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 realistically priced. The era of selling with many functions is over. Now, the competitiveness of a device is determined by what kind of 'small but essential technology' 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 parts' 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.” - Team Leader Seongwon Seo


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 been made possible, increasing user convenience and increasing freedom in device design.”

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 KC take several months even after the device has been developed, and the risk of retesting must be taken.

“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 provides a real boost to competitiveness.”

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 offers a high degree of freedom in placement between magnets and sensors and its ultra-low power characteristics also provide good battery efficiency.”

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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 greatly improve the convenience and safety of medical staff’s work by recognizing surgical tools at once without individual scanning and even enabling tracking of drug distribution.”


Designing Air, Not Pumps – Micro Blowers

In blood pressure monitors, respirators, and insulin injectors, 'how to control air' determines measurement accuracy and user experience. Existing 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 2.3 mm in thickness and 20 mm in 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 equipment, and insulin injectors.”

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 a developer’s perspective, there is the advantage of being able to improve design speed, board efficiency, and quality all at once.”

Now, the competitiveness of medical devices is determined not by simple specifications, but by the balance between design efficiency and completeness.
Murata is finely tuning the 'core technology inside the device' that is inconspicuous but 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.