Fluoroscopy and Mobile C arms Market

Fluoroscopy is a type of medical imaging technique which uses x-rays to obtain real-time moving images of the internal structures of a patient through the use of a fluoroscope. Fluoroscopic systems and mobile c-arms are used for a range of diagnostic and surgical procedures such as vascular orthopedics, gastrointestinal diseases, neurological disorders, pain management, and in certain emergency procedures. Moreover, mobile c-arms are extensively used as an intraoperative imaging solution in minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures such as localization of implants. The rising popularity of minimally invasive procedures is spurring the demand for fluoroscopic and mobile c-arms systems. Also, the growing geriatric population coupled with increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and rising adoption of fluoroscopy in orthopedic and neurological procedures are likely to boost the growth of the global fluoroscopy and c-arms market over the forecasted period. Despite the drivers, factors such as high cost associated with fluoroscopic and mobile c-arms systems, the risk of radiation, and the presence of substitutes could hamper the growth of the market.

Generally, the older population is more susceptible to diseases as the immune system becomes weak with aging. Moreover, surgical procedures in old people require proper monitoring, as a slight error in the procedure could cause severe damage to the old patient. Moreover, owing to the high risk of surgical complications, image-guided surgeries are mostly preferred in the geriatric population. In recent years, the population of old people has increased significantly which is likely to contribute to the market growth. According to Statistics Canada, in 2016, there was about 5.9 million senior population living in Canada. Likewise, as per the data by the US Census Bureau, in 2015, there were about 47.8 million people aged 65 and older in the US. Apart from growing geriatric population, the prevalence of several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, epilepsy, and nervous system diseases is rising tremendously which is thereby boosting the demand for fluoroscopy and mobile c-arms equipment for diagnosis and minimally invasive surgical procedures. As per the data by the American Heart Association, in 2017, nearly 92.1 million American adults were living with some form of cardiovascular diseases or the after-effects of stroke in the US. Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, 1.2% of the total US population had active epilepsy. Fluoroscopy systems are used in operating rooms for visualizing kidney drainage, abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, percutaneous valve replacements, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, gastroenterology, neurostimulation, orthopedics, pain management, and neurology procedures. Thus, the growing geriatric population along with the rising prevalence of chronic diseases is anticipated to fuel the growth of global fluoroscopy and mobile c-arms market.

In recent years, various new technologies in fluoroscopy have increased accuracy in diagnosis to a great extent. Likewise, the increasing adoption of fluoroscopy and mobile c-arms systems by many prominent players has led to the development of advanced products. For instance, in March 2018, Philips Healthcare received the US FDA 510 (k) clearance to market ProxiDiagnost N90, its premium digital radiography, and a nearby fluoroscopy system. Similarly, in August 2017, GE Healthcare launched the OEC Elite MiniView C-arm, a new imaging system designed to change the mini C-arm experience for surgeons. Also, in October 2015, Hologic launched the Fluoroscan InSight FD Mini C-Arm extremities imaging system. Additionally, in November 2014, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc.'s Kalare R/F digital X-ray system with a flat panel detector (FPD) received the US FDA clearance. Likewise, Sonialvision G4 universal digital R/F table system by Shimadzu Medical Systems USA received the US FDA approval in April 2014. Therefore, increasing technological advancements in the field of fluoroscopy are anticipated to be a huge opportunity for market players in the global fluoroscopy and mobile c-arms market.

The high cost of fluoroscopy and mobile c-arms systems may negatively affect market growth. High instrument cost along with huge maintenance cost is not affordable by all users, especially in developing regions. The price of these devices varies according to the type of model and company. The average cost of a fluoroscopic system ranges from USD 4,15,000 to 1,150,00. Also, the Siemens’ Arcadis Avantic model costs about USD 90,000 to USD 1,00,000. Similarly, Siemens’ Compact L and Philips’ BV Libra Endura cost about USD 50,000 to USD 80,000. Additionally, the cost of repair and decontamination procedures increases the overall maintenance cost. Thus, this factor may hamper the growth of the global fluoroscopy and mobile c-arms market.

Recently, the use of refurbished devices is on a continuous rise due to the improving reliability of refurbished devices along with the low cost as compared to new devices. For instance, the refurbished Ziehm 700 instrument costs about USD 19,000 to USD 25,000. The low-cost factor, in turn, is affecting the sales rate of new devices in emerging markets, where the purchasing power of the buyer is less. Additionally, the low replacement rate of fluoroscopy devices can also affect the market growth of fluoroscopy and mobile c-arms.