Electronic medicine,which uses energy like electricity or magnetic fields to stimulate the brain and nerves for therapeutic effects,is rapidly growing across various fields.Electronic medicine offers advantages over conventional chemical medications,includ...
Global Electronic Medicine Trends and Market Outlook | ||
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| Electronic medicine, which uses energy like electricity or magnetic fields to stimulate the brain and nerves for therapeutic effects, is rapidly growing across various fields. Electronic medicine offers advantages over conventional chemical medications, including fewer side effects and real-time measurement and response capabilities, as it directly stimulates the affected nerves. While previously used primarily in devices like pacemakers, electronic medicine is now showing potential for treating various conditions, including depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Alzheimer's disease, driving market growth.
According to market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the global electronic medicine market is projected to grow from $23.9 billion in 2024 to $33.6 billion by 2029. Electronic medicines are categorized as invasive, requiring implantation, and non-invasive, worn externally. Invasive electronic medicine includes pacemakers and deep brain stimulators. Non-invasive electronic medicines primarily utilize electricity or magnetic fields to activate or inhibit brain nerve activity. These devices send electrical stimulation to the skull through electrodes, triggering specific nerve cells and inducing physiological or psychological changes. Examples include:
Recent studies indicate that non-invasive electronic medicine stimulating the brain is effective for various conditions. Researchers at the University of Surrey in the UK reported that a device developed by US company Tech Infosphere Engineering alleviated ADHD symptoms in children. This device uses transcranial random noise stimulation to activate less active brain areas. 55% of children who received electrical stimulation showed improvement in ADHD standard tests, compared to 17% in the control group that did not receive stimulation. Researchers at Ningbo University Medical School in China reported that transcranial direct current stimulation improved cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients. In a trial involving 124 Alzheimer's patients aged 65 and older, those who received prefrontal cortex stimulation for six weeks showed improved memory and cognitive function compared to the control group. In June 2023, South Korean healthcare company WiBrain received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its migraine treatment device "DuPang," a non-invasive electronic medicine. The device, a finger-sized patch applied to the forehead, uses electrical stimulation to calm nerves and relieve migraines. WiBrain previously received regulatory approval in South Korea for its "MindStim" device in 2021, which uses electrical stimulation to treat depression. This device has been prescribed over 80,000 times in 130 hospitals and clinics across South Korea. WiBrain officials noted that "MindStim demonstrated a higher effectiveness in improving depressive symptoms than antidepressants in clinical trials," and they are pursuing FDA approval.
South Korean electronic medicine company Remed has launched "BrainStim," a magnetic field depression treatment device, and is also developing an Alzheimer's treatment device using the same technology. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which involves directly implanting electrodes in the brain, is also advancing. Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, released a video showcasing a participant in its first clinical trial playing chess wirelessly through a brain-implanted chip. A joint research team from the University of California, Davis, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brown University Medical School implanted 256 electrodes in the cortical region of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who had quadriplegia and speech impairments. The researchers successfully identified the patient's intended sentences using the implanted electrodes and translated them into speech using AI, allowing the patient to communicate verbally.
Types of Electronic Medicines:
Examples of Non-invasive Electronic Medicine Applications:
Advancements in Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Technology:
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