Proximie’s CTO explains how his firm innovates efficiently without cutting corners.
By Richard Carter, Proximie
Proximie Chief Technology Officer Richard Carter [Photo courtesy of Proximie]
Innovation in healthcare often has a reputation of being slow, weighed down by safety requirements and complex regulation. Those safeguards are essential, but they can also lead to a sense that speed and rigor cannot coexist.
In reality, this view fails to recognize that the tools we use to test new ideas can often take us much further than we expect. With the right engineering discipline, they can shorten the journey from prototype to product without compromising quality, safety or trust.
Early-stage development in technology usually follows a “fail fast” philosophy: build something simple, observe outcomes, and refine quickly. In a clinical setting this approach might sound risky but, handled carefully, it can actually reduce risk. The very same methods that drive experimentation can deliver stronger, more efficient products.
At Proximie, we have found that two areas in particular — using proven off-the-shelf hardware and embracing the flexibility of cloud computing — allow us to innovate efficiently while keeping our standards high.
Rethinking OEM hardware
Off-the-shelf OEM products are widely available, relatively affordable, and often already certified for use in demanding environments such as operating rooms. They are usually seen as temporary, useful only for testing concepts before commissioning bespoke hardware. Questions about support, warranties, cybersecurity, and customer perception tend to arise quickly. Yet with careful design and transparency, these concerns can be managed, allowing OEM products to play a more prominent role in direct healthcare delivery.
We developed an artificial intelligence sensor for real-time monitoring of operating room workflow. The core hardware for this product came from an existing OEM device that already contained the required sensors and processing power. The team replaced the manufacturer’s software with our own secure system, added monitoring and automatic update capabilities, and tested the device to medical-grade standards. The result is a product that is more reliable, resilient, and easier to maintain than a custom build. And it was available earlier, too.
The device now alerts teams to potential problems before they occur. It uses very little power, meets independent safety and interference standards, and can be replaced quickly if needed. Because the software is entirely under our control, the system achieves the highest level of security and even protects against accidental security problems introduced by the original manufacturer. Supply risks are addressed by identifying alternative suppliers and maintaining the capability to design a bespoke version if necessary.
Throughout this process, transparency with customers has been essential. By being open and upfront about the OEM origins, we strengthened confidence rather than undermined it.
Smart use of the cloud
Cloud technology has provided similar benefits. Renting computer power through a “pay as you go” model, instead of owning it, enables faster development, immediate software updates, and scalable, secure performance. In healthcare, some organizations remain cautious about the cloud because of concerns around data location, latency, and long-term costs. Such concerns are valid but increasingly solvable.
Our Intelligence Suite analyses operating room workflow using AI, running on a hybrid model combining on-site devices with cloud computing. It has the capacity to run independently within hospital networks, but using the cloud it can make updates, monitor performance, and troubleshoot far more efficiently. When users report an issue, engineers can investigate immediately rather than waiting for manual data transfers or on-site visits. In practice, cloud infrastructure is faster than many expect, and local network reliability is often a greater limiting factor than the distance to the cloud itself. Storage is managed through regional data centers or, where needed, separate systems for each country.
Proximie says its Intelligence Suite software “keeps teams in sync and workflows on track to maximize OR throughput.” [Image courtesy of Proximie]
Attitudes to cloud adoption are shifting as more healthcare organizations recognize its resilience, flexibility, and demonstrable productivity gains. Cost comparisons are also becoming more favorable. Renting computer power might seem more expensive, but once maintenance, depreciation, and cybersecurity are accounted for, the balance redresses. The ability to scale instantly and deliver seamless updates outweighs the fixed-asset model of local hardware.
This approach is not about choosing one method over another but recognizing that the tools we use to prove ideas offer more longer-lasting value than we might anticipate. The same technologies that enable us to experiment safely can also support reliable, compliant products for everyday use.
In healthcare, where both time and trust are critical, such efficiency gains are vital, and the onus is on us as product innovators to select the best tools for the job.
Innovation is about new ideas and building those ideas in smarter ways. The faster we can move from origination to real-world deployment, the sooner technology can deliver value to clinicians and patients.
Richard Carter is chief technology officer at Proximie and previously served as VP of engineering. Proximie develops operating room and medical device software for real-time connectivity, data integration, and analytics. Read Carter’s previous MDO Contribution here: How to meet ever-rising expectations for connected devices
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The opinions expressed in this blog post are the author’s only and do not necessarily reflect those of Medical Design & Outsourcing or its employees.
