That depends.
A little. Or a lot.
Fact: some therapeutic products on the market especially portable ones are very simple in structure and technology. Only little engineering is involved in inventing and making these devices. These products can nevertheless bring some low level of therapeutic effects, but to a very limited extent to our body. These low tier therapeutic products, unfortunately, tend to drag down the reputation of the whole therapeutic device market. Many customers regard the overall therapeutic device field as a low-in-technology industry. But that is not true.
On the other hand, there are companies and engineering teams that have been dedicated and aiming at building high tier, higher effect, sophisticated therapeutic products, and continue to do so. They continue to embed newest study, new materials and new technologies into their devices. The therapeutic effects from these devices are more substantial and because these devices are results/effects based.
Regardless of the appearance, complicated or simple, it is the inner structure and engineering that is important. To build a high tier therapeutic device is a lot of effort. First of all is the innovation: constant innovation is key to maintaining a higher level device line. Secondly it is the materialization of the ideas. This is the step that a lot of engineering barriers will be faced for a lot of device makers.
E.g. For energy based therapeutic devices, different energy forms need to be mimicked and output for precise therapeutic purposes. While some physical forms are relatively easier to imitate, some other energy forms are very difficult to produce correctly via a home device’s space and power.
The human body is unbelievably complicated. A device’s therapeutic effects need to be optimized in every way that is coherent with and facilitates our bodily functions. It is this optimization that is ultimately essential.
Eligible clinical approval is necessary before the product can hit the market. But it doesn’t stop here. A long term and active collecting of market data and feedback is needed for fine-tuning the technical parameters of the device. For a good product line, this is a never ending process.
Technology world advances at an amazing speed. Many new technologies and new understandings become accessible these days. Higher end therapeutic device companies actively try to integrate these new fronts into their devices wherever applicable to optimize their effects.
As you can see, a lot can be done, and sophisticated technologies can be and have been packed into therapeutic devices. It doesn’t matter the area of specialty of the therapeutic device. It doesn’t matter the therapeutic device is for clinical usage or for home settings. The actual technology within a therapeutic device varies drastically. How much technology can be packed into a therapeutic device really depends on our will, our capability and continuous effort.
How can you differentiate/discern a higher-end therapeutic device from a lower-level one? Well that will be the topic of a future post of ours. Stay tuned.