Irish medical technology firm Medtronic has collaborated with technology firm IBM to develop a new generation of personalized diabetes management solutions.

Medtronic

Under the deal, both firms will work together to aggregate advanced analytics and cognitive computing with diabetes medical devices to develop new diabetes management solutions.

Medtronic Diabetes Group president and executive vice-president Hooman Hakami said: "Devices alone cannot transform diabetes care. The combination of leadership technologies, big data, informatics and world-class patient management are all required to drive effective results in diabetes care."

IBM solutions portfolio and research senior vice-president John Kelly said: "Medtronic and IBM can marry the power of analytics, cognitive computing and patient engagement with the world’s most sophisticated diabetes management devices to truly change how people with diabetes live."

IBM’s newly-formed Watson Health unit will work with Medtronic to develop new diabetes solutions.

Watson Health Cloud is a secure and open platform developed to provide its clients, partners and academic researchers with access to the complete view of aggregated clinical, research and social health data.

The companies are exploring ways to develop diabetes care management solutions, which will enhance patient outcomes and health economics. It will advance Medtronic’s devices and care management offerings, including therapies and coaching, and IBM’s Watson Health Cloud platform.

Both firms will also work together to develop near real-time and dynamic personalized care plans, which offer decision support for health care providers and their patients.

In addition, the companies will explore ways to leverage IBM’s Watson platform to improve Medtronic and partners’ closed loop algorithms, intended for better function of a healthy pancreas.


Image: Medtronic operational headquarters, Minneapolis. Photo: courtesy of Medtronic, Inc.