Since the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in 2010, the U.S. government and healthcare industry have stepped up their efforts to increase the efficiency of health care, with the twin objectives of containing costs and improving the quality of care. 

However, healthcare IT is just one segment of the broader field of medical automation, a field that many experts believe will revolutionize the way medical care is provided.  Automated delivery of health care can contain costs, reduce errors, and improve outcomes.

Major improvements in production efficiency and product quality have been demonstrated through automation in factories.  Medical automation will borrow many of the principles developed in factory automation and apply them to the medical environment.  Automation will have to demonstrate, however, that it is safe for patients, that it has more flexibility to accommodate the complex tasks within the hospital, and that it can generate a reasonable return on investment.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The report is an update of an earlier report published in 2009, and its goal is to identify and quantify the current and future market opportunities associated with medical automation.  In support of this goal, here is a list of its specific objectives:

• Identifying the medical automation technologies with the greatest commercial potential over the next 5 years (2011 to 2016).
• Estimating the market for these technologies in 2010.
• Analyzing the technical, economic, and other demand drivers for these products, and other prerequisites of success in these markets.
• Projecting the potential U.S. markets for these technologies through 2016.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

The report is intended especially for healthcare automation suppliers, as well as government agencies, healthcare policy analysts, and others seeking to understand the costs and preconditions for success of healthcare automation initiatives.  Although the report is structured around specific technologies, it is largely nontechnical in nature.  That is, it is concerned less with theory and jargon than with what works, how much of what works the market is likely to purchase, and at what price. 

As such, the report’s main audience is composed of executive managers and marketing and financial analysts.  It is not written specifically for scientists and technologists, although its findings are concerned with the markets for their work, including the availability of government and corporate research funding for different technologies, and applications that should interest them as well.

SCOPE AND FORMAT

As indicated above, medical automation is closely related to healthcare IT.  However, for the purposes of this report, medical automation technologies are defined as technologies for the electromechanical control or operation of diagnostic or therapeutic processes or systems or training of healthcare professionals, which result in a reduced need or eliminate the need for human intervention.   Examples of such medical automation technologies are listed:

• Automated health assessment and monitoring technologies
• Automated medical imaging and image analysis
• Automated prescription fulfillment devices
• Automated therapeutic (nonsurgical) devices
• Robotic and computer-assisted surgical equipment
• Automated laboratory testing and analysis
• Automated healthcare logistics, resource, and patient tracking
• Automated medical training

The study format includes the following major elements:

• Executive summary
• Definitions
• Medical automation technologies and applications
• Enabling technologies
• End user segments
• Market environment (legal and regulatory, standards, economic conditions, consumer attitudes)
• Baseline (2010) and projected market for medical automation  technologies and products through 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION  
    STUDY BACKGROUND  
    GOALS AND OBJECTIVES  
    INTENDED AUDIENCE  
    SCOPE AND FORMAT  
    METHODOLOGY   
    AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS  
    DISCLAIMER   

CHAPTER TWO: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  
  SUMMARY TABLE U S  MARKET FOR MEDICAL AUTOMATION
    PRODUCTS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  6
  SUMMARY FIGURE U S  MEDICAL AUTOMATION MARKET BY
    FUNCTIONAL SEGMENTS, 2010 VS  2016 (%)   7

CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW OF MEDICAL AUTOMATION 
     DEFINITIONS  8
     MEDICAL AUTOMATION FUNCTIONS   8
          HEALTH ASSESSMENT, MONITORING   8
          IMAGING   9
          PRESRIPTION FORMULATION, DISPENSING  9
          NONSURGICAL THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS   9
          MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED
            SURGERY   9
          LABORATORY TESTING AND ANALYSIS  10
          LOGISTICS, RESOURCE AND PATIENT TRACKING 10
          HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING  10
     ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR MEDICAL AUTOMATION   10
          WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES  11
          SENSORS   11
               Parameters that Are Measured  12
               Micro- and Nanosensors  12
               Sensing Fabrics and Wearable Monitors  13
          ROBOTICS   14
               Surgical Robots  14
                       Surgical Robots (Continued)   15
               Other Medical Robot Applications  16
          ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DECISION SUPPORT   16
               Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support (Continued) 17
  TABLE 1 MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE  18
          RFID/BARCODING   18
     END USER SEGMENTS  19
             HOSPITALS   20
   FIGURE 1 TREND IN THE NUMBER OF U S  HOSPITALS, 1995­2010
      (UNITS)  20
   FIGURE 2 U S  HOSPITALS WITH SURGERY DEPARTMENTS, 2010
      (NUMBER OF HOSPITALS)  21
             OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTERS  22
             PHYSICIAN PRACTICES   22
   FIGURE 3 TREND IN THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE U S  PHYSICIANS,
      2002 AND 2010 (THOUSANDS)   22
   TABLE 2 DISTRIBUTION OF U S  PHYSICIANS BY PRACTICE
      SETTNG/SIZE, 1996­2005 (%)   23
             RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS   23
   FIGURE 4 TREND IN THE NUMBER OF RETAIL DRUG OUTLETS,
      2000­2008 (THOUSAND UNITS)  24
             HOME CARE  24
   FIGURE 5 TRENDS IN U S  EXPENDITURES ON HOME HEALTH
      CARE, 2000­2009 ($ BILLIONS)  25
             MILITARY  25
   FIGURE 6 U S  MILITARY HEALTH EXPENDITURES, FY 2000­FY
      2010 ($ BILLIONS)  26
             MEDICAL RESEARCH/CLINICAL LABORATORIES   26
             MEDICAL SCHOOLS/OTHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS   27
       MARKET SUMMARY  27
   TABLE 3 U S  MEDICAL AUTOMATION MARKET BY FUNCTION   27
   FIGURE 7 U S  MEDICAL AUTOMATION MARKET SHARES (%)   28

CHAPTER FOUR: MARKET ENVIRONMENT FOR MEDICAL AUTOMATION 
     LAWS AND REGULATIONS   29
          FDA REGULATION  29
                FDA Regulation (Continued)  30
                FDA Regulation (Continued)  31
          MEDICARE/MEDICAID RULES  32
          PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT  33
     DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS  34
          GROWTH AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE U S
             POPULATION  34
  TABLE 4 TRENDS IN TOTAL U S  POPULATION AND POPULATION
     AGED 65 AND OLDER, THROUGH 2016 (MILLIONS)  35
          TRENDS IN THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING
             IN THEIR OWN HOMES   35
  FIGURE 8 TRENDS IN THE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS OVER
     AGE 65 REMAINING IN THEIR HOMES, 1985­2008 (%)  36
     TRENDS IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY  36
          RISING HOSPITAL/NURSING HOME COSTS  37
   FIGURE 9 TRENDS IN U S  HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME
      COSTS 2000 AND 2010 ($)   37
           PHYSICIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD HOME CARE   38
   FIGURE 10 TREND IN THE NUMBER OF MEDICARE-PAID
      PHYSICIAN HOUSE CALLS, 2001 AND 2009 (MILLION HOUSE
      CALLS)   38
           DECLINING REIMBURSEMENT RATES  39
           SHORTAGES OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL AND
                INCREASING WORKLOADS  40
                      Physicians  40
                                Physicians (Continued)  41
                      Surgeons  42
                      Nurses  42
           HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS' ATTITUDES TOWARD
                AUTOMATION   43
           CARE PROVIDER FINANCES   44
   FIGURE 11 EFFECT OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN ON HOSPITALS' IT
      SPENDING (%)   45
                      Care Provider Finances (Continued)  46

CHAPTER FIVE: AUTOMATED HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING: TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS, AND MARKETS 
     SUMMARY  47
  FIGURE 12 TRENDS IN U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED HEALTH
     ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING, 2010­2016 ($ MILLIONS)   47
  FIGURE 12 (CONTINUED)   48
     TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS  48
          AUTOMATED HOME MONITORING AND TELEMETRY  48
               Objectives   48
               Technologies   49
                         Embedded Monitors  49
                                    Toilet seats  49
                                    Bathroom mirrors  49
                                    Elderly Walkers 49
                         Wearable Monitors 50
                         Home Telemetry Monitors  51
                                    Telehomecare 52
                                    Mobile Phone-based Technologies  52
                                    Bluetooth  53
                                    ZigBee 53
                                    Signal Transmission via Human Skin   54
               Current Commercial Status  54
               Suppliers  54
  TABLE 5 DEVELOPERS AND SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATED HOME
     MONITORING AND TELEMETRY SOLUTIONS  55
          TELEHEALTH KIOSKS 55
               Objectives   55
               Technologies   56
               Commercial Status  57
               Suppliers  57
TABLE 6 SUPPLIERS OF TELEHEALTH KIOSKS 57
          AUTOMATED EYE EXAMINATION DEVICES   57
               Objectives   58
               Technologies   58
                         Automated Ophthalmic Instruments   58
                                    Autorefractors  58
                                    Autokeratometers  58
                                    Aberrometers  59
                         Eye Health Kiosk  59
               Suppliers  60
TABLE 7 DEVELOPERS AND SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATED EYE
   HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS   60
               Current Commercial Status  60
          AUTOMATED DRUG TESTING  61
               Objectives   62
               Technologies   62
                         Analytical Technologies  62
FIGURE 13 DRUG TESTS BY TYPE OF TEST, 2010 (PERCENT OF
   ALL TESTS BY VALUE)   63
                                    Test Matrices  64
                                    Eye Tracking Systems   64
                         Laboratory vs  Point-of-collection Analysis   64
               Commercial Status  65
               Suppliers  65
TABLE 8 DEVELOPERS AND SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATED DRUG
   TESTING EQUIPMENT   66
    MARKETS   66
TABLE 9 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
   AND MONITORING SYSTEMS BY TYPE OF SYSTEM, THROUGH
   2016 ($ MILLIONS)   66
FIGURE 14 AUTOMATED HEALTH MONITORING AND
   ASSESSMENT MARKET PRODUCT SEGMENTS, 2010­2016 (%)   67
          WEARABLE MONITORS  68
TABLE 10 HOME MONITORING AND TELEMETRY SALES,
   THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  68
               Home Telemetry Monitors  68
TABLE 11 SALES OF HOME TELEMETRY MONITORS, THROUGH
   2016 ($ MILLIONS)   68
          TELEHEALTH KIOSKS 69
   TABLE 12 TELEHEALTH KIOSK SALES AND LEASE REVENUES,
      2016 (NEW UNITS/$)   69
             AUTOMATED EYE HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES   70
   TABLE 13 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTIC
      OPHTHALMIC EQUIPMENT, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  70
             AUTOMATED DRUG TESTING  71
   FIGURE 15 AUTOMATED TEST EQUIPMENT SHARE OF DRUG
      TESTING MARKET, 2010 (%)  71
   FIGURE 16 DRUG ABUSE VERSUS THERAPEUTIC DRUG TESTING
      SHARES OF AUTOMATED DRUG TESTING EQUIPMENT
      MARKET, 2010 (%)  72
   TABLE 14 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED DRUG TESTING
      SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS) 73

CHAPTER SIX: AUTOMATED IMAGING AND IMAGE ANALYSIS 
      SUMMARY  74
  FIGURE 17 TRENDS IN THE U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED
     MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES, 2010­2016 ($ MILLIONS) 74
  FIGURE 17 (CONTINUED)   75
      TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS  75
          AUTOMATED RADIOGRAPHY AND FLUOROSCOPY   75
                 Objectives   75
                 Technologies   76
                           Automated Radiography   76
                           Automated Fluoroscopy  76
                                      CT fluoroscopy  77
          AUTOMATED WHOLE-BREAST ULTRASOUND 77
          COMPUTER-AIDED DETECTION  78
          AUTOMATED MICROSCOPY  78
                 Automated Microscopy (Continued) 79
          AUTOMATED SKIN CANCER DETECTION  80
                 Commercial Status  81
                 Suppliers  81
  TABLE 15 DEVELOPERS AND SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATED
     IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES 81
  TABLE 15 (CONTINUED) 82
          ENDOSCOPIC CAPSULES   82
                 Objectives   83
                 Technologies   83
                 Current Commercial Status  83
                 Suppliers  84
  TABLE 16 CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY SUPPLIERS 84
      MARKETS   84
  TABLE 17 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED IMAGING SYSTEMS BY
     TYPE OF SYSTEM, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  84
   FIGURE 18 AUTOMATED IMAGING MARKET PRODUCT
      SEGMENTS, 2010-2016 (%) 85
            AUTOMATED RADIOGRAPHY AND FLUOROSCOPY   86
   TABLE 18 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED RADIOGRAPHY AND
      FLUOROSCOPY SYSTEMS BY TYPE OF SYSTEM, THROUGH 2016
      ($ MILLIONS)  86
                   Automated Radiography   86
   TABLE 19 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED RADIOGRAPHY
      SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  87
                   Fluoroscopy  87
   TABLE 20 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED FLUOROSCOPY
      SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS) 87
            CAD   87
   TABLE 21 U S  MARKET FOR CAD SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($
      MILLIONS)  88
            AUTOMATED WHOLE BREAST ULTRASOUND  89
   TABLE 22 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED WHOLE BREAST
      ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)   89
            AUTOMATED MICROSCOPY  89
   TABLE 23 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED MICROSCOPY
      SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  90
            AUTOMATED SKIN CANCER DETECTION  90
   TABLE 24 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED SKIN CANCER
      DETECTION SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)   91
            CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY  91
   TABLE 25 U S  MARKET FOR CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY SYSTEMS,
      THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  91

CHAPTER SEVEN: AUTOMATED PRESCRIPTION FORMULATION AND DISPENSING: TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS, AND MARKETS
     SUMMARY  92
  FIGURE 19 TRENDS IN THE U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED
     PRESCRIPTION FORMULATION AND DISPENSING
     TECHNOLOGIES, 2010­2016 ($ MILLIONS)  92
     OBJECTIVES  93
     TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS  93
          PACKAGING MACHINES  93
               Tablet Counters   93
               Unit-Dose or Blister Pack Repackaging and Dispensing
                    Systems   93
          INTRAVENOUS COMPOUNDERS  94
          DISPENSING MACHINES   94
               Centralized Dispensing Systems  94
               Decentralized Dispensing Systems   94
     CURRENT COMMERCIAL STATUS  95
      SUPPLIERS  95
   TABLE 26 SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATED PRESCRIPTION
      FORMULATION AND DISPENSING SYSTEMS   96
      MARKETS   96
   TABLE 27 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED PRESCRIPTION
      FORMULATION AND DISPENSING SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($
      MILLIONS)  96
   FIGURE 20 AUTOMATED PRESCRIPTION FORMULATION AND
      DISPENSING PRODUCT SEGMENTS, 2010-2016 (%)   97
           HOSPITAL/INPATIENT SYSTEMS   97
   TABLE 28 U S  MARKET FOR HOSPITAL/INPATIENT AUTOMATED
      PRESCRIPTION FORMULATION AND DISPENSING YSTEMS,
      THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  98
           PHARMACY/OUTPATIENT SYSTEMS   98
   TABLE 29 U S  MARKET FOR PHARMACY/OUTPATIENT
      AUTOMATED PRESCRIPTION FORMULATION AND DISPENSING
      SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  98

CHAPTER EIGHT: AUTOMATED THERAPEUTIC (NONSURGICAL) PROCEDURES: TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS, AND MARKETS 
     SUMMARY  99
  FIGURE 21 TRENDS IN THE U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED
     NONSURGICAL THERAPEUTIC DEVICES, 2010­2016 ($
     MILLIONS)  99
     TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS  100
          AUTOMATED DEFIBRILLATORS  100
                 Objectives   100
                 Technologies   100
                           Portable Automated Defibrillators   100
                           Wearable Defibrillators  100
                           Implantable Defibrillators  101
                 Current Commercial Status  102
                 Suppliers  102
  TABLE 30 AUTOMATED DEFIBRILLATOR MANUFACTURERS  102
          AUTOMATED MEDICATION DELIVERY SYSTEMS   103
                 Objectives   103
                 Technologies   103
                           Implantable Drug Pumps   103
                           Wearable Drug Pumps 104
                                      Wearable Drug   (Continued)   105
                 Current Commercial Status  106
                 Suppliers  106
  TABLE 31 AUTOMATED MEDICATION DELIVERY SYSTEM
     SUPPLIERS   106
     MARKETS   106
   TABLE 32 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED NONSURGICAL
      THERAPEUTIC DEVICES, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)   107
   FIGURE 22 AUTOMATED NONSURGICAL THERAPEUTIC DEVICE
      SEGMENTS (%)   107
   FIGURE 22 (CONTINUED)   108
           AUTOMATED DEFIBRILLATORS  108
   TABLE 33 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED DEFIBRILLATORS,
      THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  108
                  Portable Automated Defibrillators   108
   TABLE 34 U S  MARKET FOR PORTABLE AUTOMATED
      DEFIBRILLATORS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  109
                  Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators   109
   TABLE 35 U S  MARKET FOR IMPLANTED CARDIOVERTER
      DEFIBRILLATORS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  109
           AUTOMATED MEDICATION DELIVERY SYSTEMS   110
   TABLE 36 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED MEDICATION
      DELIVERY SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)   111
                  Wearable Systems   111
   TABLE 37 U S  MARKET FOR WEARABLE AUTOMATED
      MEDICATION DELIVERY SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($
      MILLIONS)  111
                  Implanted Systems  112
   TABLE 38 U S  MARKET FOR IMPLANTED AUTOMATED
      MEDICATION DELIVERY SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($
      MILLIONS)  112

CHAPTER NINE: MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED SURGICAL DEVICES: TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS, AND MARKETS  
     SUMMARY  113
  FIGURE 23 TRENDS IN THE U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED
     MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES, 2010­2016 ($ MILLIONS) 113
     TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS  114
          SURGICAL PLANNERS AND SIMULATORS  114
               Objectives   114
               Technologies   114
                         Simulation of Actions and Force Feedback
                               Reactions  115
                         Emerging Technologies   116
                                    Web-based Surgical Simulators  116
                                    Virtual Reality Simulators  116
               Current Commercial Status  117
               Suppliers  117
  TABLE 39 STANDALONE SURGICAL PLANNERS AND SIMULATORS  118
          SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS   118
               Technologies   118
                   Imaging Technologies   119
                            Multi-modal imaging   119
                            Fluoroscopic Imaging   119
                            Video-enhanced Imagery   120
                            Microscopic Imagery  120
                            Endoscopic Imagery   120
                            Dynamic (Interventional) Imaging   121
                            Compact MRI Scanners   122
                            Intra-operative CT   122
                            Intra-operative Utrasound  123
                   Tracking Technologies  123
                            Optical Tracking  123
                            Electromagnetic Tracking   124
                   Display Technologies  124
                            Virtual and Augmented Reality 124
                            Heads-up Displays   124
             Suppliers  125
TABLE 40 SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM SUPPLIERS  125
        SURGICAL ROBOTS   125
             Objectives   126
             Technologies   126
                   Robotically Assisted Micro-manipulation  126
                   Steady-hand Systems   126
                   Robotic "Wrists" and Other Dexterity
                       Enhancements   127
                   Pre-programmed Robots   127
                   Constraint Robots   128
                   Voice Control   128
             Other Emerging Technologies   129
                   New Robotic Arm Designs  129
                   Remote Surgery  129
                   Microbots   130
             Suppliers  130
TABLE 41 SUPPLIERS AND DEVELOPERS OF SURGICAL ROBOTICS  130
TABLE 41 (CONTINUED) 131
        INTELLIGENT OPERATING ROOMS AND RELATED
           EQUIPMENT  131
             Description   131
             Technologies   131
                   Data Routing   132
                   User Interface   132
                   Open System Architectures  132
             Suppliers  132
   TABLE 42 SUPPLIERS OF INTELLIGENT OPERATING ROOM
      SOLUTIONS AND COMPONENTS   133
      MARKETS   133
   TABLE 43 U S  MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED
      SURGERY MARKET BY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, THROUGH 2016 ($
      MILLIONS)  134
   FIGURE 24 U S  MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED
      SURGERY MARKET SHARES BY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, 2010
      VERSUS 2016 (PERCENT OF TOTAL SALES)  135

CHAPTER TEN: AUTOMATED LABORATORY TESTING AND ANALYSIS: TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS, AND MARKETS 
      SUMMARY  136
  FIGURE 25 TRENDS IN THE U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED
     CLINICAL LABORATORY SYSTEMS, 2010­2016 ($ MILLIONS)   136
  FIGURE 25 (CONTINUED)   137
      TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS  137
            OBJECTIVES   137
            TECHNOLOGIES  138
                 Central Laboratory Systems   138
                           Total Laboratory Automation  138
                           Modular Systems  138
                                      Sample Processing   139
                                      Quality Inspection  139
                                      Standardized Interfaces  139
                 Point-of-care Testing Systems  139
      COMMERCIAL STATUS   140
      SUPPLIERS  140
  TABLE 44 SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATED LABORATORY TESTING
     AND ANALYSIS SYSTEMS   140
      MARKETS   141
            SUMMARY   141
  TABLE 45 U S  AUTOMATED LABORATORY TESTING AND
     ANALYSIS MARKET BY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, THROUGH 2016 ($
     MILLIONS)  141
  FIGURE 26 AUTOMATED LABORATORY TESTING AND ANALYSIS
     PRODUCT SEGMENTS, 2010-2016 (%)  142
            CENTRAL LABORATORY SYSTEMS   142
  TABLE 46 U S  AUTOMATED CENTRAL LABORATORY TESTING
     AND ANALYSIS MARKET BY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, THROUGH
     2016 ($ MILLIONS)   143
            POINT-OF-CARE TESTING SYSTEMS  143
  TABLE 47 U S  AUTOMATED POINT-OF-CARE TESTING AND
     ANALYSIS MARKET BY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, THROUGH 2016 ($
     MILLIONS)  143
CHAPTER ELEVEN: AUTOMATED HEALTHCARE LOGISTICS,
  RESOURCE AND PERSONNEL TRACKING: TECHNOLOGIES,
  PRODUCTS, AND MARKETS  144
      SUMMARY  144
  FIGURE 27 TRENDS IN THE U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED
     HEALTHCARE LOGISTICS, RESOURCE AND PERSONNEL
     TRACKING SYSTEMS, 2010­2016 ($ MILLIONS)  144
  FIGURE 27 (CONTINUED)   145
      TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS  145
               AUTOMATED HOSPITAL PICKUP AND DELIVERY   145
                          Objectives   145
                          Technologies   145
                                    Pneumatic Tubes  145
                                    Automated Guided Vehicles   146
                          Commercial Status  147
                          Suppliers  147
  TABLE 48 SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATED HOSPITAL PICKUP AND
     DELIVERY SYSTEMS  147
  TABLE 48 (CONTINUED) 148
               HOSPITAL ASSET/PATIENT/STAFF TRACKING SYSTEMS  148
                          Objectives   148
                          Technologies   149
                                    Active RFID   149
                                    Wi-Fi  150
                                    Hybrid Systems   150
                                    Sensor Tags   150
                                    Real-time Location Systems   151
                          Commercial Status  151
                          Suppliers  151
  TABLE 49 SUPPLIERS OF HOSPITAL
     EQUIPMENT/PATIENT/STAFF/TRACKING SYSTEMS   151
      MARKETS   152
               SUMMARY   152
  TABLE 50 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED HEALTHCARE
     LOGISTICS, RESOURCE AND PERSONNEL TRACKING SYSTEMS,
     THROUGH 2016  152
  FIGURE 28 AUTOMATED HEALTHCARE LOGISTICS, RESOURCE
     AND PERSONNEL TRACKING SYSTEMS SEGMENTS, 2010-2016
     (%)   153
               AUTOMATED HOSPITAL PICKUP AND DELIVERY
                    SYSTEMS  153
  TABLE 51 U S  MARKET FOR HOSPITAL AUTOMATED LOGISTICS
     SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  154
                          Pneumatic Tubes   154
   TABLE 52 U S  MARKET FOR HOSPITAL PNEUMATIC TUBE
     SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS) 154
                 AGVs  154
   TABLE 53 U S  MARKET FOR HOSPITAL AGV SYSTEMS, THROUGH
     2016 ($ MILLIONS)   155
            HOSPITAL PATIENT/STAFF/EQUIPMENT TRACKING   155
   TABLE 54 U S  MARKET FOR HOSPITAL RTLS SYSTEMS THROUGH
     2016 ($ MILLIONS)   155

CHAPTER TWELVE: AUTOMATED MEDICAL (NONSURGICAL) PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS, AND MARKETS
      SUMMARY  156
  FIGURE 29 TRENDS IN THE U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED
     MEDICAL (NONSURGICAL) TRAINING DEVICES, 2010­2016 ($
     MILLIONS)  156
  FIGURE 29 (CONTINUED)   157
      OBJECTIVES  157
          TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS   157
                  Human Patient Simulators   157
                            Virtual Reality Trainers   158
                            Team Training  159
                  Commercial Status  159
                  Suppliers  159
          MARKETS  159
  TABLE 55 U S  MARKET FOR AUTOMATED MEDICAL
     (NONSURGICAL) TRAINING SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016 ($
     MILLIONS)  160

APPENDIX A: COMPANY PROFILES 
    ACROBOT COMPANY LTD  (SURGICAL PLANNERS,
      NAVIGATORS, ROBOTS)  161
    AEROSCOUT, INC   161
    ASTERES, INC  (AUTOMATED PRESCRIPTION FULFILLMENT)   162
    AWAREPOINT CORP    162
    BECKMAN COULTER, INC    162
    BRAINLAB AG (SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS)  163
    CARD GUARD AG (HOME MONITORING AND TELEMETRY)   164
    CENTRAK INC   164
    CLEARCOUNT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS, INC    165
    COMPUTERIZED SCREENING INC  (TELEHEALTH KIOSKS)  165
    CURLIN MEDICAL, INC   166
    EKAHAU INC   166
    ESCREEN INC  (AUTOMATED DRUG TESTING SYSTEMS)  166
    GE HEALTHCARE (SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS)  167
         GIVEN IMAGING LTD    167
         ICAD INC  (COMPUTER-ASSISTED DETECTION AND
            DIAGNOSIS) 168
         INFIMED INC  168
         INSULET CORP   169
         INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC  (SURGICAL ROBOTICS) 169
         IRIS INTERNATIONAL, INC    170
         MEDICAL EDUCATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC   170
         MICROCHIPS INC   171
         NOVX SYSTEMS INC  (AUTOMATED DRUG TESTING) 171
         PARATA SYSTEMS LLC   172
         PEVCO SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC   172
         PHILIPS HEALTHCARE (AUTOMATED MEDICAL IMAGING)  172
         QUIQMEDS, INC  (AUTOMATED PRESCRIPTION FULFILLMENT)   173
         RF COMPANY LTD    173
         ROBOTIC SURGICAL TECH, INC  (SURGICAL ROBOTICS)   173
         SIEMENS HEALTHCARE   174
         SIMSURGERY (SURGICAL SIMULATORS)   174
         STREETIME TECHNOLOGIES (AUTOMATED DRUG TESTING)  175
         STRYKER CORP  (NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, INTELLLIGENT
            OPERATING ROOMS)  175
         T+ MEDICAL AMERICAS (HOME MONITORING AND
            TELEMETRY)   176
         U-SYSTEMS, INC  (AUTOMATED IMAGING SYSTEMS)   176
         VERSUS TECHNOLOGY, INC    177
         ZOLL MEDICAL CORP    177

APPENDIX B: PATENT ANALYSIS 
  FIGURE 30 U S  MEDICAL AUTOMATION PATENTS BY TYPE OF
     TECHNOLOGY (PERCENT OF PATENTS ISSUED THROUGH AUG
     1, 2011)   178
  FIGURE 30 (CONTINUED)   179