Circular Economy in the Healthcare Industry: Developing a Circularity Assessment Tool for Complex Medical Devices

ABSTRACT As the circular economy transition gains traction in the healthcare sector, extending the lifespan of complex medical devices has become a key priority, given their high cost and the challenges associated with their technological sophistication. To effectively advance this transition, there is a growing need for a robust tool capable of assessing and enhancing the circularity of complex medical devices. In response, this study introduces the Medical Device Circularity Assessment Tool (MDCATool), a novel tool for identifying circular redesign strategies to improve the circularity performance of complex medical devices. The MDCATool draws on the hybrid “Closing‐Slowing Future‐Past” quadrant model, enriched with a hierarchy of product life extension strategies and associated environmental performance attributes. To demonstrate its applicability, the developed tool is employed to identify redesign strategies for an X‐ray tube, an integral component of a mammography system from a medical technology original equipment manufacturer. In addition, this study presents a circularity data checklist to support automated diagnostics and redesign decisions, forming the basis of a digital application for medical device assessment. The tool, designed for industry practitioners, supports evidence‐based decisions and innovation in circular medical device design, helping to improve the circularity performance of complex medical devices, including magnetic resonance imaging scanners, computed tomography systems, and X‐ray and ultrasound devices.