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Compared To Many Other Experimental Medical Devices Markets, the U.S Catheter Market Is Well Developed With Well-Established Product Lines, Brand Names, and Purchasing Alliances

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 12:01 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c45691) has announced the addition of U.S. Medical Catheter Markets to their offering

Medical catheter manufacturers are increasingly realizing the importance of improved visibility among caregivers and healthcare practitioners, especially at trade shows or training sessions, where the users can handle the equipment. In a market that is cluttered with devices, techniques, and brand names, manufacturers heavily depend on the first-mover advantage to gain a foothold and a loyal end-user base. Apart from the tedious, but very effective strategy of word-of-mouth publicity, market participants can also involve external practicing and academic clinicians in the early product development stages to win their allegiance. Direct advertising to patients is yet another effective, but underutilized marketing tactic. Manufacturers could create greater awareness by providing clinical data in national academic publications, by highlighting the benefits of their products over the industry standard.

This Frost & Sullivan strategic analysis service examines the U.S. medical catheters market, segmenting it into cardiovascular, neurovascular, urinary and venous access catheters. The study discusses the prevailing market drivers and restraints as well as enables companies to align their positioning strategies to benefit from the changing market conditions.

Drug Hybrid Devices' Ability to Reduce Risk of Infection Encourages Greater Uptake among Users

Antimicrobial and other coated devices can tremendously enhance the safety of interventional and interdwelling catheters by eliminating the risk of restenosis or catheter-related infections. Coating technology improvements are expected to increase the total number of medical procedures involving catheters, especially since healthcare regulatory agencies have been demanding securement and coated devices that reduce the risk of bacterial infections. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that nearly 2 million people suffer from bacterial infections from interdwelling catheters, and of these, nearly 90,000 cases were fatal. Advances in coating have significantly reduced the risk of infection without affecting device performance.

While migration to antimicrobial devices continues at a steady pace, escalating patient costs arising from catheter-related infections and the emergence of refined second-generation devices will ensure that nearly all long-term use catheters will have some sort of coating material. "The increases in demand for coated devices outpace the growth rate of traditional catheters," says the analyst of this research service. "The higher costs of these devices will also rid manufacturers of earlier concerns of price erosion."

Technologically Advanced Equipment that Facilitate Surgical Procedures to Improve their Adoption Rates Considerably

Compared to many other experimental medical devices markets, the catheter market is well developed with well-established product lines, brand names, and purchasing alliances. The market still continues to evolve, as a significant sum of money is spent on research and development to enhance the capabilities of existing catheters, improving safety features, and identifying novel medical applications. By simplifying procedures, advanced catheters can reduce the risk of error, which is a paramount consideration for buyers of medical devices.

Enhanced features such as imaging and robotics controls can facilitate physicians' tasks as well as provide greater flexibility and thus, superior precision to surgeons. "Technological developments have driven substantial growth in the neurovascular, cardiovascular, urinary, and venous catheter markets," notes the analyst. "A combination of new technology and expanding patient population base can significantly drive the medical catheters market in the next five years."

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c45691

Source: Business Wire

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