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by matt_trentini 338 days ago
Yes, we use MicroPython for medical device development up to class B.
2 comments

Could you give a link to such devices?
I can't reveal specific implementation details but I work for Planet Innovation:

https://planetinnovation.com/

Some of our products use MicroPython though we also use a whole host of other technologies. Some of our devices are proof-of-concept (often designed to progress a theory) but we also deliver up to Class B solutions.

How do you handle memory fragmentation?
Carefully, at least for devices with higher classifications. Using pre/early allocation helps but, more importantly, we monitor memory use over time in realistic scenarios. We've built tooling, like a memory-profiler [1] that allows us to observe memory consumption and quantify performance over time.

However, it turns out that MicroPython has a simple and efficient GC - and once you eliminate code that gratuitously fragments memory it behaves quite predictably. We've tested devices running realistic scenarios for months without failure.

[1] https://github.com/pi-mst/micropython-memory-profiler