Size is becoming one of the key success factors today across many industries in this shrinking world. From cars to iPods, we see size and opportunity becoming more inversely proportional. Healthcare sector is no different in this trend. When it comes to instruments used in research/ diagnostics laboratories or even in point-of-care setting, reducing the foot print is given a top priority. Advancements in the development of micro total analysis systems (uTAS or mTAS) or lab-on-chip has slowly gained importance in various fields of which lifesciences is one of the major application areas.

The healthcare industry in general and the high acuity patient monitoring segment in particular has not been that vulnerable to the precarious economic environment prevailing over Europe.

Medical image data are becoming an increasingly important aspect for effective patient diagnosis.  There is an increasing trend of medical images being viewed and stored in digital format as opposed to the traditional film based images.

As information technologies reshape the healthcare sector as a whole, hospitals have become more comfortable with accessing and sharing electronic information. Real-time access to information is very critical for an effective healthcare. It has been proven time and again that the most efficient means of information entry and access is offered by a combination of computing devices. It is acknowledged that wireless networks, which will aid point-of-care decision-making, information access and clinical data entry, are coming up steadily.

The pharmaceutical industry is facing some key challenges such as the increase in drug development cost, the decrease in the number of drugs being approved, and scrutiny from regulatory authorities to name a few.  Patients themselves are demanding more effective and safer drugs.

Nanotechnology has attracted over $3 billion in funds from governments globally, which is being applied to a broad range of disciplines including pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, aerospace/defense and food