Electronics companies enter the healthcare market

As we see the other article about the smartphone market, the market is stagnant. For specific, the number of smartphone shipment was about 173 million in 2009 and about 1,300 million in 2014, respectively. Thus, its shipment was more than 7 times for only 5 years. However, the number of shipment is stagnant now. In fact, it was about 1,400 million in 2018. Therefore, we can easily imagine that electronics companies that enjoyed the growth of smartphone market should find ANOTHER growing market.

Japanese electronics giant, Murata, is without exception. In fact, the company is one of major Japanese suppliers for smartphones and seeks other market to earn revenue and profit. As a result, it acquired Vios Medical, Inc., which is an US medical startup, in 2017.

The company was renamed as Murata Vios in 2019. It offers monitoring products that enable us to check data relating our health. More specific, the US medical company manufactures small sensors that measure our heart rate and others. Murata also has its expertise in sensors so that technology fusion between two companies is also expecting.

What is Vios Monitoring System?

The Vios Monitoring System (VMS) is a wireless, FDA-cleared, internet of things (IoT) patient monitoring solution. Thanks to its design, they can improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

The VMS enables clinicians to monitor a patient’s 7-lead ECG, heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse rate, SpO2 and posture continuously. Also, we can entry and input blood pressure and body temperature data manually. As a result, Healthcare facilities can leverage their existing IT infrastructures and to deploy the solution throughout various care settings.

Who is Murata Vios?

Based on Murata Vios’ page, Murata Vios, Inc. is a medical technology company. It focuses on medical-grade IoT sensors and remote monitoring services to lower the cost of care.

Company’s goal is to reduce the cost of healthcare, enhance clinical experience and productivity, and improve patient outcomes through workflow automation. Its mission is to utilize IoT sensors, remote monitoring services and a big data. As a result, the US company can approach to cost-effectively manage the oversight of patients across the entire continuum of care, and automate common patient clinical workflows.

Who is Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.?

Murata Manufacturing is a Japanese multinational electronics company and was founded in 1944. Its head office is located in Kyoto, Japan. Murata contributes to the advancement of society and the electronics industry by creating innovative products and solutions. In addition, the Japanese company value close cooperation with its customers and other stakeholders. As of March 31, 2020, the company has more than 70K employees in consolidated base.

Prevention is better than cure

We are living in the aged society so that our health becomes more important. One reason is that we might work longer than older generations do. For instance, the Japanese government set a new policy to ask companies to hire employees who are between 65 and 70 years old as much as they can. Some Japanese people might want to work until 70 years old. However, they must do due to the national policy at the same time.

Can you expect that we are healthy both mentally and physically until 70 years old? Of course some people can, but the reality is that others suffer some health problems. Therefore, we have to take care of our body, so prevention is more crucial. When we want to keep our health, its data are indispensable. In this sense, the demand of medical devices including Vios Monitoring System are increasing. The healthcare market can be the next smartphone market for Murata Corporation.