The market
The global market for medical devices and diagnostic services was valued at $2.86 trillion in 2010. This diverse market encompasses both equipment and services, including in vitro testing, imaging, endoscopy, and energy therapies. Diagnostics, which falls under the services category, was valued at over $200 billion. It is estimated that approximately 10% of the healthcare sector is dedicated to diagnostics. The market is characterized by strong growth, particularly in developing countries. The Indian market, for example, fueled by the emergence of a wide range of diseases related to modern lifestyles, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, is experiencing domestic growth at a rate of 20% per year. This is positioning India as a global hub for both equipment and service development. Laboratory clinical trials are expected to reach $100 billion by 2017. These diagnostics include blood glucose testing, infectious disease testing, clinical chemistry testing, cardiac marker testing, coagulation testing, cancer testing, and fertility testing. Imaging equipment represents a major segment and, fueled by technological breakthroughs, provides a broad portfolio of diagnostic imaging systems, scanners, X-ray machines, radiology equipment, and breast imaging equipment. This sector is projected to grow from $22.4 billion in 2000 to $56.3 billion globally by 2012. Point-of-care diagnostics (PDC), which differs from clinical diagnostics by using external laboratory tests, is experiencing annual growth of nearly 10% through 2016, increasing from a market of $13.7 billion in 2010 to $24.8 billion in 2016. The United States represents the largest market in the world. Employment in industry is increasing even in the industrialized world, despite the introduction of automated analysis. The number of jobs in the United States is expected to rise from 318,000 in 2006 to 362,000 ten years later.
Innovation
Although an aging population demands more diagnostics, the healthcare system is keen to reduce costs. At the same time, industry is seeking innovations that offer faster and easier testing. Rapid test kits with digital readouts are supported not only by demand from the clinical sector but also by sports and law enforcement agencies that require immediate confirmation of the use of performance-enhancing substances or central nervous system stimulants. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a rare invention that relies on design; almost all innovations rely on complex chemistry. Considering that the execution of the tests themselves improves with the use of sophisticated chemicals, the amount of waste to be managed has given rise to its own industry: the incineration of hospital and laboratory waste streams. Thomas Rau graduated from the medical school in Bern, Switzerland, and specialized in rheumatic diseases. In addition to graduating from medical school and also holding a bachelor's degree in the United States, he studied homeopathy and natural therapies. He concluded that the body can only function properly when the patient strengthens their immune system by first reducing the stress caused by bacterial infections and heavy metals. Surprisingly, his initial diagnosis was based on a 3D rendering of the mouth. The presence of amalgam fillings, a sign of heavy metal leaching, and the appearance of root canal treatments on the screen highlighted the presence of highly acidic bacteria in the deep cavities of the jaw. This test was complemented by dark-field microscopy, an effective technique that enhances the contrast of biological samples such as blood. This technique allows for the illumination of a sample that will not be reflected within the objective lens, thus creating a dark background while objects appear clear. It is a clever application of physics to improve diagnosis. This analysis offers a highly qualified point-of-care (POC) diagnostic observer who links dental analysis with white blood cell activity, red blood cell quality, the presence of bacteria, or even partially digested proteins. The power of the analytical system developed by Dr. Thomas Rau and his colleagues at the Paracelsus Center for Biological Medicine and Dentistry lies in its ability to obtain a holistic picture of the individual.
The first cash flow
Since 1992, Thomas Rau has led the development of the Paracelsus Clinic in Lustmühle, near St. Gallen, Switzerland. His approach to holistic medicine sets new standards by not only gaining a detailed understanding of the patient's condition but also identifying the root causes, enabling progress from symptom management to problem-solving and putting the patient on a path to recovery. The portfolio of Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostics, which are presented and explained to patients and then supplemented by laboratory tests, empowers them. This approach not only allows them to visualize the challenges they face but also to fully understand the underlying cause and its relationship to the symptomatic effects. Visualizing extensive infections in the root canals, mapped onto the body's meridians, can explain back cramps; the presence of acidic bacteria in the blood can indicate the disastrous state of a root, even causing localized fevers exceeding 39 degrees Celsius, which cannot be detected by traditional average body temperature measurements. Following immediate corrective actions, including minor topical surgeries such as root canal extractions and amalgam fillings, patients gain access to a framework that facilitates behavioral change. The Paracelsus team will provide dietary guidelines to modify their eating habits. And while many prescribed diets exist for weight loss, this one can be tailored to specific conditions, empowering patients to take control of their health (and happiness). The Paracelsus Clinic has become a benchmark in the healthcare world, and its interconnected, systemic approach makes it a leader in healthcare within a blue economy.
The opportunity
The availability of point-of-care (POC) diagnostics has been life-changing for diabetic patients, giving them immediate control over their condition. The latest breakthrough in this integrated approach is its ability to shift from curative to preventive medicine. While it will take years to acquire the knowledge and experience of Dr. Thomas Rau, we must also recognize that the vast majority of the population simply doesn't know how their own body functions. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics allow us to map our behavior, from eating to sleeping, and gain a practical understanding of the real impact of our daily decisions on our quality of life.
