The medical device market is currently in an 'invisible war'.
It has to be small, precise, and long-lasting. But at the same time, it has to be developed quickly, certified, and affordable.
The era of selling products based on features is over. Now, the competitiveness of a device is determined by what “small but essential technologies” it has.

In that respect, Murata's solutions from Japan are one of the semiconductor manufacturers that provide considerable reliability to developers developing the latest trend products.
Precision and reliability in “invisible components” such as capacitors, sensors, and RF modules are Murata’s specialty. However, Murata has recently become a total solution company that goes beyond simple parts and considers ‘design efficiency’ and ‘product completeness.’

Such changes are possible only when the key challenges of medical devices are clearly understood and can be technically addressed. Where does Murata’s strategy come from?
Seongwon Seo, team leader of the Marketing Team of Murata Electronics Korea’s Strategy Planning Group, finds the answer in “the value of small things.”

“What the medical device market really needs now is a small but high-performance, integrated solution that takes design and certification into account. Murata is focusing on that point.”


Wireless communication modules, pushing the limits of miniaturization

Wearable, portable, and remote medical devices share a common problem: the lack of internal space. They need to fit all the elements—communication, power, sensors, MCUs, displays—while also considering battery efficiency and weight.

Murata has tackled this problem head-on. A composite module that integrates Bluetooth® LE and Wi-Fi® into a single module dramatically reduces the space inside medical devices, while maintaining a stable connection without compromising communication quality.

“Murata has integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functions into a single module, which has enabled significant space savings within medical devices. Portability and weight reduction have improved user convenience and increased freedom in device design.” – Team Leader Seongwon Seo

Communication quality is not determined by simple antenna performance alone. It is a high-level technology that requires numerous design details such as shielding structure, packaging, and electromagnetic interference suppression technology. By providing this complex communication module as a “black box for developers, including authentication,” Murata allows designers to use it with confidence.

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Bluetooth® LE + Wi-Fi composite module block diagram

The Hidden Pitfall of Medical Device Development: Certification

The most common 'unexpected time-consuming' issue that domestic companies face when developing medical devices is certification.
In particular, wireless certifications such as FCC, CE, and TELEC take several months even after the device has been developed, and there is also the risk of retesting.

“Using Murata modules and antennas as they are eliminates the need to go through separate wireless certification procedures from scratch. This shortens the certification time in the early stages of development, significantly speeds up time to market, and is a real help in securing competitiveness.” – Team Leader Seongwon Seo

This is a huge advantage for startups and small to medium-sized medical device manufacturers. In situations where resources are limited, securing manpower and budget for wireless authentication is always a concern.

Murata goes beyond simply providing an “FCC certified module” to provide a certification package that takes antenna design into consideration, eliminating certification risks for designers.

Sensor technology balances accuracy and power

Sensors are not simply measuring devices.
It is the first to detect the 'user's status' and is a trigger and sensory organ that elicits all responses from the device. In particular, in medical devices, this sensory organ is directly related to surgical accuracy, drug dosage, and position correction.

Murata's AMR sensor is attracting attention as a technology that satisfies small size, high sensitivity, and ultra-low power consumption compared to conventional Hall sensors. It is suitable for position detection, capsule endoscopes, and dose counters, as it detects the strength and direction of a magnetic field using the principle of magnetoresistance.

“AMR sensors are highly sensitive but ultra-small. “It is ideal for wearable devices because it has a high degree of freedom in the arrangement of magnets and sensors, and its ultra-low power characteristics also provide good battery efficiency.” – Team Leader Seongwon Seo

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Example of AMR sensor magnetic field detection function

RFID technology leading automation in medical settings

In the medical field, RFID goes beyond a simple inventory management system and acts as the central axis of a 'digital tracking system'. It individually tracks surgical instruments, drugs, disposable kits, and test reagents, accurately managing their usage history and expiration date.

In particular, Murata's RFID solutions are ensuring reliability in demanding environments such as operating rooms and cold storage through 'metal tags' that operate without any degradation in communication performance even in metal environments.

“Murata has secured metal tag technology that maintains communication performance even when attached to metal. “It can recognize surgical tools at once without individual scanning, and even track drug distribution, which can greatly increase the convenience and safety of medical staff.” – Team Leader Seongwon Seo


Designing Air, Not Pumps – Micro Blowers

In blood pressure monitors, respirators, and insulin injectors, 'how to control air' determines measurement accuracy and user experience. Conventional motor pumps structurally could not avoid vibration and noise, which made many medical devices difficult to use during sleep.

Murata's micro blower uses piezo technology to expel air with high-frequency vibrations, dramatically reducing noise and vibration. The low-pulsation airflow is excellent for precise pressure control and is also suitable for wearable devices with limited space.

“With an ultra-small design of 2.3mm thickness and 20mm diameter, it is suitable for wearable devices with limited space. It is applied to equipment that requires precise flow control, such as blood pressure monitors, respiratory devices, and insulin injectors.” – Team Leader Seongwon Seo

Murata's strategy looks 'beyond parts'

Murata is not just a company that makes good parts.
More importantly, we are an 'integrated technology partner' that can provide designers with sensors, modules, power, filters, and timing devices all at once.

“We have module integration capabilities that take into account the entire medical device circuit. From the developer’s perspective, there is an advantage of being able to improve design speed, board efficiency, and quality all at once.” – Team Leader Seongwon Seo

Now, the competitiveness of medical devices is determined not by simple specifications, but by the balance between design efficiency and completeness.
Murata is fine-tuning the “core technologies inside the device” that are not noticeable but are responsible for critical functions.
And that precise integration power ultimately reduces developer time, increases product reliability, and becomes a real force that can survive in the market.