HMI: The Future of Patient Care Is Here!

Jennifer Samproni, Chief Technology Officer of the Health Solutions business at Flex Ltd., brings over three decades of experience in medical device development, leading both engineering and scientific organizations. She is an expert on the megatrends taking place across the healthcare industry – the rise of chronic illness, shifting sites of care delivery, increasing cost pressures across the continuum of care, and technological advancements ushering in a new era of digital health.

At MEDevice, Samproni will share her vision for the growing role that human-machine interfaces (HMI) will play in the future of medical device innovation. With the human experience becoming inherently more digital and connected – consumer devices and applications now manage a wide range of tasks for users every day – Samproni will focus on how medtech companies can approach product design to remain competitive.

Samproni has returned to Let's Talk Medtech to discuss her keynote at MEDevice Silicon Valley about how patient care is being transformed with HMI.

Here's a transcript of Samproni's conversation with MD+DI on the most recent episode of Let's Talk Medtech.

Well, Jennifer, hello and welcome back to Let's Talk MedTech.

Samproni:

Thank you! I appreciate the opportunity to connect and talk about the exciting trends and the upcoming conference in Silicon Valley.

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I’m looking forward to it as well. I know you're keynoting at the event, and I’d love to discuss your talk, but before that, I’d like to talk about your role as Chief Technology Officer of Health Solutions at Flex. With the evolving trends in healthcare and medtech, have you noticed a shift in your role?

Samproni:

Great question, Omar. Absolutely. There has never been a more exciting time to be in this space. At Flex, our customers span various medical markets and product categories, from large core laboratory analyzers to medical wearables like continuous glucose monitors. When you combine that with the rapid pace of technological advancements, it’s clear that it's not just my role as CTO that’s evolving—product development itself must evolve. To succeed today, it's no longer enough to just manage emerging technologies. We need to proactively drive technology adoption to address real, pressing healthcare needs. This shift is a big part of what I'll be addressing at the MedDevice Silicon Valley conference. What we’re seeing now is technology transforming healthcare delivery, not just through the tools, equipment, and devices we use, but through a fundamental shift in how we think about patient care—especially as we embrace new ways of caring for patients, managing chronic conditions, and addressing the needs of an aging population.

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It’s definitely a dynamic industry, and to your point, we’re seeing these kinds of shifts. With the rise of chronic illnesses and changes in care delivery sites, we're also witnessing a boom in digital health. Can you elaborate on that?

Samproni: Absolutely. We’re seeing a massive shift, and it’s largely driven by the demand for more accessible, convenient healthcare solutions. Digital health is at the forefront of this transformation. The explosion of digital health is fueled by a combination of factors: an aging population, the rise in chronic illnesses, and consumers who are increasingly empowered to manage their health. On top of that, we're in a post-COVID world where telehealth and digital tools have become, in many ways, standard practice. So this isn’t just about cool gadgets or apps—it’s about reshaping healthcare itself. We also have AI and machine learning tools paving the way for more personalized treatments, wearable tech allowing for continuous health monitoring, and data analytics transforming our understanding of health and how we predict outcomes. It's truly exciting and transformative.

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Can you talk about some of the major trends in the industry right now? One trend I’m noticing is that more medical devices are becoming consumer-friendly and oriented.

Samproni: Yes, that’s absolutely true. More devices are being designed to be consumer-friendly and user-oriented. As I mentioned earlier, we’re seeing a convergence of medical and consumer products. And digital technology, which once seemed like the latest buzzword, is now ubiquitous. However, in healthcare, there’s still a lot of work to do to bridge the gap between these two worlds. Digital is the glue that’s connecting the dots between consumer products and medical products. But for every digital device, there are still plenty of traditional analog products in use. The key is that digitalization can breathe new life into legacy devices, improving outcomes and expanding their potential. Bringing consumer devices and medical devices together through digitalization will unlock new possibilities, especially in terms of data collection and analysis for better patient outcomes.

That said, there's still some hesitation in the market when it comes to taking the next step from consumer products to medical devices. Whether it’s concerns about cost, regulatory hurdles, or the challenge of managing digital transitions within existing resources, these factors are slowing us down. That’s where partnering with a company like Flex can be a game changer. As a vertically integrated contract design and manufacturing organization, we help our customers smoothly transition from analog or consumer devices to medical devices, adding real value without unnecessary risk.

I know Selena would probably kill me if I didn’t ask this, so let’s jump into the keynote. You’ll be discussing the transformation of patient care with human-machine interfaces (HMI). I don’t want to spoil too much, but could you share some of the strategies or tips you’ll be addressing in designing for this bold new digital health landscape?

Samproni:
Of course, without giving too much away, designing for today's healthcare environment requires us to think beyond just functionality. We need to consider the entire user experience. For starters, we have to take into account demographic shifts—like the aging population and the growing number of patients managing chronic illnesses. The demand for user-friendly, intuitive devices has never been higher. These devices need to fit seamlessly into the lives of users, whether they’re patients at home, clinicians in a hospital setting, or surgeons in the operating room.

One key point I’ll be addressing at MedDevice is that connected health can improve outcomes, but only if the devices are extremely easy to use. Intuitive design, simple interfaces, and ergonomic features are no longer just nice-to-haves—they’re essential. Looking ahead, we also need to design devices that are future-proof. That means not just being adaptable to new technologies but also to the ever-evolving regulatory landscape. We have to anticipate those changes as well.

That’s a great point about the changing landscape. Let’s look a bit further into the future—what trends do you foresee for 2025?

Samproni: It’s hard to believe 2025 is just around the corner, and there’s still so much on the horizon. We’ll continue to see diagnostics and therapeutics go digital. We’re moving from connected devices for managing chronic diseases to wearable technologies that provide real-time health insights. And we can’t overlook GLP-1 drugs and drug delivery systems—they’ll play a big role as they become more accessible and personalized for patients. AI will keep taking center stage, but we need to remember that it’s not a magic bullet. It’s a powerful tool, especially when combined with other innovations. AI is now part of a larger ecosystem.

During my keynote, I’ll go into more detail, and I’m excited to have Dr. Barrett Larsen from Smith & Nephew joining me. We’ll discuss the intersection of AI, machine learning, and human-machine interfaces. These once sci-fi concepts are now becoming a reality. When I think about 2025 and beyond, it’s an exciting time for medical innovation, with endless potential to make healthcare more accessible and impactful through technology.
I can’t wait to hear your keynote! I’m sure it’s going to be fantastic.

Samproni:

I’m excited to see you there, Omar, and to shake your hand in person!
Sounds great! Jennifer, thanks for coming on Let’s Talk MedTech. It’s been a pleasure.
Samproni:

The pleasure is all mine.