Medical technology assessment: the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process as a tool for multidisciplinary evaluation of medical devices

Most types of medical technology assessment are performed only after the te chnology has been developed. Consequently, they have only minor effects on changes in clinical practice. Our study introduces a new method of construc tive medical technology assessment that can change the development and diff usion of a medical device to improve its later clinical effectiveness. The method, based on Saaty's Analytic Hierarchy Process, quantitatively support s discussions between various parties involved in technological development and diffusion. We applied this method in comparing a new blood pump with t wo competitors based on technical, medical and social requirements. These d iscussions changed the evaluators' perspectives, reduced diasagreements, an d ended in a reliable evaluation of the pump's performance. On the basis of these results, adaptations were derived which improved the design and diff usion of the blood pump. This application shows the adequate potential of o ur method to steer technological development and diffusion of artificial or gans.