Medical devices

NRC finds new, less invasive ways to diagnose and treat diseases through technologies like spectroscopy and magnetic resonance. We develop advanced medical devices that lead to better health for Canadians and the growth of new companies to market such technologies.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

As the federal government's primary R&D and innovation resource, the National Research Council (NRC) contributes to the development of Canadian technology and its commercialization to stimulate the growth of world-class science and technology-based industries.

NRC’s current strategy, Science at Work for Canada, commits the organization to draw on the full breadth of its expertise to support the competitiveness of Canadian industry in strategically important industry sectors for the Canadian economy.

NRC has identified Canada’s medical devices industry as one of the key sectors in which its expertise, multi-disciplinary competencies and infrastructure can make significant scientific and technological contributions to help industry respond to the considerable global medical device market expansion that is expected in the coming years.

A Technology Intensive Sector

Canada’s medical devices industry merges scientific expertise with engineering know-how to create innovations that benefit the health care system and society at large.

The Canadian industry has recognized strengths in cadiovascular devices and treatments (e.g. heart valves, electronic cardiography systems), medical imaging (e.g. image archiving systems, ultrasound scanners) and home health care assistive devices and mobility aids.

In 2005, according to Industry Canada data, 998 medical devices firms were located in Canada. These firms operated 1,100 facilities and employed 26,000 people. Together they generated over $4 billion in sales and exported $2.4 billion worth of goods ($1.8B or 75% to US).

Currently Canada has an import/export deficit of $2 billion in medical devices.

Responding to Industry

In the last 15 years, NRC researchers have developed S&T solutions that improve the prospects for prevention, earlier diagnosis, and improved treatment and prognosis of serious health conditions, such as brain tumours, cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer.

NRC is currently consulting with industry to determine where it can have the greatest impact for Canada. With a new medical devices strategy in place by the end of the year, NRC will work with major industry stakeholders to identify and address key requirements for technology development and deployment for the next five-to-ten years. At the same time, NRC will leverage its extensive expertise across various disciplines and institutes throughout Canada to generate new innovation opportunities to help Canadian companies capture a larger share of the multibillion dollar market for medical devices.

Innovation through Technology Platforms

Technology Platforms are strategic areas in which NRC can focus its multi-disciplinary technology and research expertise and industry support to foster the competitiveness of key industrial sectors.

Technology platforms related to the medical device key sector at NRC include:

• Biosensors
• Implantable biomaterials
• IT-base decision support systems
• Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy
  • Instrumentation
  • Contrast agents
• Microfluidics/Lab-on-a-chip
• Optical imaging and spectroscopy
  • NIR, MIR, OCT, Raman, CARS
• Surface/interface chemistry and physics
• Surgical robotics and simulation
• Target discovery/validation

These platforms reflect the diversity of clients, players and stakeholders in the medical devices sector and the need for various knowledge and technology transfer tools that encourage innovation.

An Invaluable Support to Innovation

NRC has proven expertise in the commercialization of diagnostic equipment. Two of NRC’s most successful spin-offs in the medical device sector, IMRIS and Novadaq Technologies Inc., have leveraged over $125 million in investment from venture capital and public IPO markets since their creation, thanks to technologies invented at the NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg. IMRIS now employs more than 100 people and has annual sales revenues exceeding $40 million. Novadaq is experiencing significant sales growth and is exporting its technology worldwide.

NRC has much to offer medical devices companies through its vast expertise across science and engineering disciplines, its state-of-the-art research facilities, its Industrial Research Assistance Program and the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information. NRC services include business and market intelligence, a wealth of information resources, intellectual property/knowledge management, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. With such a broad scope and scale, NRC’s capacity is a unique resource for industrial R&D collaboration and assistance unmatched by any other single organization in Canada.

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