software development process for medical devices starts when the foundations are in place. This is crucial to the assurance of quality, precision, and conformity to regulatory compliance standards, which are focused on developing medical software that works flawlessly for the healthcare system. It facilitates seamless data exchange across various platforms, highlighting the importance of medical device app development and the significance of software within the development of a medical device.

6. Deployment and Oversight

After finalization, the software inside a medical device is integrated into healthcare settings, which is the beginning of a crucial stage in developing medical device software. This is a time for continuously monitoring and evaluating the software’s functionality. Continuous monitoring of medical software is vital to discovering and fixing problems and ensuring that software designed for medical devices functions appropriately and efficiently.

7. Maintenance and Updates

After the software is applied to medical devices, continual maintenance and support are essential to ensure its security, reliability, and performance within the healthcare setting. This phase of the lifecycle of medical software development includes resolving issues, implementing patches or updates, and ensuring the software is up-to-date and in compliance. Continuous initiatives in medical device application development will ensure that the software used in the medical device is efficient and effective over time.

Why Should Businesses Invest in Medical Device Software Development?

By developing medical devices with the latest software programs, you can improve efficiency and ensure security when providing health services. Here are a few significant benefits of developing medical software.

Medical Device Software Development

1. Enhanced Accessibility

Medical device software development expands healthcare services beyond traditional clinical settings, increasing access to patients needing quick, affordable, and easily accessible medical aid.

2. Easy Tech Integration

Technology-driven solutions, such as AI software development, IoT connectivity, and cloud computing for healthcare, could significantly enhance devices’ functionality and performance. This would help medical institutions provide better services through effective healthcare solutions.

3. Streamlined Workflows

With seamless software for medical device engineering, you can create and implement a scalable solution that optimizes operational workflows and increases efficiency in healthcare. These solutions assist businesses in this field to shift their attention from administrative tasks to more patient-focused services.

4. Better Patient Care

One of the main benefits of participating in the development of medical equipment is that it allows precise diagnosis, customized treatment plans, and advanced monitoring. This helps provide improved medical care for patients.

5. Accuracy in Data Analysis

Software, as a medical instrument, assists in better data classification and analysis, allowing organizations in the health industry to gain actionable insights. This is essential for ensuring better decision-making and gaining an edge in the market.

How to Hire the Right Medical Device Software Development Company?

You should consider many factors when selecting a Medical device software development company to work with on your project. We will examine them in detail in the following paragraphs:

1. Portfolio and References

Examine their previous projects to determine if they have delivered similar solutions. Review references from renowned experts and their clients’ case studies to assess their capabilities.

2. Regulatory Compliance

Check that the company is proficient in the regulations and compliances for healthcare and the development of medical devices. Such as HIPAA, FDA, and GDPR, to ensure the software’s compliance with legal regulations.

3. Overall Experience and Expertise

Review the company’s expertise in the development of medical software and its knowledge of regulations in the field of healthcare. This helps ensure their ability to design and develop efficient and secure solutions.

4. Expert Skills

Examine the team’s skills and experience. Please ensure they are medical software experts, such as AI, IoT, and compliance requirements. This will allow you to determine how much they know the healthcare technology requirements crucial to your project.

5. Post-Deployment Support

Review their post-deployment support, regularly scheduled updates, and maintenance services. This ensures a long-lasting relationship and delivers effective and flexible solutions to the ever-changing healthcare industry.

Major Issues when Developing an Application for Medical Devices

Making software for medical devices poses particular challenges, similar to every other type of project. These are the major obstacles to overcome:

medical devices challenges

1. Usability and User Experience

It is difficult to make medical software user-friendly for different users. You must balance complexity with simplicity while making it accessible to all and then test it thoroughly to avoid mistakes that can harm patients.

2. Specific Customization Needs

Healthcare providers typically require software tailored to their specific workflows. It can be challenging to create these customizations while complying with guidelines and ensuring the software is suitable for all users. Collaboration with users and using the agile development method can help.

3. Testing and Validation

A quality software product is secure, performs just as it should, and aligns with users’ expectations. This requires thorough testing of the medical software’s design and maintaining the proper documentation for regulators and other parties. However, this is difficult for small teams of developers.

4. Rapid Technological Advancements

Staying current with the latest technology, such as IoT, AI and ML, is challenging, especially ensuring the software is compatible with older system versions. A recent study revealed that nearly 19% of medical gadgets in the US are using outdated or non-supported software that the vendors have abandoned. This presents significant security risks. Finding the right balance between innovative ideas and established methods is essential.

5. Compliance and Regulations

The development of software for medical devices requires adhering to strict guidelines. In the US, companies must adhere to the FDA and HIPAA regulations. European businesses are also regulated through the CE marking and GDPR. Being aware of these rules, keeping up-to-date, and adhering to the regulations during development is complex. Failure to follow them could cause recalls, fines, or reputational harm.

6. Risk of Medical Data Breaches

Medical software handles sensitive patient information, so protecting it from hackers is crucial. Designing software for medical devices will require secure data encryption, robust security measures, and adherence to laws such as HIPAA (for those in the US marketplace) to prevent breaches that could harm patients and damage reputations.

7. Interoperability Issues

Medical software typically needs to integrate with a healthcare system. This requires a lot of work and coordination to ensure that it can efficiently share data and seamlessly work with other systems, all while ensuring that data is secure and up-to-date.

8. Performance and Reliability

Medical software must perform efficiently and be accessible in the event of need. However, although crucial, managing various operating conditions, coordinating resources, and resolving issues swiftly aren’t straightforward for every development team, particularly those with 14.6% who are not using agile methods.

9. Cost and Time Constraints

Medical software development in Middle East is expensive and requires much time. The balance between cost, expertise, and security during software development requires carefully planned planning, allocation of resources, and risk management to ensure success. This can be a challenge, particularly for teams with small numbers.

Trends and Innovations in Custom Medical Device Software Development

With technological advances and clinical developments happening on all sides of the medical field, here are some of the significant medical software trends to be watching in 2025:

Future of Medical Software

1. AI and Machine Learning Integration

A growing number of medical software programs use artificial intelligence (AI) because of its many advantages in healthcare. This technology enhances the software’s ability to accurately diagnose conditions, tailor treatments, and monitor patients’ health on a new level.

2. Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring Software

This trend has led to software for medical devices that can collect vital information from patients from a distance. Telemedicine apps will undoubtedly remain the dominant choice and increase the market for health software in the coming years.

3. Wearable Technology and Mobile Health

Given the massive popularity of mobile and wearable healthcare apps for fans, chronically ill patients, seniors, and the elderly, they are hot-trending technology medical devices in today’s software. They can provide a wide range of functions geared towards patient health care, which is increasing steadily.

Top Use Cases of Medical Device Software

The process of developing medical software and using its potential could be beneficial to businesses operating within the healthcare field. Here are a few of the most popular applications of software for medical devices:

1. EHR Management

An EHR solution is another critical medical device software that assists in maintaining and simplifying patients’ electronic health records. The software used as an electronic medical device system allows for the easy maintenance of medical records for patients and improves communication between hospitals and patients.

2. Surgical Navigation

Medical device software can assist surgeons in planning key procedures by creating 3D models of patients’ anatomy that mimic surgery results. The models can provide surgeons with real-time support when performing surgery.

3. Clinical Trials and Medical Research

Another significant use case for developing software for medical devices is research and clinical trials. The software helps medical researchers gather, analyze, and track data, ensuring that research is effective and accurate.

4. Telehealth and Telemedicine

Medical device software supports telemedicine and telehealth, which allows healthcare providers to provide health solutions to patients in remote areas. This software for medical devices includes remote monitoring, online consultations, and more.

5. Diagnostic Imaging

Software used for medical devices could significantly enhance their diagnostic capabilities. It could help healthcare professionals examine images like CT scans, MRIs, or X-rays more effectively. The software can also detect many medical conditions in their early stages.

6. Remote Patient Monitoring

Seamless medical device custom software development in Dubai offers healthcare professionals the ideal way to monitor patients and their health conditions in real time. This is essential for patients with chronic illnesses that require constant surveillance.

7. Wearable Health Devices

Health devices integrating with wearable app development tools allow users to track various health indicators, including blood sugar levels, heartbeat counts, sleep patterns, and activity.

8. Pharmacy Management

Medical device software may aid pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies. Pharmacy management software helps businesses control medication inventory, manage medication, and enhance medication adherence.

Best Practices for Medical Device Software Development

We believe in the highest standards of practice, which lead to top medical software for devices:

Medical Device Software Development

1. DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment

Achieving a better software development flow is essential for efficiency and speedy delivery. DevOps bridges the operations and development teams, encouraging cooperation and ensuring an efficient process from code creation to deployment. CI/CD practices used in DevOps help automate crucial tasks like code integration and testing. Imagine a team that uses tools that CI/CD can use to automatically check code after every change, finding bugs before they become a problem and ensuring that a codebase is ready for deployment. Continuous integration and deployment reduce the development timeframe and allow quicker delivery of reliable and secure healthcare device programs.

2. Agile Methodologies

Traditional linear development methods cannot keep up with the ever-changing requirements of the medical field. Agile approaches are, however, easier and more flexible solutions that break down the development process into smaller, incremental cycles (sprints). Agile permits continuous feedback and adaptation throughout the development process. Imagine a team creating an app for managing diabetes. For each cycle, they will make an essential feature, collect feedback from patients and doctors, and modify the app before proceeding to the next feature. This iteration method ensures that the app’s final version is relevant and can meet users’ real-world needs.

3. User-Centric Design

In every successful medical device software, there must be a user-centric approach. This means focusing on the requirements of both health professionals and patients in the design process. Imagine having nurses and doctors in the design of the user interface of an innovative diagnostic tool. Their feedback regarding layout, functionality, and usability will be valuable. Utilization tests with actual patients can help uncover potential issues and ensure the software is user-friendly and effective for all who use it. By focusing on the user’s needs, the software for medical devices becomes functional and user-friendly, leading to better adoption and, ultimately, better quality of care for patients.

The Key Takeaway

Medical device software has become an engine for technological advancements, assisting healthcare professionals and improving patient care. However, developing medical-related software requires specialized expertise and proficiency in technology and software.

Over the past decade, Techugo, a mobile app development company in Saudi Arabia, has developed smooth and engaging software solutions for businesses of all sectors. As a top software development firm, we’ve proven our capacity to create innovative, customer-focused solutions for healthcare.

Our medical software experts can ensure that your software meets your needs since they have experience creating medical equipment. Furthermore, our experts can enhance the capabilities of your software for medical devices by using user-friendly cloud development and IoT solutions. Contact us if you’ve devised an innovative idea for medical devices that will create a healthier future.

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