Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Research Review
March 2019
Various Analysts
Report Code: HLC068G
Additional segmentations and data sets available upon request. Email custom@bccresearch.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Foreward .............................................................................................. 1
Foreword....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 7: Single Blood Drop Analysis: Technologies and Global Market (HLC207A)
............................................................................................................................. 88
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 88
Study Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 88
Reasons for Doing This Study .................................................................................................................. 89
Scope of Report ....................................................................................................................................... 89
Information Sources ................................................................................................................................ 90
Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 90
Geographic Breakdown ........................................................................................................................... 91
Analyst’s Credentials ............................................................................................................................... 91
Related BCC Research Reports ................................................................................................................ 91
Report Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 92
An Overview of Chemical Sensors and Biosensors ..................................................................................... 94
Chemical Sensors..................................................................................................................................... 94
Biosensors ............................................................................................................................................... 94
Diagnosis of Multiple Diseases by Single-Drop Blood Testing .................................................................... 95
Advantage Over Conventional Methods..................................................................................................... 96
Blood Collection Technologies .................................................................................................................... 97
Finger Prick .............................................................................................................................................. 97
Capillary Puncture Method ..................................................................................................................... 97
Intravenous Blood Collection .................................................................................................................. 97
Single Blood Drop Analysis: Applications .................................................................................................... 98
Diagnosis ................................................................................................................................................. 98
Patient Monitoring .................................................................................................................................. 99
Drug Response Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 99
Competitive Lanscape ............................................................................................................................... 100
Patent Analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 101
Future Outlook .......................................................................................................................................... 104
Additional segmentations and data sets available upon request. Email custom@bccresearch.com
List of Tables
Table 1 Global Market for 3D Medical and Surgical Imaging Platforms, by Component, Through 2023
($ Millions) .................................................................................................................................................... 7
Table 2 Global Market for 3D Medical and Surgical Imaging Platforms, by End User, Through 2023
($ Millions) .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Table 3 Technological Advancements, 2015–2018..................................................................................... 14
Table 4 Global Market for Transcatheter Treatment Devices, by Region, Through 2023 ($ Millions) ....... 25
Table 5 Scope of Structural Heart Diseases ................................................................................................ 27
Table 6 Structural Heart Disease, Management Through Medication ....................................................... 29
Table 7 Structural Heart Valve Disease Treatment Through Surgical Intervention .................................... 29
Table 8 Types of Aortic Valve and Repair Techniques ................................................................................ 31
Table 9 Types of Mitral Valve Repair .......................................................................................................... 32
Table 10 Global Market for Transcatheter Treatment Devices, by Leading Company, 2017 ($ Millions/%)
.................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Table 11 Global Market for Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments, by Product Type, Through 2022
($ Millions) .................................................................................................................................................. 39
Table 12 Examples of Examinations and Procedures in Which X-ray Machines are Used to Either
Diagnose or Treat Disease .......................................................................................................................... 42
Table 13 Instrument and Their Raw Material/Parts ................................................................................... 45
Table 14 Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments Manufacturers and Products .................................... 46
Table 15 U.S. Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments Patents, 2016 Through June 2018 ..................... 49
Table 16 European Patents and Patent Applications on Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments, 2015
Through June 2018...................................................................................................................................... 51
Table 17 Japanese Patents and Patent Applications on Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments, 2015
Through May 2018 ...................................................................................................................................... 54
Table 18 Global Market for Electronic Health Records, by Region, Through 2022 ($ Billions) .................. 59
Table 19 Key Trends in Electronic Health Records...................................................................................... 61
Table 20 Global Market Share for Electronic Health Records, by Technology Type, 2016 (%) .................. 62
Table 21 Global Market for Non-opioid Pain Treatments, by Product Segment, Through 2022 ($ Millions)
.................................................................................................................................................................... 74
Table 22 Global Market Shares of Capsaicin-derived Pain Treatments, by Indication, 2017 (%)............... 81
Table 23 U.S. Market for Allergan’s Botox, by Treatment Area, 2016 ($ Millions/%) ................................ 82
Table 24 Adoption of Medical Cannabis, by Select Country (Age 15 and Over), 2017 (%/Thousands)...... 84
Table 25 Global Market for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Application, Through 2027 ($ Millions) ......... 93
Table 26 Applications of Biosensor in Healthcare ...................................................................................... 95
Table 27 Finger Prick Method Versus Venous Blood Samples.................................................................... 98
Table 28 Approved Products for the Single Blood Drop Analysis Technology Industry ........................... 100
Table 29 Patent for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Technology, 2015–2017 .......................................... 101
Table 30 Patent for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Assignee, 2015–2017 ............................................... 102
Table 31 Patents for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Patent Office, 2015–2017 ...................................... 103
Table 32 Patent for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Technology, 2015–2017 .......................................... 103
Table 33 Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare, by Region, Through 2022
($ Millions) ................................................................................................................................................ 109
Table 34 Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare, by Technology, Through
2022 ($ Millions) ....................................................................................................................................... 115
List of Figures
Figure 1 Global Market for 3D Medical and Surgical Imaging Platforms, by Component, 2017–2023
($ Millions) .................................................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 2 Block-Chain Capabilities Across Supply Chain............................................................................... 16
Figure 3 Cloud Computing in Medical and Surgical Imaging ...................................................................... 17
Figure 4 Global Market for Transcatheter Treatment Devices, by Region, 2017–2023 ($ Millions) .......... 25
Figure 5 Global Market Share for Transcatheter Treatment Devices, by Leading Company, 2017 (%) ..... 33
Figure 6 Global Market for Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments, by Product Type, 2016–2022
($ Millions) .................................................................................................................................................. 40
Figure 7 Manufacturing Process of Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments .......................................... 47
Figure 8 Global Market for Electronic Health Records, by Region, 2016–2022 ($ Billions)........................ 59
Figure 9 Global Market Share for Electronic Health Records, by Technology Type, 2016 (%) ................... 63
Figure 10 Global Market Share for Electronic Health Records, by Application, 2016 (%) .......................... 67
Figure 11 Global Market for Non-opioid Pain Treatments, by Product Segment, 2016–2022 ($ Millions) 75
Figure 12 Global Market Shares of Medical Cannabis Pain Treatments, by Indication, 2017 (%).............. 81
Figure 13 Non-opioid Pain Management Market Drivers and Restraints .................................................. 83
Figure 14 Total U.S. Patents on Non-opioid Pain Treatments, by Type, Through 2017 (Number/% Share of
Total) ........................................................................................................................................................... 85
Figure 15 Global Market for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Application, 2016–2027 ($ Millions) ............ 94
Figure 16 Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare, by Region, 2016–2022 ($
Millions) .................................................................................................................................................... 110
Figure 17 Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare Applications ............................................ 111
Figure 18 Segmentation of the Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare, by
Technology ................................................................................................................................................ 114
Figure 19 Emerging AI and Cognitive Computing Technologies and Government Implications .............. 116
Chapter 1
Foreward
Foreword
The global healthcare system is in a constant state of disruptive transformation, facing megatrends like
demographic shifts, pandemics, workforce remodeling, rapid digitization and a patient-centric focus.
Emerging trends in the healthcare sector are all set to leverage the benefits of cutting-edge technology
like artificial intelligence (AI), three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and healthcare IT to enhance care
delivery, and reduce healthcare costs, especially, considering the imminent transition to a value-based
reimbursement model.
From newer evidence-based technologies to advanced analytics, the healthcare industry is experiencing
one of the most rapid changes in history, with no signs of slowing down.
This BCC Research Review is a collection of highlights from several healthcare market research reports
that were published in 2018. This review was compiled with an intent of providing a sampling of the
type of market information, guidance and analysis, that have been guiding business decisions, since the
inception of BCC Research in 1971. This Healthcare Research Review includes highlights and excerpts
from the following reports, published by BCC Research in 2018 and early 2019:
We hope that you find this Research Review valuable, and we look forward to serving our customers’
healthcare market research needs.
Introduction
Study Goals and Objectives
BCC Research’s goal for this study was to determine the status of the 3D medical and surgical imaging
platforms market and assess the global growth potential over the five-year period from 2018 to 2023.
The market was analyzed via the main 3D medical and surgical imaging platform components: hardware,
software and services.
The application segment is characterized by various types (i.e., ultrasound, digital radiography, magnetic
resonance imaging, computed tomography, nuclear imaging and mammography) and by end-use
industry (e.g. hospitals, ambulatory and healthcare settings, diagnostic and research centers).
The main focus of this study is the market for software in the global 3D medical and surgical imaging
platforms market, which highlights a future market segment for 3D medical and surgical imaging
platforms. In addition, the market has been analyzed on various deployment types including on-
premise-based platforms, cloud-based platforms and web-based platforms.
The overall report objective was to present a comprehensive discussion of 3D medical and surgical
imaging platforms, along with current and future commercial potential for each key market segment.
This report seeks to provide a qualitative and quantitative description of the 3D medical and surgical
imaging platform industry so that emerging market opportunities can be identified and utilized by the
reader.
The report achieves this objective by examining the main product applications and markets, helping the
reader to prioritize product opportunities and strategic opportunities. The report highlights key industry
and market trends and quantifies main market segments. With this report, the reader is able to better
understand industry structure and changes.
Surging development of modern visualization methods and technology platforms coupled with rising
demand for 3D imaging in diagnosis and monitoring of chronic diseases propel the global 3D medical
and surgical imaging platforms market. These demands create unique market opportunities. This report
analyzes trends and their impact on future markets for 3D imaging platform products.
Scope of Report
The scope of this report is broad. It covers components, applications, end users and modes of
deployment in 3D medical and surgical platforms. The market has been segmented by components into
hardware, software and services. Revenue forecasts for 2018-2023 are given for each segment and
regional market with estimated value derived from the revenue of manufacturers’ total revenues. The
main geographic markets—North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World (ROW) are included.
The report also includes a discussion of the major players across each region in the 3D medical and
surgical imaging platforms market. Further, it explains the major drivers and regional dynamics of the
global 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market and current trends within the industry.
Key industry acquisitions and strategic alliances are given for the three-year period 2015-2018 (June).
This report also examines the main patent trends within the industry and profiles 25 market players that
deal in 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms.
The report concludes with a special focus on the vendor landscape and includes detailed profiles of the
main vendors in the global 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market.
Information Sources
Primary sources for this report include key industry companies and leading research institutions. Data
were also compiled from secondary sources, including company websites and industry, trade and
government publications.
Methodology
This report is a descriptive study with trend analysis of the global market for 3D medical and surgical
imaging platforms using quantitative and qualitative approaches.
BCC Research collects data through various primary and secondary sources, including interviews with
industry vendors, public financial proceedings, white papers, business journals and historical market
data from the internet. Market data is assessed and validated considering interrelated market attributes
and the impact of global economic variables.
The value of the market is then obtained through a combination of bottom-up and top-down
approaches using exclusive market modeling tools to generate BCC Research’s market data and
forecasts. Estimated values used are based on manufacturers’ total revenues.
North America
• United States.
• Mexico.
• Canada.
Europe
• France.
• Germany.
• U.K.
• Rest of Europe.
Asia-Pacific
• China.
• India.
• Japan.
• Australia.
• Rest of Asia-Pacific.
Analyst’s Credentials
Vijay Laxmi has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare domain. In addition to producing
business research and consulting, she has conducted corporate briefings for top players in a wide range
of market segments. She has worked with major market research firms and handled projects for various
consultancies. Her market research studies include reports on:
Report Summary
3D medical and surgical imaging platforms refer to the incorporation of various components including
hardware, software and services in imaging modalities. These pieces come together in order to improve
patient outcomes by offering premium optics with uncompromised platform integration, cross specialty
functionality, advanced imaging capabilities, etc. Medical and surgical imaging platforms are an
important part of the healthcare industry, widely used for clinical purposes. 3D medical and surgical
platforms enable imaging techniques used to create 3D images of the body or body parts to help doctors
diagnose accurately. The advantages proposed by 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms are image
pre-processing, virtual cutting, volume rendering, manipulation, surface rendering and virtual
endoscopy.
Rising demand for 3D imaging in the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic diseases is the main driver for
the growth in the global 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market. Increased demand for 3D
medical imaging is noted due to its vast applications in cardiology and oncology. Heart valve
replacement is the most common procedure in cardiology. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is
one minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure. Positioning the new heart valve is a serious
concern for surgeons. Due to the importance of positioning, surgeons prefer 3D angiography imaging
software to view the anatomy during placement of heart valves.
As the number of heart surgeries increases across the globe, use of 3D medical imaging and surgical
platforms is expected to increase over the forecast period 2018-2023. Preference for minimally invasive
procedures also calls for the adoption of 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms. According to the
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, non-surgical procedures accounted for a 10% increase
from 2015-2016. In 2015, the total number of non-surgical procedures were around 12.0 million, then
13.2 million in 2016.
The global 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market is projected to rise at a CAGR of 18.1%
during the forecast period of 2018-2023. In 2023, total revenues are expected to reach more than $10.4
billion (an increase of nearly $6.5 billion) from $3.9 billion in 2017.
This report provides an analysis based on each market segment including components, applications,
deployment and end users. The components segment is further sub-segmented into hardware, software
and services. The software segment of the 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market held the
largest market share (48.8% in 2017) in terms of revenue, followed by hardware and services. By 2023,
total revenue from software in the 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market is expected to
reach nearly $5.2 billion. Additionally, the software segment is expected to rise at the highest CAGR
(18.5%) of all segments, through 2023.
The figure below shows market revenue in the 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market by
component segment for the forecast period of 2017-2023.
CAGR%
Component 2017 2018 2023
2018-2023
Software 1,904 2,209 5,169 18.5
Hardware 1,292 1,488 3,352 17.6
Services 707 816 1,855 17.9
Total 3,903 4,513 10,376 18.1
Figure 1
Global Market for 3D Medical and Surgical Imaging Platforms, by Component,
2017–2023
($ Millions)
6,000
5,000
4,000
$ Millions
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2017 2018 2023
3D medical and surgical imaging platforms are being widely adopted in the ultrasound application. The
demand for ultrasound imaging significantly drives the 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms
market. Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. It is
employed to aid in diagnosing the causes of swelling, pain and infection in internal organs. It can also be
used to inspect a fetus in pregnant women and the hips and brain in infants. Ultrasound is a useful tool
to aid diagnose heart conditions, guide biopsies and assess damage after a heart attack. Ultrasound is
non-invasive, safe and does not use ionizing radiation.
Digital Radiography
Digital radiography is a form of X-ray imaging that uses X-ray sensors instead of traditional photographic
film to produce images. Digital radiography is used in dental, chest imaging, orthopedics, general
surgery and other fields. This technique offers fast image production, digital transfer and enhanced
images. The market growth of digital radiography is driven by rising orthopedic surgeries along with
emergence of portable digital radiography systems.
• Guide medical personnel as they insert catheters, stents, or other devices inside the body, treat
tumor, or remove blood clots or other blockages.
• General radiography.
• Dental.
• Mammography.
• Chest Imaging.
• Orthopedic.
• Cardiovascular.
• Others.
Digital radiography is widely used for general radiography and bone imaging. A growing geriatric
population with bone disorders worldwide is expected to fuel the demand for digital radiography. As
bone density decreases with age, the risk of bone fractures increases. The geriatric population suffers
from more bone related problems due to low bone density. According to the U.S based Population
Reference Bureau organization, it is estimated that the number of Americans age 65+ was around 46
million in 2016 and anticipated to be around 98 million by 2060.
3D imaging software for MRI has been shown to be helpful in the evaluation and diagnosis of diseases of
vascular anatomy using a single acquisition technique. 3D imaging allows the display of fine anatomic
expansions and the radiologist or healthcare provider can remove images in the context of unwanted
underlying structures emphasizing areas of transparent interest. 3D imaging software allows radiologists
and surgeons to better understand anatomic relationships. 3D MRI can be very useful in planning
surgical procedures such as pre-operative assessment of vascular and peptic ducts, surgical treatment,
preoperative liver and tumor volume measurements and patients passing through virtual hepatectomy
in living liver donors. Adoption of MRI is expected to fuel the demand for 3D medical and surgical
imaging platforms.
• CT imaging is one of the fastest and most accurate tools for examining the abdomen, pelvis and
chest due to its detailed cross-sectional views of all types of tissues.
• CT scans are used to examine patients with injuries from trauma such as chest or abdominal
pain or difficulty breathing.
• CT scans confirm the presence of tumors, measure size, identify the precise location and
determine the extent of involvement with other nearby tissue. CT scan are one of the best
methods for detecting cancer in the chest, abdomen and pelvis such as lymphoma and cancers
of the lung, liver, kidney, pancreas and ovary.
• CT scans play a significant role in detection, diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease that can
lead to kidney failure and stroke.
• CT scanning is also used to assess for pulmonary embolism and aortic aneurysms.
Nuclear Imaging
Nuclear imaging procedures are non-invasive imaging procedures with the exception of intravenous
injections. The imaging procedures are usually painless and used to diagnose and evaluate a variety of
medical conditions such as cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), bone tumors, Alzheimer’s disease and
more. These imaging scans involve the use of radioactive materials known as radiotracers or
radiopharmaceuticals. The increasing incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease is primarily driving
the market growth of nuclear imaging. Technological advancements in nuclear imaging technologies
such as SPECT and hybrid PET will contribute to market growth during the forecast period.
3D medical and surgical imaging platforms are widely used in various nuclear imaging techniques such as
in positron emission computed tomography (PET) imaging, single photon emission computed
tomography (SPECT) imaging and scintigraphy imaging. 3D functional nuclear imaging is widely used to
locate potentially cancerous lymph nodes in breast cancer cases. However, the volumetric information
from pre-operative SPECT scans loses validity quickly due to posture changes and manipulation of the
soft tissue during surgery. During the intervention, surgeons have to rely on the acoustic feedback
provided by handheld gamma detectors in order to localize the marked structures.
Mammography
Mammography uses low radiation X-rays to diagnose tumors in the human breast. Mammography
imaging provides radiologists with thin-section, multiple images, thereby facilitating layer by layer
examination of breast tissue. The market growth of mammography is attributed to high prevalence of
breast cancer along with initiatives by various governments and NGOs such as U.S. CDC (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention), the Breast Cancer Organization and the National Breast Cancer
Foundation to raise awareness about early diagnosis of mammary gland calcification.
Regulations
Regulations play a vital role in the healthcare industry. To introduce a new product into the market
minimum standards set by the medical device regulating authority must be met. The regulatory bodies
of different countries have different rules for software and hardware used for medical purposes. It can
be an ambiguous situation for product manufacturers due to lack of common standards. A product
certified in one country may not be fit for certification in other countries. International organizations
such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
and the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) have emphasized the need for common
standards. These organizations advocate for the use of international standards from regulatory
authorities on developing medical devices. Medical software is regulated by various regulatory bodies
across various countries.
Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) is an international standard used for storing,
exchanging and transmitting medical images. DICOM proposes various protocols for imaging techniques
including radiography, CT, ultrasonography, MRI and radiation therapy. DICOM also presents standards
for image exchange, image compression, 3D visualization, result reporting and image presentation.
In the U.S, The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) regulates software used in medical
devices. Medical software devices are classified into three classes based on risk assessment:
Software is regulated by Sec 820.30 (concerned with design controls), Sec. 820.50 (concerned with
purchasing controls) and Sec. 820.100 (concerned with corrective and preventive action).
Further, 21 CFR 820 quality system regulations are required for medical software. According to 21 CFR
820.30 (g), software requires a design validation that must include risk analysis and software validation.
Evaluation must be documented according to 21 CFR 820.50 (a).
According to the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), the FDA’s CDRH regulates medical
imaging devices including CT systems, fluoroscopy, mammography, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, X-ray
and magnetic resonance for sales in the U.S. Furthermore, MITA has collaborated with the FDA on
various initiatives from the improvement of a product through its clearance. Both of these regulatory
bodies seek reduction of exposure to unnecessary radiation for patients. Transparency is the key to a
smooth regulatory process. Lack of regulatory predictability results in significant barriers to product
innovation, according to MITA.
HIPAA laws have established national standards to protect individual medical records and other
personal health information. Information sources include health care clearinghouses, health plans and
health care providers that conduct health care transactions electronically.
HIPAA limits the disclosure and use of an individual’s health information known as protected health
information by organizations subject to the privacy rule known as covered entities. Privacy rules are in
place to assure that individual health information is protected properly while permitting the flow of
information that is essential to promote and provide high quality health care and protect the public
interest.
End Users
The 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms market is widely deployed by several end users such as
hospitals, ambulatory and healthcare facilities, diagnostic centers and research centers. These 3D
medical and surgical imaging platforms are deployed by end users for the treatment of patients with
improved surgical procedures. These platforms deliver efficiency in diagnostic testing and disease
detection.
CAGR%
End User 2017 2018 2023
2018-2023
Hospitals 1,568 1,823 4,299 18.7
Diagnostic centers 1,154 1,337 3,104 18.3
Ambulatory and healthcare settings 720 831 1,896 17.9
Research centers 461 522 1,077 15.6
Total 3,903 4,513 10,376 18.1
Hospitals are the dominant segment in 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms. Hospitals accounted
for revenues of nearly $1.8 billion in 2018, increased from nearly $1.6 billion in 2017 and expected to
increase to $4.3 billion by the end of 2023. Also, hospitals are the fastest growing segment in 3D medical
and surgical imaging platforms with a CAGR of 18.7% from 2017 through 2023.
Factors positively driving the growth of the 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms in hospitals are a
high number of hospitals across the globe, adoption of hybrid operating rooms and the patient-centric
trend. These platforms are especially useful in healthcare settings and ambulatory services for remote
areas where healthcare infrastructure is lacking.
Diagnostic centers are expected to grow due to the presence of key growth factors including, increased
healthcare expenditure and technological advancements in 3D medical and surgical imaging platforms.
Research centers as end users are expected to grow due to increased R&D spending.
Opportunities
Patient-Centric Trend
Patient-centric trends are expected to drive adoption of 3D medical imaging and surgical platforms in
hospitals.
• Increased engagement with all stakeholders (patients, providers and others), leading to
decreased overall expenses.
• Enhanced knowledge and understanding among patients of their own health and healthcare
choices, leading to improved care.
• By collaborating and engaging with patients in the decision-making process, health providers
can make better decisions regarding patient health.
• Patient care emphasis on improving outcomes is achieved by improving three main areas:
practice, analytics and adoption.
• Better patient care can be achieved by deploying advances practices that focus on minimally
invasive procedures and on effective and improved surgeries. To achieve the highest possible
parameters of patient care, doctors use advance techniques in procedures. 3D imaging software
is used in various surgeries to improve the outcome of the procedure and to enhance surgical
efficiency.
Table 3
Technological Advancements, 2015–2018
Auditability Immutability
Robotics
Most of the tasks in the supply chain category are monotonous. 3D medical and surgical imaging
systems are sensitive, costly and must be handled with care. Any damage to the system will result in
delayed delivery and loss for the manufacturer. Using robotics, manufacturers are looking forward to
addressing issues with respect to product handling, delivery and containment of operation costs. In April
2017, leading global logistics firm, DHL, announced that it was testing collaborative robotics systems in
warehouse facilities in the U.S. DHL Ltd. collaborated with Locus Robotics Inc. to use LocusBots for
handling various warehouse activities like pallet handling, packaging, etc., especially for life science
technology products. LocusBots can be programmed to work 24/7 and is compatible with DHL’s existing
warehouse management system. Demand for robotics in logistics is increasing exponentially. According
to the Robotics Industries Association, the global logistic robotics market is anticipated to reach
revenues of $22.4 billion by 2021, from $1.9 billion in 2016, growing at a CAGR of 63.8%.
Diagnose
and
Collect
Analyze
Refine
and Store
Cloud
Technology
Map and
Treat
Match
Access
and
Compute
One important component of such databases is realistic simulated medical image datasets, the initial
step for evaluating image processing algorithms. Such simulations require huge amount of data for
comparison and analysis. All such purposes are served by the cloud and due to rising adoption of cloud
computing, the medical imaging instruments market is gaining significant traction.
Cloud computing is used to facilitate cost-effective patient health records management and medical
images through numerous imaging modalities available at medical centers or hospitals. Health care
institutions are increasingly investing in cloud computing. According to a survey captioned Cloud
Computing Healthcare published in the International Journal of Students Research in Technology and
Management, over 37% of healthcare providers around the globe are looking forward to adopting cloud
computing within 2023. Rising adoption of cloud computing technologies would supplement growth of
the 3D medical and surgical imaging systems market for the forecast period.
Future Outlook
Increased prevalence of chronic disease is expected to boost demand for the 3D medical and surgical
imaging market. According to WHO, chronic diseases like unipolar depressive disorder, cerebrovascular
disease, ischemic heart disease and road accidents will account for the top four leading causes of death,
through 2030, and are expected to result in large scale adoption of medical devices aiding disease
Transcatheter Treatment:
Procedures and Heart Valve
Market (HLC204A)
Introduction
Use of transcatheter valve procedures is increasing worldwide due to the rising incidence of valvular
diseases including valvular stenosis and regurgitation. Valvular stenosis and regurgitation are commonly
formed in the aortic and mitral valve area. Valvular stenosis leads to the narrowing of valves, and
regurgitation leads to the leaking of valves, possibly leading further to severe consequences or even
death if not treated in time.
Aortic stenosis is considered as one of the most common and most serious heart valve problems. Aortic
stenosis can be a birth heart defect (congenital heart defect) or acquired due to degeneration or
rheumatic fever. Aortic regurgitation occurs as a result of acquired abnormalities in the aortic leaflets,
adjacent supporting structures in the aortic root and annulus. Mitral valve stenosis occurs when the
mitral valve narrows and results in restricted blood flow into the main pumping chamber of the heart.
Mitral regurgitation is also referred to as mitral incompetence or mitral insufficiency. It progresses
slowly and does not show any significant outward symptoms unless it becomes moderate or severe.
Heart valve disease is a progressive disease condition and can be characterized by its origin, symptoms,
and disease stage. It is more prevalent in older patients aged 75 and above.
Open surgical repair and transcatheter repair and replacement are the two main surgical options
available for the treatment of valvular disease. Transcatheter valve repair is a relatively new procedure
in which an artificial heart valve is deployed with a catheter.
A catheter is inserted in an artery in the groin and guided up to the heart. Once the valve is placed
correctly, it takes over the function of the diseased valve. This surgery is noninvasive and does not
require major open-heart surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve repair (TAVR), transcatheter aortic valve
implantation (TAVI), and transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) are the few common procedures
frequently performed for the treatment of aortic and mitral valves, respectively.
Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) is a relatively new procedure and offers several benefits over
the traditional open surgical procedure; it uses a transcatheter valve system and is a quick procedure
with improved outcomes, faster recovery, and several other benefits including minimal long-term
complications. Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is another procedure currently under
development for the replacement of the mitral valve.
The world is moving towards minimally invasive surgical options. Therefore, the use of transcatheter
procedures is growing worldwide as treatment continues to shift from open surgical repair to
transcatheter repair and replacement.
The study analyzes the global healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical device industry in light of the
most recently available information. In addition to looking at current and future markets, this report
considers the technological, demographic and economic developments that may have a long-term
impact on the size and structure of the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical device market. The
future of transcatheter treatment is also discussed with forecasts.
• Identify and segment the key transcatheter procedures (TAVR, TAVI, TMVR, and TMVI), heart
valve systems, and techniques used for the treatment of valvular diseases.
• Analyze current and future device technologies by region, market segments, and procedures.
• Identify and evaluate the impact of demographic, economic, and other factors that will drive
future demand for the transcatheter treatment devices and technologies market.
• Identify promising new transcatheter techniques and devices still in the development and
testing stages and assess the probability that they will be commercialized successfully in the
next five years.
• Forecast the potential market based on pipeline devices, taking into account the estimated
probability that they will be commercialized.
• Provide readers with knowledge to adequately view and assess transcatheter techniques and
offer insights into the market potential of these techniques.
Open surgical repair was introduced in the early 1950s and has become the gold standard of heart valve
treatment. It has long-term follow-up data and is considered as a safe and durable surgical option.
However, substantial blood loss during the procedure is a widespread concern. Transcatheter valve
treatment is a relatively new procedure and offers several benefits over the traditional open procedure.
The U.S. dominates the global transcatheter treatment market, followed by Europe, Asia, and the Rest
of the World (ROW). The large market shares of the U.S. and Europe can be attributed to greater
accessibility of advanced technologies and the presence of a large number of leading market players.
The growth of the transcatheter devices and technology field during the forecast period is reflective of
an increasing disease incidence, rising healthcare needs, escalated healthcare spending, improvement of
regional infrastructure, and growing investments by the leading players and respective government
agencies.
This report is the first edition to cover the market for transcatheter treatment devices and the
technologies used to improve heart valve repair and replacement, with analysis of key growth areas and
quantitative market projections for technologies and devices. This study attempts to provide the reader
with information about and analysis of transcatheter valve repair and replacement techniques and their
applications in dealing with today’s current challenges associated with heart valve treatment.
Scope of Report
Transcatheter treatment includes procedure types such as TAVR, TAVI, TMVR, and TMVI. Transcatheter
procedure approaches include transfemoral, transapical and transaortic procedures. This report is an
analytical business tool with the primary purpose of providing a thorough evaluation of the global
market for transcatheter treatment for heart valve diseases. The format of this study includes
the following:
• Detailed description, including demographics and cost burden, of heart valve diseases (e.g.,
valvular stenosis and regurgitation) and transcatheter procedure approaches (e.g., transfemoral,
transapical and transaortic.)
• Detailed description and analysis of transcatheter treatments devices including TAVR, TAVI,
TMVR, and TMVI devices.
• Market characterization, unmet need, market size, and segmentation (by region and treatment).
• Market drivers and restraints.
• Detailed market projections through 2023.
• Competition and market shares.
• Key marketed and pipeline (R&D) products along with information about their regulatory status.
• Strategic landscape (mergers and acquisitions).
• Regulatory structure.
• Pricing and reimbursement.
• Observations and conclusions on the future of transcatheter treatment.
• Profiles of market participants and associations.
Market forecasts were developed for 2017 to 2023, using 2017 as a baseline. These projections were
based on a consensus of primary contacts together with the expertise of BCC Research in the area of key
market drivers and their impact from a historical and analytical perspective. The analytical
methodologies used to generate the market estimates are described comprehensively in the sections on
detailed market projections in Chapter 6. All dollar projections presented in this report are in 2017
constant dollars.
Geographic Breakdown
In this report, the geographic regions considered for market analysis are limited to:
• North America.
• Europe.
• Asia-Pacific.
• Rest of the World (ROW).
Analyst’s Credentials
Dr. Ritu Thakur is an independent consultant based in New Delhi, India with 10+ years of experience in
consulting, business/market research, business & report writing, analytics, content development &
management and translation. She has prior work experience with Panasonic (Healthcare Division),
GlobalData (U.K.-based market research firm) and several other development stage/early stage
Report Summary
The global market for transcatheter treatment devices was worth nearly $3.5 billion in 2017. The market
is expected to reach nearly $4.0 billion in 2018 and approximately $8.0 billion by 2023, increasing at a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8% from 2018 through 2023. This high growth is fueled by
increasing acceptance of transcatheter procedures (e.g., TAVR/TAVI and TMVR/TMVI) and increasing
diagnosis of heart valve disease (e.g., aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, etc.) worldwide.
In 2017, the U.S. accounted for 60% of the global market, or $2.1 billion. The U.S. market should
approach nearly $2.3 billion in 2018 and reach $4.8 billion by 2023, increasing at a CAGR of 15.5% from
2018 through 2023. Regionally, the U.S. is expected to maintain dominance in the global market of
transcatheter treatment devices. Those wishing to invest in the transcatheter treatment devices market
ought to strongly consider high-growth areas such as transcatheter aortic valve repair (TAVR),
transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI), and transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) devices
and technologies.
The market is growing primarily due to the growing geriatric population, increasing prevalence of
chronic diseases, continuous technological advancements, increasing adoption of transcatheter
techniques, and positive reimbursement and other healthcare reforms.
CAGR%
Region 2017 2018 2023
2018-2023
U.S. 2,064 2,313 4,750 15.5
Europe 1,071 1,291 2,478 13.9
Asia 172 214 460 16.5
ROW 147 168 272 10.1
Total 3,454 3,986 7,960 14.8
Figure 4
Global Market for Transcatheter Treatment Devices, by Region, 2017–2023
($ Millions)
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
$ Millions
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2017 2018 2023
In 2017, Europe, Asia and ROW (Rest of the World) had shares of about 31%, 5% and 4% of the global
market, or $1.1 billion, $172 million and $147 million, respectively. The Europe, Asia and ROW markets
should approach $1.3 billion, $214 million and $168 million in 2018 and are predicted to reach $2.5
billion, $460 million and $272 million by 2023, increasing at CAGRs of 13.9%, 16.5% and 10.1% from
2018 through 2023, respectively.
Europe is the second largest market after the U.S. and there are many established and early-stage
companies that are working to enter the European TAVR market by developing improved transcatheter
The Asian market for transcatheter treatments devices is expected to witness the highest growth during
the next five years for various reasons: a growing aging (> 60 years) population, increasing availability
and affordability of treatment, increasing acceptance of transcatheter procedures, and advanced
technology-enabled products and solutions. Japan is an established market in Asia, while China and India
are emerging markets and growing rapidly.
With regard to the European transcatheter treatments devices market, it is growing mainly due to
improved healthcare infrastructure, increasing prevalence of heart diseases, improving diagnosis rates,
and a growing demand for minimally invasive and catheter-based treatment options.
In 2017, approximately 116,360 procedures were performed globally, including both transcatheter
aortic and mitral valve repair procedures such as TAVR/TAVI and TMVR. Transcatheter aortic procedures
(TAVR and TAVI) accounted for the largest share with 102,560 procedures (88% of all transcatheter
procedures), followed by transcatheter mitral valve repair with 13,800 procedures (12% of all
transcatheter procedures).
In the last decade, several new and improved devices have been developed and introduced to the
market for the treatment of simple to complex valvular pathologies. Transcatheter heart valve
implantation is a procedure with a less invasive approach that helps in replacing the heart valve with a
prosthetic valve for treatment of severe aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. It is the effective
alternative to open-heart surgery, especially for high-risk patients.
Transcatheter treatment offers a shorter procedure, better results, and fast recovery compared to open
surgery. The procedure helps reduce severe degenerative aortic stenosis and increases the survival rate
of patients. The increasing number of percutaneous transcatheter prosthetic valve implantations
worldwide is expected to drive demand for transcatheter heart valve devices, as the risk of valvular
heart disease is higher among the geriatric population, owing to increasing prevalence of severe aortic
stenosis and asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation. The market has witnessed the treatment shifting
from open surgical repair to transcatheter repair due to various advantages of transcatheter procedures
over open surgical repair.
There is an increasing acceptance of transcatheter procedures worldwide, as they offer more comfort to
high-risk patients such as the elderly and have several advantages in terms of operative risk and patient
recovery time compared to open surgical repair. However, high costs of transcatheter heart valves,
reimbursement issues, lack of awareness about valvular disease, stringent regulatory approval
procedures, lack of healthcare infrastructure in the developing world, long-term durability of heart
valves, the need for lifelong surveillance of artificial valves, risk associated with procedures and certain
devices (e.g., device recalls), malpositioning during implantation, and other complications associated
with transcatheter procedures are significant barriers to market growth and may restrict growth in
future years.
Table 5
Scope of Structural Heart Diseases
Valvular disease can be a birth defect, or it can be caused by aging, infection, or other cardiac diseases.
Age-related stenosis or regurgitation usually occurs after the age of 60, but significant observable
symptoms present themselves only after the age of 70 or 80. A large number of people are unaware or
undiagnosed with valvular disease and are diagnosed only when they go for a checkup following heart
• Cardiac catheterization.
• Chest X-ray.
• Echocardiogram.
• Electrocardiogram.
• Stress test.
• Echocardiography.
• Transesophageal echocardiography.
• Cardiac catheterization or angiogram.
• Radionuclide scans.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
Table 7
Structural Heart Valve Disease Treatment Through Surgical Intervention
There are more than 100,000 heart valve procedures performed each year in the U.S. Most of these
procedures target mitral or aortic valves. Although heart valve repair is preferred over the replacement
method, certain patients fail to meet the eligibility criteria. Diagnostic test results, structure of the heart,
age, and other lifestyle-related details help cardiologists to decide the best suitable treatment for
the disease.
Management of aortic stenosis depends on the symptoms and severity of the disease. A large group of
patients do not show any outward symptom unless the disease progresses from the mild to moderate
stage. Physicians advise regular monitoring and follow-up when there are no symptoms or when
symptoms are mild; however, surgery is prescribed when the disease becomes severe due to restricted
blood flow. Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease in the aged
population, and it may lead to poor health outcomes if left untreated.
Repair
Valve Type Indication Criteria Advantages Limitations
Technique
Gold standard procedure
Aortic stenosis patients Invasive technique,
Surgical with an established track
-- with low to high surgical not suitable for all
repair record of safety, efficacy
risk ages
and durability
Severe aortic stenosis
Surgical patients with good Does not require Limited long-term
Tissue valve
repair anticoagulation unlikely (> anticoagulation therapy durability
65 years of age)
Increased risk of
Severe aortic stenosis bleeding, patients
Surgical Mechanical
patients on Long-term durability need lifetime
repair valve
anticoagulation therapy anticoagulation
therapy
Minimally invasive
Unknown long-term
Transcathe Transcatheter Very severe aortic stenosis technique, suitable for all
durability, risk of
ter repair valve or prohibitive surgical risk ages and disease
paravalvular leaks
complexity
Management of mitral valve disease depends on the symptoms and severity of the disease. A large
group of patients do not show any outward symptoms unless the disease progresses from the mild to
moderate stage. Although patients with chronic mitral regurgitation can remain asymptomatic for many
years, regular clinical monitoring and noninvasive tests are necessary to monitor disease progression.
Physicians advise regular monitoring and follow-up when there are no symptoms or when symptoms are
mild; however, surgery is prescribed when the disease becomes severe.
Growth in the global heart valve replacement market will continue to be affected by global
demographics such as the growth of the aging populations in developed nations. The heart valve repair
and replacement market has undergone changes in the past several years, and it is expected to continue
changing through the forecast period as the availability of minimally invasive heart valve techniques
(especially transcatheter valve replacement and repair technologies) significantly reduces the risks and
costs associated with heart valve procedures. Additionally, innovations such as collapsible valves,
innovative annuloplasty valve repair technologies, and anti-calcification treatments are among the key
developments that will influence the market.
Although both heart valve repair and replacement are growing segments, one factor that will negatively
affect the replacement market for traditional heart valves is the growing adoption of minimally invasive
technologies for valve repair and replacement, most notably transcatheter valve repair. The demand for
valve replacement will also be affected by innovations such as new annuloplasty valve repair
technologies and anti-calcification treatments.
Competitive Landscape
The global market for transcatheter treatment devices (TAVR/TAVI and TMVR/TMVI) is a highly
specialized market that has been dominated for many years by Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, and
Abbott Laboratories, with the three companies having a combined market share of about 98%. In 2017,
Edwards Lifesciences led the global transcatheter treatment devices market with a 55% share, followed
by Medtronic and Abbott Laboratories, with 29% and 14% shares, respectively.
All of the market leaders have focused on merger and acquisition (M&A) activities and have
strengthened their market position through acquisitions, minority investments, and financing activities
to be in the position to buy targeted early-stage companies. Abbott Laboratories is a new entrant to the
market after acquiring St. Jude, which was a growing company in the transcatheter treatment devices
market and helped Abbott to establish its strong footprint in this market. Acquisition of St. Jude Medical
by Abbott is known as one of the major acquisitions in the cardiovascular segment. Edwards Lifesciences
and Medtronic have also made a few acquisitions to retain their leadership position in the market.
Revenue Share
Company
($ Millions) (%)
Edwards Lifesciences 1,900 55
Medtronic 1,002 29
Abbott Laboratories 484 14
Others* 68 2
Total 3,454 100
Note: *Others include Boston Scientific, JenaValve Technology Inc., Transcatheter Technologies GmbH, Neovasc
Inc., BIOTRONIK, Bracco SpA, Braile Biomédica, Colibri Heart Valve LLC, Hansen Medical Inc., Advanced
Bioprosthetic Surface Ltd., New Valve Technology AG, Thubrikar Aortic Valve Inc., Vascular Innovations Co. Ltd.,
ValveXchange Inc., LivaNova PLC, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Gorman Cardiovascular Research Group, HT
Consultant, Micro Interventional Devices Inc., MitraGen Inc., Mitral Heal Ltd., and Mitralix Ltd.
Figure 5
Global Market Share for Transcatheter Treatment Devices, by Leading Company,
2017
(%)
Others*
Abbott Laboratories 2%
14%
Edwards Lifesciences
55%
Medtronic
29%
Note: *Others include Boston Scientific, JenaValve Technology Inc., Transcatheter Technologies GmbH, Neovasc
Inc., BIOTRONIK, Bracco SpA, Braile Biomédica, Colibri Heart Valve LLC, Hansen Medical Inc., Advanced
Bioprosthetic Surface Ltd., New Valve Technology AG, Thubrikar Aortic Valve Inc., Vascular Innovations Co. Ltd.,
ValveXchange Inc., LivaNova PLC, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Gorman Cardiovascular Research Group, HT
Consultant, Micro Interventional Devices Inc., MitraGen Inc., Mitral Heal Ltd., and Mitralix Ltd.
Transcatheter aortic valve procedures (e.g., TAVR/TAVI) are currently reimbursed in the U.S. for all types
of aortic stenosis with simple to complex pathologies. However, some payers may deny reimbursement
if they conclude that the treatment given was unnecessary or that the device used was not cost-
effective or was used for a non-approved indication. Diagnosis-related group (DRG) codes such as 266 or
267 (listed in the table below) and International Classification of Diseases–Ninth Revision (ICD-9)
procedure codes such as 35.05 are commonly used for the billing and reimbursement of transcatheter
procedures at hospitals.
Each country in the EU has its own authority, and companies are required to submit specific pricing and
reimbursement dossiers to the relevant competent authorities in each country. Although the EU has
some common guidelines, pricing and reimbursement decisions are independent and vary from country
to country. The authorities use health technology assessment (HTA) guidelines to decide which products
are formally approved for use in a procedure, ensuring that only those medical devices that are shown
to be clinically and economically effective are reimbursed. However, the decision concerning which
medical device will qualify for reimbursement (and often also what price will be paid) by the
government or the patient’s health insurance provider is driven by local government healthcare policy.
As such, there can be considerable variation in the medical device reimbursement approval process and
data requirements from country to country. Additionally, the processes can be subject to regulatory
changes, as countries reform their respective healthcare systems and budgets in line with their
current policies.
Future Outlook
Continuous technological advancements with respect to transcatheter valve repair and replacement are
expected to reduce the invasiveness of existing procedures and further expand the patient population
for whom surgery is a realistic option. Companies are also focused on developing more advanced
ultralow-profile devices to improve proximal and distal placement accuracy, along with offering better
customization options for surgeons. These advancements will be focused both valve graft systems and
the types of surgery used to place the artificial heart valve. The medical device technology market is
being shaped by worldwide demographic and economic trends, and access to modern medicine is
directly correlated with income trends. At present, the developing markets outside of North America,
Europe, and Japan account for a relatively small share of medical technology, but in the long term, as
their income levels rise, these emerging markets should become increasingly important outlets for new
and advanced medical technologies.
Introduction
Study Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of this report are to:
• Determine segments and key market structures in global medical imaging instruments market
and assessment of the factors that impact the market growth.
• Identify key market players, product portfolios, recent developments and application areas.
• Identify various strategies adopted by market players to enhance their market position,
including expansion, product launch, acquisition and merger, innovation, partnership and joint
venture.
• Assess and analyze the market trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities and influencers and
their impact on market revenue and growth (2017-2022).
• Provide analysis for each of the market segments based on the product type (X-ray systems,
magnetic resource imaging equipment/instruments, computed tomography (CT) scanners,
ultrasound systems and nuclear imaging equipment/instruments), technology and application
segments of each product type, and end user (hospitals, diagnostic centers and research
centers), regional and country level analysis.
• Study challenges that need to be addressed in global medical imaging instruments market to
achieve fiscal success.
• Present a conclusion from the study conducted through intensive primary and secondary
research.
Medical imaging instruments refer to the equipment and devices that are used for early detection and
diagnosis of disease for its effective treatment. These devices include magnetic resonance imaging
systems, X-ray systems, ultrasound devices, nuclear imaging and computed tomography. These
instruments are widely adopted across various end-users including hospitals, diagnostic centers and
research centers.
Scope of Report
The scope of this report is broad and covers various types of products available in the medical imaging
instruments market and potential application sectors across various industries. The medical imaging
instruments market is broken down into product types such as X-ray systems, ultrasound devices, MRI,
computed tomography and nuclear imaging. Revenue forecasts from 2017 to 2022 are given for each
product type, technologies, application and end users with estimated valued derived from the revenue
of manufacturers’ total revenues.
The report also includes a discussion of the major players across each regional medical imaging
instrument market. It explains the major drivers and regional dynamics of the global medical imaging
instruments market and current trends within the industry.
The report concludes with a special focus on the vendor landscape and includes detailed profiles of the
major vendors in the global medical imaging instruments market.
Methodology
A bottom-up approach was used to estimate the size of the global medical imaging instruments market
that was further verified with the revenue figures obtained by a top-down approach. The research
methodology used to calculate market size also includes the following details:
• Market revenues of key players were determined through primary and secondary research,
including a study of annual reports of top market players, and interviews with key opinion
leaders such as chief executive officers and directors.
• Secondary research included general search by keywords through paid and unpaid sources, such
as Factiva and One Source, and other government websites, publicly available websites and
company websites.
• The penetration percentage and forecast of micro markets were established through primary
and secondary sources and were validated through primary sources.
Geographic Breakdown
In this report, the geographic regions considered for market analysis include, and only include:
North America
• United States.
• Mexico.
• Canada.
Asia-Pacific
• China.
• India.
• Japan.
• Australia.
• South Korea.
• Rest of Asia-Pacific.
Analyst’s Credentials
Bhavna Joshi has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare and biotechnology research. In
addition to business research and consulting, she has conducted corporate briefings for top players in a
wide range of market segments. She holds an MBA in the marketing and finance from Chennai
University and has worked with major market research firms.
Bhavna Joshi has authored several market research studies on subjects in the healthcare domain,
including:
Companies are focusing on the continuous development of products that support novel imaging
technologies such as colored and 3D imaging due to their rising demand. Surging investments on
technological advancements for increasing resolution and pixel capabilities, wider disease detection
capabilities and more advanced software can be observed in the market.
The imaging technologies are used across various end users including hospitals, diagnostic centers and
research centers. In hospitals, the imaging instruments are used for imaging body parts in cases of
chronic diseases or accidents. In diagnostic centers, the imaging instruments are widely adopted for
diagnosing a particular body part or the whole body. The imaging instruments are used for molecular
imaging in the research centers for drug discovery purposes.
The global medical imaging instruments market is projected to rise during the forecast period of 2017-
2022, and by 2022, total revenue is expected to reach nearly $42.1 billion.
Table 11
Global Market for Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments, by Product Type,
Through 2022
($ Millions)
CAGR%
Product Type 2016 2017 2022
2017-2022
X-ray equipment/instruments 11,533 11,997 15,437 5.2
Ultrasound equipment/instruments 6,345 6,604 8,510 5.2
MRI equipment/instruments 5,357 5,568 7,129 5.1
CT scanners 4,662 4,861 6,321 5.4
Nuclear imaging equipment/instruments 3,392 3,548 4,689 5.7
Total 31,289 32,578 42,086 5.3
18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
$ Millions
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2016 2017 2022
X-ray equipment/instruments Ultrasound equipment/instruments
MRI equipment/instruments CT scanners
Nuclear imaging equipment/instruments
X-ray systems
• Stationary.
• Floor to ceiling mounted systems.
• Ceiling mounted systems.
• Portable.
• Mobile X-ray systems.
• Handheld X-ray systems.
MRI equipment/instruments
• Closed.
• Open.
Ultrasound systems
• Cart/trolley-based ultrasound system.
• Compact/portable ultrasound system.
X-ray systems dominated the global medical imaging instruments market in 2016, with total revenue of
about $11.5 billion. The dominance of X-ray systems is justified by increasing chronic diseases coupled
with a surging number of accidents. Nuclear imaging instruments are the fastest-growing segment. Due
to the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases and others, the demand
for nuclear imaging instruments has surged as these imaging instruments are adopted in diagnosis of
these diseases.
North America dominated the market for global medical imaging instruments in 2016; the dominance is
justified by a well-established medical device industry coupled with increasing healthcare expenditure.
Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market, and the growth is attributed to investments in medical
imaging instruments coupled with high projections of chronic diseases and geriatric population.
BCC Research forecasts some of the trends in the medical imaging instruments market that would boost
the market revenue through 2022. Following are some of the trends in the medical imaging industry:
There are a few challenges that could hamper the medical imaging industry, which are addressed in the
following. These are some of the issues faced in radiology.
X-ray Equipment/Instruments
X-ray machines produce X-ray radiation. This radiation is then used for medical diagnosis and
interventional purposes (e.g., catheter placement). Based on movement of equipment, X-ray device
technologies are segmented into portable and stationary. Stationary X-ray device technologies were the
first to be introduced into the market. X-ray machines are generally utilized in a variety of applications
including electronic assembly inspection, fluorescence, medicine and measurement of material
thickness in manufacturing operations.
Table 12
Examples of Examinations and Procedures in Which X-ray Machines are Used to
Either Diagnose or Treat Disease
X-ray imaging exams are recognized as a valuable medical tool for a wide variety of examinations and
procedures. They are used for the following purposes:
MRI Equipment/Instruments
MRI equipment is a diagnostic instrument for medical investigations. It is more sensitive as compared to
CT, and MRI does not use ionizing radiations. MRI is extensively used in the diagnosis of several diseases
including neurological, cancers and cardiac disorders. MRI is used to discover complications such as
bleeding, tumor, injury, blood vessel diseases or infection. MRI scanners generally use strong radio
waves, electric field gradients and magnetic fields to create pictures of the organs in the body.
MRI is the diagnostic instrument of choice for neurological cancers, as it has better resolution compared
to CT scan and delivers better imaging of the posterior fossa. MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves
to create high-quality two- or three-dimensional pictures of brain structures without the use of
radioactive tracers or ionizing radiation (X-rays).
With the rising role of MRI in diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions, clinicians have been willing to
discover the opportunity from using MR guidance for musculoskeletal procedures. Applications in the
musculoskeletal system comprise such as soft tissue tumors, assessment of joint disease and spinal
imaging. Hepatobiliary MRI is used to illustrate and detect lesions of the pancreas, liver and bile ducts.
MRI plays a progressively significant role for assessment of patients with chronic liver disease.
CT Scanners
A CT scanner is a diagnostic imaging equipment that uses a combination of X-rays and computer
technology to produce axial, or horizontal, images (often called slices) of the body. A CT scan displays
comprehensive pictures of any part of the body, including muscles, bones, fat and organs. CT scanners
are more comprehensive than standard X-rays. In computed tomography, an X-ray beam moves in a
circle around the body. This enables various diverse views of the same organ or structure and offers
much superior detail than other technologies.
Ultrasound Equipment/Instruments
Medical ultrasound (also called ultrasonography or diagnostic sonography) is a diagnostic imaging
technique based on the application of ultrasound. Ultrasound systems are used to perform medical
ultrasound for diagnosis of internal body structures such as blood vessels, muscles, tendons, joints and
other internal organs. Ultrasound systems are being widely used in a variety of clinical settings including
obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology and urology. The major advantage of ultrasound over other
imaging procedures is that this procedure does not involve the use of radiation; therefore, it is the
preferred method of imaging of a developing fetus during pregnancy. Ultrasound can be performed
faster than X-rays and other radiographic imaging techniques.
The market for medical imaging systems is highly competitive, and thus manufacturers make heavy R&D
investments to support the process of new product development and to ensure sustainability. In
addition, these market players constantly endeavor to invent new products in congruence with changing
buyer preferences and demand.
Developing cost-effective retrofit kits, handheld and mobile devices, and digital radiography systems
capable of conducting diagnostic examinations of soft tissues are some of the imperative attributes
taken into consideration by market players. In January 2018, Philips Healthcare introduced its new line
of AI-powered imaging devices Dura Diagnostic F30 Digital X-ray, Ingenia Prodiva 1.5T MRI, and Access
CT 32 Slice, specifically developed to help radiologists diagnose faster and more accurately, with the
added benefit of lower ownership costs and better patient experience. In March 2018, Shimadzu Corp.
introduced its new MobileDaRt Evolution MX8 version digital mobile X-ray system, which features a
lockable Flat Panel Detector (FPD) housing compartment, a large completely flat monitor screen,
improved operability and an extensive selection of options designed to provide multifaceted support.
Major drivers of the global MRI equipment market include increasing healthcare expenditure and the
growing elderly global population base. New and advanced MRI equipment is being increasingly used in
diagnosis and treatment in many specialties although the effect on improved health outcomes is
uncertain. There is an increasing need for early diagnosis to ensure effective treatment and/or
management of disease, so the demand for advanced systems will continue to grow. The market for MRI
equipment/instruments is highly competitive, and thus manufacturers make heavy R&D investments to
support the process of new product development and to ensure sustainability. These market players
constantly endeavor to invent new products in congruence with changing buyer preferences and
demand.
Industry Structure
Raw Material Suppliers
Raw material suppliers are major strategic partners of medical imaging instrument manufacturers. Most
medical imaging instrument companies depend upon suppliers for components. Suppliers generally
make parts of medical imaging instrument such as display monitors, CPUs, printers, anode and cathode
electrodes, rectifiers, magnetic gradient coils, electromagnets and other electronic and body parts.
Manufacturers
Manufacturers of medical imaging instruments can reduce the total exposure time of patients in
radiation and improve the image quality by using different technology, by adopting different
movements of detectors and by using different movements of X-ray tubes of CT scanners and keep the
cost very competitive. Cost has always been a challenging factor for manufacturers due to longer
approval processes, high expenses related to technology upgrades and research and development
activities. It is important to focus on both factors, reduction in total exposure time of patients and image
quality, equally at the same time.
Medical Imaging
Manufacturers
Equipment/Instruments
Siemens Healthineers (Germany), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Philips Healthcare
X-ray equipment/instruments
(U.S.), Shimadzu Corp. (Japan), Varian Medical Systems (U.S.)
GE Healthcare (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Hitachi (Japan), Philips
MRI instruments
(Netherlands), Canon Medical Systems (Japan), Bruker Corp. (U.S.)
Koninklijke Philips NV (Netherlands), Toshiba Corp. (Japan), GE Healthcare
CT scanners (U.S.), Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (South Korea), Shimadzu Corp. (Japan),
Hitachi Ltd. (Japan)
Koninklijke Philips NV (Netherlands), Toshiba Corp. (Japan), Siemens
Ultrasound devices Healthineers (Germany), GE Healthcare (U.S.), Shimadzu Corp. (Japan),
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (South Korea)
GE Healthcare (U.S.), Koninklijke Philips NV (Netherlands), Shimadzu Corp.
PET/CT scan
(Japan), PerkinElmer Inc. (U.S.), Siemens Healthineers (Germany)
Nuclear imaging
Toshiba Corp. (Japan), GE Healthcare (U.S.), Siemens Healthineers (Germany),
SPECT scan
Bruker Corp. (U.S.), Mediso Medical Imaging Systems (Hungary)
Distributors
Distributors play an important role in the medical imaging instrument market and help the companies to
increase their market share, revenue, customer base and area served. For every company it is not
possible to open a separate and independent office or contact point in every country or city. Distributors
or national sales companies are chosen by looking into their sales track record and product portfolio.
Companies with medical device product portfolios and products related to relevant industries such as
medical imaging equipment and others are preferred by manufacturers. Distributors are point of contact
or representatives of manufacturers to end users and therefore they are selected based on:
• Quality assurance.
• Supply chain.
• Excellent past record.
• Contacts.
• Vast market approach.
End Users
Hospitals, diagnostic centers and research centers are the major end users of the global medical imaging
instrument market. Diagnostic centers are the main buyers of medical imaging instruments, used for
diagnosis of various types of diseases and health conditions. The demand for medical imaging
instruments in diagnostic centers is mainly driven by the rising prevalence of noncommunicable diseases
(NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer and stroke. Also, the rising number of accidents globally is
increasing the demand for X-rays, MRI systems and other imaging instruments in diagnostic centers and
hospitals.
Figure 7
Manufacturing Process of Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments
Production of
Procurement of raw Testing of procured
remaining parts/raw
materials/parts products
materials
Cost-Effective Components
Suppliers need to provide cost-effective products to the manufacturers. In the current scenario,
manufacturers require products/components that comply with government regulatory requirements,
especially FDA.
Suppliers need to work constantly on research and development of their products in terms of innovation
and quality to survive in the highly competitive market and deliver advanced and cost-effective products
to the manufacturers. For instance, in 2015, according to company sources, Power Photonic Ltd. (U.K.)
received about $2.7 million from Archangels and Scottish Investment Bank for new product
development and to perform research activities and increase manufacturing capabilities. In 2015,
according to company sources, Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan) completed expansion of its
photomultiplier tubes (PMT) production unit with an investment of $59.8 million. The company is
performing research activities to develop 20-inch PMT, the largest of its kind across the globe.
Table 15
U.S. Medical Imaging Equipment/Instruments Patents, 2016 Through June 2018
Source: freepatentsonline.com
European Patents
Table 16
European Patents and Patent Applications on Medical Imaging
Equipment/Instruments, 2015 Through June 2018
Source: freepatentsonline.com
Table 17
Japanese Patents and Patent Applications on Medical Imaging
Equipment/Instruments, 2015 Through May 2018
Source: freepatentsonline.com
Future Outlook
Technological advancements, such as introduction of digital portable X-ray systems and the
implementation of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), are expected to drive the
market. Due to the prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with the increasing geriatric population and
number of road accidents, stronger demand for better imaging has emerged. Chronic diseases such as
cancer, strokes, neurodegenerative diseases, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),
cardiovascular diseases and others require imaging of body parts for proper diagnosis of the disease. ,
and such high instances of chronic diseases require improved and advanced imaging technologies such
as MRI, ultrasound and others. Also, an increase in the number of road accidents is expected to boost
the market for imaging technologies in major and minor fractures. An increasing geriatric population,
coupled with increasing demand of 3D medical imaging equipment, are other pertinent factors that will
provide traction to the global medical imaging instruments market.
Introduction
Study Goals and Objectives
This report covers these trends and the market size and forecast they drive. The report identifies market
opportunities for suppliers of medical products and services as well as IT firms to address the growing
demand.
Scope of Report
The report segments the technology for electronic health records and IT suppliers by hardware,
software and services by application, including:
• Administration.
• Computerized health records.
• Billing automation.
• Decision support tools.
• Document and image management (RIS/PACS).
• e-Prescriptions.
Use segments will also be addressed, including healthcare providers, private and public payers and
consumers.
Information Sources
Primary information sources include manufacturers and suppliers of electronic health records
technology, major users of these products, research organizations, government agencies and trade
associations. Secondary sources, such as databases, trade literature, specialized journals and
government statistics, were also researched while compiling this report.
Geographic Breakdown
In this report, the geographic regions considered for market analysis are:
• North America.
• Latin America.
• Europe.
• Middle East and Africa.
• Asia-Pacific.
• Rest of the World.
Analyst’s Credentials
Michael Sullivan is currently Senior Editor for Information Technology at BCC Research. He is also an IT
industry analyst with more than 20 years of experience investigating, studying and reporting on
information technology development and applications. Previous reports include coverage of connected
medical devices, medical device security, mobile technologies, voice recognition systems, content
delivery networks, sensors for the Internet of Things and robotics and zero net energy buildings.
Report Summary
Since the introduction of information technology, the healthcare industry has been gradually converting
its processes and methods from paper and analog to digital. Given the diversity, volume and various
tiers of information, as well as the need to maintain privacy and accuracy, healthcare medical records
have proven difficult to transition to a homogenous electronic form that serves all the needs of patients,
providers, payers and suppliers. Yet government regulations and advisory statements, such as those
initiated in the United States since 2009, have served as an incentive to spur the advancement of
electronic health records and promote interoperability across suppliers and healthcare providers.
North America will continue to lead spending due to the combination of the large number of suppliers
and providers in the region, as well as the pressure to reduce expenses amid government mandates to
increase interoperability. Spending in the region will grow from an estimated $10.1 billion in 2017 to
$18.4 billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 12.7%.
Table 18
Global Market for Electronic Health Records, by Region, Through 2022
($ Billions)
CAGR%
Region 2016 2017 2022
2017-2022
North America 9.4 10.1 18.4 12.7
Europe 4.1 4.4 7.4 11.0
Asia-Pacific 2.9 3.1 6.6 16.3
Middle East and Africa 1.8 2.0 3.1 9.2
Latin America 1.2 1.3 2.0 9.0
Rest of World 1.1 1.1 1.6 7.8
Total 20.5 22.0 39.1 12.2
Figure 8
Global Market for Electronic Health Records, by Region, 2016–2022
($ Billions)
20
18
16
14
12
$ Billions
10
8
6
4
2
0
2016 2017 2022
North America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East and Africa Latin America Rest of World
Latin America, Middle East and Africa and remaining Rest of World countries will comprise the
remaining 25% of the market with electronic healthcare records advancing at a slower but steady rate of
between 7% and 10%.
The advent of cloud technologies in recent years has added further economic incentive and opened a
world of standardization to the computing market that is being leveraged by the healthcare market in
general and electronic healthcare records in particular.
Healthcare IT costs are high because the nature of medical applications – from patient records and
treatment history to image picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), radiological
information systems (RIS) and cardiovascular information systems (CVIS) – requires large amounts of
storage that constantly scales up with additional layers of data on a daily basis. Consequently,
healthcare organizations must continuously add to storage and server assets.
Cloud computing enables continuous scaling using shared assets. Cloud also facilities interoperability
because cost barriers are reduced to creating multiple instances of databases, applications and end user
interfaces. Cloud enables healthcare IT organizations to realize the benefits of new architectures in
terms of cost and flexibility.
Cloud also enables easier customization of applications for different constituents because custom
configurations are modeled in the database rather than in the application. This also facilitates
collaboration across applications. The ability to generate multiple end user interfaces across a single
database, for example, can support collaboration across departments when access to a patient record is
needed by different specialists or administrators.
EHRs and other types of clinical software have been promoted as important tools for improving the
quality of care patients receive by:
Table 19
Key Trends in Electronic Health Records
EFFECT ON
TREND ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS
The demand for multi-provider access to patient Mandates for interoperability are opening new
records to improve quality of care is being supported opportunities for new and existing EHR suppliers to
by industry and government interoperability revamp or add extensions to existing systems or
initiatives. replace them altogether with more compliant ones.
The advent of cloud technologies promises to alleviate Cloud requirements are another driver for EHR
the healthcare market's insatiable need for data transformation. Suppliers are finding a strong market
storage. for cloud-enabled solutions.
Analytics, and eventually AI-based knowledge
Analytics that help measure care quality and cost are
management systems, are another next generation
becoming increasingly important tools in healthcare,
EHR capability causing system enhancements or
requiring updated records systems.
upgrades.
According to some estimates, 80% of a typical healthcare organization’s information is stored as free
text. Fully developed clinical ontologies will enable these organizations to extract and reuse discrete
data elements that would otherwise sit within those free text clinical documents. The result will be
unstructured medical documents that become functional databases that will serve as the driving force
behind core programs such as medical coding, billing and quality of care initiatives.
The field of computable ontologies, particularly clinical ontologies, is still in the early stages of
commercialization. Companies active in this field include Ontology Works (Baltimore, Md.), Language
and Computing (Bethesda, Md.) and IBM (Armonk, N.Y.).
In addition, EHR systems must follow appropriate privacy and security standards, especially as they
relate to HIPAA regulations. Several organizations create standards related to EHRs, including Health
Level Seven (HL7), Comité Européen de Normalization–Technical Committee (CEN TC) 215, the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E31 and the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO). HL7, which operates in the U.S., develops the most widely used healthcare-related electronic data
exchange standards in North America. CEN TC 215, which operates in 19 European member states, is the
preeminent organization/developer of healthcare IT standards in Europe.
• Software: Legacy applications or those running on virtual machine software and implementing
Web services. Also included are software clients and software platforms such as database,
security and management systems.
• Services: Consulting, design, installation and maintenance services are also part of the EHR
landscape.
Of these, the largest investment is in software, totaling more than 50% of the expenditure and growing
at a 13.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2022. This segment is expanding due to several factors including the vast
amount of data collected, the migration or enhancement of legacy applications, extensions of systems
for interoperability as well new cloud-based applications.
The hardware segment is also growing, comprising a third of the market. The growth is also due to data
growth, though overall it is mitigated by the migration of applications to cloud solutions. The
requirement for services is also increasing as providers and payers require additional third-party support
to supplement IT organizations and provide cloud infrastructure expertise.
Table 20
Global Market Share for Electronic Health Records, by Technology Type, 2016
(%)
Services
15%
Hardware
33%
Software
52%
Hardware
Hardware requirements for electronic medical records begin with the access points which can consist of
mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones carried by medical personnel, laptops or desktop
workstations or dedicated workstations for a given medical device or system. Though simple compared
to the cloud and server infrastructure required for the bulk of the application process, these entry point
workstations are vital for real time reporting of medical record information during the course of patient
diagnosis and treatment.
Software
While hardware whether in the cloud or on-premise provides the capacity and information processing to
record and store electronic medical records data and applications, the software must conform to the
technical requirements of records systems. These requirements include the ability to record and
consolidate data from ambulatory in-hospital departments including administration, radiology,
laboratory and pharmacy. In addition, medication administration records, nursing plans and physician
orders can be a part of the records system.
Systems can also extend to encompass payers such as lawyers, insurance companies, government
agencies and individuals and families. Some applications also include the medical device and pharmacy
industries.
Providing about 17% of the total electronic health records market, administration systems investments
totaled $3.5 billion in 2016. This investment increased to $4 billion in 2017 and is expected to grow to $7
billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 11.8%.
Electronic health record systems provide documentation from clinical records in real time enabling
organizations to apply coding before patients are discharged. If there is also a parallel process of record
scanning to capture any patient paper records, the electronic health record system can provide a
complete and accurate view of the patient encounter supported by coding to facilitate reimbursement.
In addition, administrative systems are among the first to participate in cloud-based electronic health
record systems because many of their functions are already designed for cloud services. Healthcare
organizations tend to have more control over administrative systems in hospital information systems,
therefore it has been easier for IT organizations to experiment with the systems in cloud computing
scenarios.
Though they are protected in this way there is still a requirement for many types of personnel in the
healthcare system to access digital records. However, the process of providing access to the records has
to be closely managed to ensure that appropriate access is given to personnel based on their needs and
permissions. Electronic health records management supports the ability to design security controls and
audit logs to provide appropriate access to medical records for clinicians and internal use groups such as
business administrators, risk management staff and other appropriate personnel.
Billing Automation
Electronic health records contribute to billing automation and will provide a $6.3 billion share of the
market in 2022 at a growth rate of 12.5%. Integration of electronic health records with billing systems
that include service pricing, insurance information and additional charges can be facilitated with an
electronic healthcare system. Interoperability between the systems and insurance company and payer
systems is also a productive use of electronic health record systems.
Electronic healthcare records suppliers offer billing services as part of their solutions. Electronic health
record systems can send charges automatically into a records management system billing module and
While electronic health record billings systems automate filing claims, pulling payments and posting
remittances, specialists are often required to pursue unpaid patient bills resulting from denied insurance
claims. Capturing revenue from claim denials and self-pay from patients is as important, especially to a
small practice, as being reimbursed appropriately by insurance.
Clinical decision support systems are interactive applications that help physicians and other healthcare
professionals make diagnoses and determine treatments, as well as perform other tasks. Clinical
decision support systems vary greatly in their complexity, function and application.
Clinical decision support systems provide clinicians, staff, patients or other individuals with knowledge
and person-specific information that is intelligently filtered or presented at appropriate times to
enhance health and healthcare. It encompasses a variety of tools and interventions such as
computerized alerts and reminders, clinical guidelines, order sets, patient data reports and dashboards,
documentation templates, diagnostic support and clinical workflow tools. The usefulness of the tool is
clearly dependent on the programmed logic. A system that provides erroneous information and
guidance has the potential for broad deleterious impact.
Successful decision support tools must allow treatment providers to navigate quickly and efficiently to
the most critical information that they need at the point of treatment. Very often decision support tools
have been designed more with the focus on quantity of information rather than flexibility in offering
relevant pieces of clinical data at the behest of the user.
Nevertheless, the investment in linking electronic health records to document and image management
systems generated a $3.3 billion investment in 2017 and will drive a $5.9 billion investment in 2022 at a
CAGR of 11.0%.
E-Prescriptions
Electronic prescribing is a technology that enables a prescriber to electronically send an accurate, error-
free and understandable prescription directly to a pharmacy from the point of care.
Electronic prescribing involves the use of an automated data entry system to generate a prescription,
rather than writing it on paper. The term electronic prescribing is usually used in connection with
outpatient or ambulatory prescribing. E-prescribing in an inpatient or hospital setting is generally
considered part of the computerized physician order entry.
Given the automated nature of e-prescribing, it is understandable that electronic health record systems
are also engaging in providing e-prescription systems. This aspect of the market will provide about $5.5
billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 10.8%. According to U.S. government statistics, more than 40% of all
prescriptions written by eligible professionals were transmitted electronically using certified EHR
technology.
E-prescribing in the ambulatory setting is carried out using a mobile device (e.g., a PDA or smartphone)
loaded with e-prescribing software, an ambulatory EHR system on a PC or, less frequently, a handheld
device. Technologies involved in e-prescribing are:
• Software applications.
• Mobile interface devices.
• An electronic data interchange system.
e-Prescriptions Administration
16% 17%
Decision support
tools
17% Billing automation
16%
When viewed from the perspective of the large companies, electronic health records are seen as a single
market with many functional modules and customer types. But the industry is also comprised of
individual vendors pursuing each submarket independently. There are more than 300 software vendors
addressing various segments. In addition to functional segmentation there is also segmentation based
on the size of practice, specialties of medical services, inpatient and outpatient and other types of
categorizations.
One way to measure the market is to assess the depth of functionality of the records systems. Baseline
functionality includes:
• Medical history.
• Follow-up orders for test prescriptions.
• Electronic test orders.
• Warnings of drug interactions or contraindications.
• Highlighting of out of range test levels.
• Electronic images returned.
• Reminders for guideline-based interventions.
Future Outlook
Migrating massive amounts of patient data to a cloud will help to more accurately assess health issues
and treatments across the healthcare ecosystem and facilitate big data analytics to investigate public
health metrics. Increasingly, suppliers in the electronic healthcare records market will also offer more
demographic and population analysis tools within their cloud solutions. There is a growing demand for
RIS and cardiovascular information system (CVIS) which are increasingly being used to achieve
multidisciplinary patient care. The need for workflow enhancements and integration will drive the
demand for PACS, RIS and CVIS. Initiatives taken by public and private healthcare sectors around the
globe, in conjunction with significant advancements in healthcare information technology, are expected
to boost the adoption of PACS, and the need to reduce healthcare expenditures while providing
enhanced quality and greater access to healthcare will drive governments to adopt digital information
technology in the future.
Introduction
Study Goals and Objectives
This BCC Research report, Non-opioid Pain Treatment: Global Markets to 2022, provides an overview of
products included in this market, and a detailed analysis of the markets and market opportunities. The
study includes information about significant products categories, issues and trends, market influences,
regulatory issues and other information affecting the pain management industry, and more specifically,
the non-opioid treatment market.
The report is designed to provide the reader with a background of the pain management industry and
current factors influencing growth and provide decision-makers with the tools to make decisions
regarding expanding into the newest areas of pain management treatment in regard to non-opioid
treatments.
Scope of Report
This BCC Research report is designed to be a helpful business tool that will provide a thorough
evaluation of the markets for pain management. The geographical scope of this study is global. This
study addresses acute versus chronic pain, treatments and regulatory issues facing healthcare workers.
Also provided is detailed information based on product categories, use of products, forecasts and
competitive analyses.
The report identifies five general product segments for non-opioid treatment of pain:
• Arthritis.
• Cancer⎯brain, breast, colorectal, leukemia/lymphoma, melanoma, prostate, others.
• Dental.
• Epilepsy.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Migraine.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Surgical.
A regional analysis of these product segments is also provided, including the specific countries listed
below and including countries not listed as a “rest of the world” market.
• Argentina.
• Australia/New Zealand.
• Brazil.
• Canada.
• China.
• France.
• Germany.
• Italy.
• Japan.
• Mexico.
• Russia.
• Spain.
• United Kingdom.
• United States.
Each market segment provides detailed information based on product categories, product use, current
market value and forecasts.
Not covered in the report are drugs or devices that are considered “conventional” in professional
treatment guidelines that are due to either controversial issues such as those with medical cannabis or
those that are not commonly prescribed or recommended due to a lack of clinical data, education or
other factors.
Information Sources
Information sources used to compile this report include:
• AbbVie Inc.
• Acorda Therapeutics Inc.
• Allergan PLC.
• Australian Department of Health.
• Bedrocan BV.
Methodology
This report is based on extensive primary research, including interviews with market participants, pain
management physicians and care providers, government personnel and researchers. Secondary research
is used to supplement primary methods, which include insurance and reimbursement databases,
government health and lifestyle databases, relevant journals, company literature and investment
reports. The report is global in scope with a special emphasis on major global markets such as the United
States, Canada, France and Germany. Market data is based on 2017 market conditions, using 2017 as
the base year. Historical data is provided for 2016 while forecast data is provided for 2022.
Geographic Breakdown
In this report, the geographic regions considered for market analysis are divided into four broad regions:
• North America.
• Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA).
• Asia-Pacific.
• Latin America.
Report Summary
The global non-opioid pain treatment market, which focuses on alternative non-opioid treatments,
reached a total market value of nearly $9.9 billion in 2017. The market is divided into five general
segments for this report, including medical cannabis, capsaicin-derived treatments, menthol-containing
treatments, omega-3 fatty acid-containing and botulinum toxins.
Medical cannabis
• Largest alternative non-opioid market segment, accounting for a 73% market share.
• The United States is the largest market for medical cannabis, accounting for 50% of global sales.
• The street cost of cannabis is the highest in Japan (it is illegal for all uses in Japan).
• Medical cannabis is most often used to control pain in orthopedic and musculoskeletal
conditions. Arthritis and fibromyalgia are the most common individual indications. About 57% of
sales are for this group of indications.
• Increasing use in neuropathic pain has shown effectiveness.
• Growing number of medical cannabis clinical trial listings.
Capsaicin-derived treatments
• Smallest market segment, accounting for just 3% of the global non-opioid pain treatment
market.
Botulinum toxins
Table 21
Global Market for Non-opioid Pain Treatments, by Product Segment,
Through 2022
($ Millions)
CAGR%
Product Segment 2016 2017 2022
2017–2022
Medical cannabis 4,843 7,255 19,775 22.2
Menthol-containing 919 926 966 0.8
Omega 3 fatty acid-containing 900 911 966 1.2
Botulinum toxins 511 542 697 5.2
Capsaicin-derived 250 252 258 0.5
Total 7,423 9,886 22,662 18.0
20,000
18,000
16,000
14,000
$ Millions
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2016 2017 2022
The incidence of pain varies according to the location of the pain and individual factors. The most
common incidences of pain are experienced in orthopedic pain (back pain and joint pain), headaches,
burn pain, diabetic pain, cancer pain, dental and facial pain, HIV/AIDS pain, obstetrical pain, pediatric
pain and surgical pain.
A hallmark of many chronic conditions, pain affects more people than diabetes, heart disease and
cancer combined. Taking into account healthcare expenses, lost income and productivity, chronic pain is
estimated to cost several billion dollars annually for treatment and more when considering the indirect
costs associated with pain.
Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting the population today, with more than 100
different types reported. Each year more than 500 million people worldwide are affected by arthritis
and arthritis-related conditions, with approximately 55 million of these in the United States alone. For
people in the over 55-age group, this is the most commonly reported condition.
Taking the current trends of obesity into consideration, BCC Research estimates that the incidence of
arthritis will reach 105 million by 2050, representing a 1.0% CAGR. Worldwide, the incidence of arthritis
is likely to reach 750 million.
Some of the most common arthritic problems are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent condition that affects more than 250 million people
worldwide, and accounts for approximately half of all arthritis conditions. Osteoarthritis has
been diagnosed in more than 30 million Americans with the frequency of the condition
increasing with age. Around the world, the prevalence varies from 6% to 10% of the general
population.
• Several characteristics and risk factors are associated with osteoarthritis. Women over 55
account for the highest rate of incidence, followed by men in their mid-40s. Obese populations
have a higher rate of osteoarthritis primarily due to increased weight on joints. Among races,
whites and blacks tend to have the highest osteoarthritis rates followed by Asians. Educational
status and income level also can play a role in the prevalence of osteoarthritis, with lower
education and income levels showing the highest rates compared to mid- and higher-income
populations at a rate of 2:1.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is present in more than 30 million people worldwide. The United States has
nearly 3 million cases, with women affected more than men at a rate of 5:1. Rheumatoid
arthritis is known to have some genetic background and is associated with the tissue type
antigen HLA-DR4. Race is an important factor, with Native Americans having one of the highest
rates and blacks in the Caribbean having the lowest. An interesting finding of many studies
worldwide has been the fact that rheumatoid arthritis is more prevalent in smokers versus
nonsmokers at a rate of 4:1.
Cancer
Pain is a burdensome aspect of cancer. It affects from 25% to 60% of patients undergoing treatment.
Because more than 14 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year and many more living with
one form of the disease or another, the importance of controlling cancer pain has increased. For
effective pain management in cancer cases, it is very necessary to first evaluate the type of pain. Cancer
pain can be divided according to the region of pain, and once it is identified, it can be classified
according to the duration of pain.
• Somatic pain—Somatic pain is generally a result of pain receptor activity on the surface of the
body or deep within the tissues. An example of pain on the surface is the surgical incision site
where pain is very intense. In the case of pain in deep tissues, for example, where the cancer
has spread to the bones, the site cannot be pinpointed, but has a dull pain.
• Visceral pain—Visceral pain is experienced in the cavities of the body, such as the abdomen,
chest or pelvis. This pain is generated when the cancer tumor puts pressure on one or more
organs in the cavity. This pain produces a throbbing and pressurized sensation.
Once the type of pain according to the region of pain is classified, pain can be further categorized as
acute or chronic pain.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is surprisingly common worldwide with reports as low as 3% to as high as 6% of the general
population suffering from this condition. It is diagnosed in women over men at a rate of 7:1. All racial
and ethnic groups have shown nearly equal incidence and the same holds true with regard to
occupations and social status. The only distinct difference in fibromyalgia onset is within age groups,
with a diagnosis more frequently made in the years between 21 and 55. However, the condition has
been known to occur outside of these years as well.
In the United States, the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association reports that more than 10
million people are affected by the condition. The condition has received greater attention in recent
years and more people have been diagnosed now that more information is known about the condition.
Drug therapy is the most common treatment option with drugs that affect the central nervous system at
the center of options. Pfizer’s Lyrica is the most prescribed drug for fibromyalgia pain.
Migraine
Headache is one of the most common pains experienced by humankind. Headache can be a symptom of
a serious disease or a condition in itself—one that is not fatal but is severe enough to make the person
feel miserable and be incapacitated. Headaches are painful, and the fact that they can be accompanied
by convulsions, confusion, loss of consciousness, fever, stiff neck, slurred speech and weakness, makes
them more unbearable and affects quality of life.
According to a CDC report and the National Headache Foundation, about 55 million people in the U.S.
suffer from chronic headaches—one in six Americans. Of these, between 65% and 70% are classified as
migraines. This includes a figure for school-age children, which have an incidence of headaches of about
20%. It is estimated that 90% of people experience a headache—mild to severe—at some time each
year.
Migraines involve changes in the blood pressure of the vessels serving the head. Migraines are
considered chronic. Genetic factors are involved in determining who will have migraines, but there are
more factors involved.
Global estimates for headaches show nearly half of the population suffers from a headache at least once
each year. For about 10% of the global population, migraines affect daily activities and quality of life. In
HIV/AIDS
Approximately 2.1 million people worldwide were newly infected with HIV in 2014. Despite the 2 million
plus number of new infections, there has been an overall decrease in infections over the past years,
declining from 3 million in 2001 to 2.7 million in 2008 and 2.5 million in 2011. About 37 million people
are currently living with the disease, with 1.1 million deaths (2015). Death rates associated with
HIV/AIDS has also declined over the past decade. The World Health Organization reports about 70% of
those living with HIV are in African regions.
In the United States, HIV was first identified in 1981. During the 1980s, the spread of the virus was at its
peak, with about 150,000 people infected per year. In the 1990s, that number fell to roughly 40,000
infections per year. In 2000 and later, the number has stayed close to 35,000 to 40,000. In 2015, there
were 39,513 people diagnosed with HIV infection in the United States according to the CDC. The CDC
currently estimates that the number of people living with HIV or AIDS in the United States is
approximately 1.2 million and one in eight of those are unaware of their disease.
Acetaminophen is one of the most common painkillers used. It is an OTC product and hence is freely
available in drug stores without the need for a physician’s prescription. It has always been a first line of
treatment for mild forms of cold and fever. Acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, is available under
many brand names worldwide. The market-leading branded acetaminophen is Tylenol, manufactured by
Johnson & Johnson, although many varieties of acetaminophen are available on the market.
Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to control mild to moderate pain. NSAIDs act
primarily by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. In lower doses, NSAIDs have analgesic properties; in
higher doses, there is anti-inflammatory action in addition to analgesic activity. The principal uses of
NSAIDs are control of moderate pain associated with dysmenorrhea, musculoskeletal disorders,
postoperative pain and migraine pain. NSAIDs, like aspirin, inhibit platelet aggregation with resulting
increased bleeding time. Common side effects include gastrointestinal disturbances, dizziness, tinnitus
and headache. Examples of NSAIDs used for pain control are as follows:
• Celecoxib (Celebrex) is primarily indicated for treating osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).
• Etodolac (Lodine), which is indicated for acute and long-term use in the management of
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Indomethacin (Indocin), which is an indoleacetic acid derivative with analgesic and anti-inflammatory
properties.
Several products are used in pain management to enhance analgesic efficacy, treat concurrent
symptoms and provide independent analgesia for specific types of pain. These products include the
following:
• Anticonvulsants such as Neurontin, Dilantin and Tegretol are used as adjuncts in managing
neuropathic pain.
• Antihistamines such as Vistaril produce a mild sedating effect that is useful in treating the
anxious patient experiencing pain.
• Antianxiety agents such as Xanax and Klonopin are used as adjuncts for patients experiencing
moderate to severe pain.
• Medical cannabis.
• Capsaicin-derived.
• Menthol-containing.
• Omega 3 fatty acid-containing.
• Botulinum toxin.
Combined these segments accounted for a market valued at $9.9 billion worldwide in 2017. The market,
despite its size, is just a fraction of the total conventional pain management market, exceeding $50
billion annually.
Medical Cannabis
There is an expanding list of ailments that cannabis is being used to treat. Medical cannabis is currently
used to treat the following conditions (not a comprehensive list):
• Asthma/respiratory disorders.
• Crohn’s disease and similar gastrointestinal conditions.
• Glaucoma.
• Hepatitis.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Insomnia.
• Nausea.
• Pain.
• Psychological conditions (anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome).
• Seizures.
The market for medical cannabis in pain treatment has developed into a large market opportunity with
it continuing to increase in value over the forecast period. Several factors are driving the market,
including the overall effectiveness of cannabis in treating pain symptoms but also the growing
acceptance by the medical community and world governments. Relaxed laws regarding the medicinal
use of the substance overcomes the major hurdles to the industry’s limited market opportunities.
Other pain
27.0%
Cancer pain
7.0% Orthopedic/musculoskeletal
pain
Neuropathic pain
9.0%
Capsaicin-derived Therapies
Capsaicin-derived therapies have been used for decades to treat pain. However, until recent years it was
only used by a small percentage of the population and was largely non-existent in conventional medical
professional discussions. More advanced research studies have discovered that many of the older
treatments lacked dosages needed to provide the most effective result. Currently, several clinical trials
are underway involving the use of capsaicin, including both transdermal patches and topical creams.
Table 22
Global Market Shares of Capsaicin-derived Pain Treatments, by Indication, 2017
(%)
The market will be influenced by the growing aging population and the incidence of diseases associated
with this demographic. Additionally, the rising rate of obesity, nutritional deficiencies and chronic
diseases will create a stable market environment over the 2017-2022 period.
Table 23
U.S. Market for Allergan’s Botox, by Treatment Area, 2016
($ Millions/%)
Value Share
Treatment Area
($ Millions) (%)
Botox therapeutics 1,512 54
Botox cosmetic 1,209 43
Botox hyperhidrosis* 65 2
Total 2,786 100
*U.S. Sales only included; International sales included in Botox Therapeutic sales.
Drivers
Restraints
•Government regulation
•Abuse in recreational use of cannabis
•Many alternative therapies not FDA or CE approved
• Australia.
• Canada.
• Colombia.
• Germany.
• Israel.
• Mexico.
• Poland.
• Puerto Rico.
• Spain.
• Turkey.
• United States.
• Uruguay.
Additionally, several countries state that it is illegal to possess, sell, transport or cultivate any form of
cannabis, but decriminalize the use of cannabis for medicinal use or for very small quantities.
Table 24
Adoption of Medical Cannabis, by Select Country (Age 15 and Over), 2017
(%/Thousands)
Patents Overview
Patents are granted in most developed countries around the world to protect the intellectual property
used in the development or design of a product. A patent is essentially a property right granted by a
patent authority. It allows an inventor or an assigned company to protect an applicable invention from
infringement. The patent term in the U.S. is 20 years from the date of filing. In some cases, the date an
earlier related patent was filed also applies. A patent holder must also notify others of the patent
protection it holds on a product by displaying the word “patent” and the patent number.
Figure 14
Total U.S. Patents on Non-opioid Pain Treatments, by Type, Through 2017
(Number/% Share of Total)
Capsaicin
#1,407 Medical Marijuana
13% #4,850
44%
Topical Analgesics
#3,394
30%
Source: USPTO
• The largest share of non-opioid pain relief patents comes from the various stages of cannabis for
medicine production. From growing to manufacturing, cannabis patents run the gamut and just
over 4,800 patents have been listed since 1976.
• The second largest category of patents are topical analgesics for pain relief. With products like
menthol containing rubs and oils, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has around 3,400
different patents registered.
• The third type of alternative pain relief is capsaicin-containing products. Currently, 1,400 patents
are listed.
• The fourth biggest group is botulinum toxin-containing medical treatments. Currently, 800
different patents have been granted on medicines using the toxin.
• The smallest group of patents belongs to acupuncture and its use in pain relief. There are 630
patents related to acupuncture and its industry.
Changes in government regulation regarding alternative treatments, such as medical cannabis, are
expected to continue. Relaxed regulation regarding the use of both the medical and recreational use of
cannabis show a growing acceptance of the substance in general, and is predicted to improve further in
the future.
The health industry is shifting to a patient outcomes-based treatment system, building guidelines for
treatment and compensating payors based on performance measurements. A focus on patient
outcomes research is expected to provide a platform for alternative therapies for chronic ailments like
pain, thus boosting the growth of non-opioid pain management agents.
Introduction
Study Goals and Objectives
The single blood drop analysis market is expected to grow modestly during the forecast period. The
report will include single blood drop analysis equipment, processes, reagents and various factors that
provide insights into the single blood drop analysis market. Recent developments, patent analyses, new
technologies and innovations are included in the study to understand this exclusive market. The report
also targets various government regulations and policies, research and development (R&D) exploration,
government programs, and campaigns and more to deduce market trends and scope of the single blood
drop analysis market.
The analysis of a single drop of blood can determine the presence of diseases such as diabetes,
HIV/AIDS, malaria, dengue, cancer, cardiovascular, viral and bacterial infections and more. The
capabilities and possibilities of this new technology create the scope of the market for single blood drop
analysis. Blood analysis is essential for diagnoses, patient monitoring, drug response and drug
discoveries. Conventionally, blood analysis is performed in a lab or diagnostic centers; however, single
blood drop analysis technology is capable of providing test results anywhere at any time. The
advantages of this new technology could change the entire blood analysis market. Single drop blood
analysis could impact the healthcare system in remote areas and underdeveloped countries. Currently,
the single blood drop analysis tests are becoming more popular in the detection of various diseases and
no longer limited to diabetes patient monitoring. BCC Research’s goal in conducting this study is to
provide an overview of the current and future characteristics of the global market for single blood drop
analysis equipment and technologies.
This report explores the present and future strategies within the single blood drop analysis/low
volumetric blood analysis technology market, divided by diagnoses, patient and drug response
monitoring. The market outlook along with its setbacks and needs are discussed in this report.
Classifications and usage of single blood drop analysis products are also described in this study. In
addition, various patents, innovations, recent developments and other relevant information are also
discussed at length.
The report provides a detailed analysis of the single blood drop analysis technology. The revenues are
broken down by region while sales figures are estimated for the ten-year period from 2017 through
2027. The applications of single blood drop analysis are discussed separately in the report.
Moreover, considerable R&D spending, along with increasing competition and new technologies are
giving direction to the market. These advancements, new product launches, and changing lifestyles are
influencing future market growth. This study looks at almost all the systems affected by these factors.
Merger and acquisition strategies and collaborations by companies are also covered in this report.
Additionally, this study also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy type in light of the
new technologies, growing competition and changing customer needs.
Scope of Report
The scope of this study entails the current market for blood analyzers, especially the single blood drop
analyzer. The report also includes regulatory aspects, current and developing technologies, market
projections and market share. An analysis of patents, clinical trials, innovations and opportunities, as
well as the latest trends are also discussed. The report intends to explain the key trends of blood
analysis technologies. It discusses the market determinants that act as motivating and restraining factors
and provides insights to stakeholders and potential entrants. The report will be a key decision-making
tool for the intended audience which includes blood analysis equipment manufacturers, POC device
manufacturers, biochemical sensor manufacturers, angel investors, potential entrants and so forth. This
study contributes to the areas of market growth among single blood drop analyzers and related
technology manufacturers. Genomic research centers, academic institutions, government and private
laboratories, various hospital settings as well as pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology
companies and physicians will find this study to be of interest.
In order to provide a better understanding of the market, the report is divided into segments based on
applications, technology, end user, and geography. The technologies segment includes blood collection,
blood analyzers, and consumable technologies; the applications section includes diagnostic testing for
various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, viral or bacterial infection, fertility, and allergy.
Additionally, the report also focuses on patient monitoring and drug response monitoring. The report
provides regional insight of leading market segments. Geographically, the global market is divided into
North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Rest of World. Further, the country-level market is
analyzed according to its geographical region.
The report provides useful information to all the market players, potential entrants, government
agencies and other interested parties. As the report also covers various geographic regions in detail,
companies interested in expanding their geographic reach will also find the report useful.
Sales data for the global and regional markets were corroborated for the present and forecasted values
based on statistical analysis. Regions are categorized into the U.S., Europe and the emerging markets of
India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The application of
single blood drop analysis in various diseases is discussed from both a commercial and R&D perspective.
Key players involved in the single blood drop analysis market were surveyed to obtain data for this
study. Companies involved in blood analyzer technology including sensor manufacturers were also
surveyed to obtain insightful information. Data were also gathered from various other industry sources.
In addition, the author interviewed industry officials, consulted newsletters, company literature,
product literature and various technical articles, journals, indexes and abstracts. Exhaustive
investigations of databases by key terminology were completed. In addition, data were compiled from
current financial, trade and government sources.
The information collected was utilized to derive the forecast numbers. The data collected was further
validated by industry participants via phone, email, and Skype interviews.
Methodology
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this study. BCC Research
conducted a comprehensive literature search, which included technical newsletters, journals, and many
other sources. Data were collected through interviews and correspondence with manufacturers and
users of single blood drop analyzers. Projections were based on estimates such as the current number of
end users, potential end users, mergers and acquisitions, and market trends.
The annual revenues of major blood analyzer manufacturers, annual reports and forward-looking
statements as well as government data for blood analysis were analyzed to derive the size of the
market. Key information from published literature was used to conduct interviews with a number of
industry participants to validate and obtain expert opinions on current and future trends in the single
blood drop analysis market. Interviews were the primary basis for information regarding the
development of market size and were obtained by email and telephone. Interviews were also used to
confirm and adjust market size and market share estimates, as well as in formulating market
projections.
Geographic Breakdown
In this report, the geographic regions considered for market analysis include, and only include:
North America
o The United States.
o Canada.
Europe
o The United Kingdom.
o France.
o Germany.
o Italy.
Asia
o China.
o India.
o Japan.
Analyst’s Credentials
Anuj Pathak is a market research analyst and holds an MBA and BSc from Devi Ahilya University (Indore,
India) in computer management with an emphasis on the healthcare field as well as information and
communication technologies (ICT). The analyst has applied his extensive knowledge of the healthcare
industry to a variety of projects across various domains including the pharmaceutical, medical device,
biotechnology, and the surgical instrument markets as well as other niche markets.
Philips, and Becton Dickinson (BD) are already performing well in the diabetes care market. In the
current market scenario, single blood drop analysis is not limited to diabetes testing and monitoring. A
variety of tests can be performed on a single drop of blood. For example, i-STAT, a POC designed by
Abbott can perform 26 tests by analyzing chemistries, electrolytes, hematology and blood gasses from
single blood drop. Presently, single blood drop tests are becoming more popular and attracting
investors. In 2016, Genalyte, a startup engaged in single blood drop analysis, received $36 million in
funding. Additionally, 1Drop Diagnostics received several investments from 2015 to 2017. During 2015,
it received $350,000, and in 2016, it received another $924,000 from an undeclared source. With its
testing kits, 1Drop facilitates the early detection, prevention and management of disease, thus enabling
individuals to live better lives.
Theranos, once a popular and pioneering company in this market, received overall funding of around
$800 million. However, the company did not perform well in the market and failed. The failure of
Theranos did not affect the growth of the market and many new players, mainly startups such as
Genalyte, Nueon Inc., 1Drop Diagnostics, GRAIL, Graphene Frontiers, Karius Inc., and Seventh Sense
Biosystems have entered the market since. Apart from these new entrants, some well-established
players such as Abbott, Philips, BD, Bayer, Roche, Siemens Healthcare, Danaher, and Alere are actively
participating in the market to bring new technologies.
The single blood drop analysis test has various advantages over conventional lab testing; however, there
is a question on the accuracy of these tests. The reliability issue is a major restraining factor in this
market. Government regulations and the product approval process also act as restraints in the market.
Currently, many individual or pre-defined group of tests can be performed using single blood drop;
however, a single drop cannot perform all the tests.
The factors that drive the single drop blood analysis market include the cost-effectiveness of the
technology, equipment cost, and the cost of consumables. The complete test cost is much less
compared to conventional tests. In conventional testing, various factors that increase the cost such as
equipment cost, wages of trained professionals, sample collection and transportation expenses. On the
other hand, single blood drop analysis can be performed at home without the need of a trained
professional, there is no need to transport the sample to the lab, and most single blood drop analysis
devices provide instant results. The rising prevalence of diseases such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS,
cardiovascular, cancer, viral and bacterial infections are also driving the market growth.
Other restraining market factors include lack of awareness, specificity of the test, accuracy, and
regulations. Most of the single blood drop analysis tests are disease-specific; for example, a device
designed for HIV will only look for HIV. Single blood drop analysis devices only diagnose a set of
predefined diseases. Another consideration is that a test conducted from capillary blood may not be
For the purposes of this report, the market has been segmented by application, end users, and
technology. By application, the market is divided into diagnosis, patient monitoring, and drug response.
The technologies market is segmented into blood collection, blood analyzers, and consumables. For end
users, the market is divided into hospitals, clinics, individuals, labs and pathology, and R&D
organizations. In the end-user segment, the individual segment, which had the highest market share in
2016 with 69.7%, is estimated to fuel the growth of the market with 71.4% of the market share in 2027.
There are mainly two types of sensors, chemical and biosensors, being used in the single blood drop
analyzer which detects antigens, bacteria, microbes and specific blood compounds. The chemical
sensors are utilized to convert chemical information into useful signals that are used in the detection of
antigens present in the solution. The devices that capture the biological signal convert it into a
noticeable electrical signal, known as a biosensor. A biosensor contains the mix of organic elements such
as microbial, DNA, RNA, proteins, and chemicals for the electrochemical transducers to recognize and
watch for certain natural analytes, for example, a counteracting agent antigen connection.
Geographically, North America is expected to dominate the market due to the technological
advancement and infrastructure capability. Additionally, North America is home to many leading as well
as emerging players. In the longer run, developing regions such as Asia-Pacific and Africa will dominate
the market. A major portion of the population in these regions are undiagnosed for various diseases due
to lack of resources and infrastructure. Cost-cutting technologies, such as single blood drop analysis, are
expected to improve the healthcare system in these regions. Single blood drop tests for Zika, dengue,
HIV, sepsis, pregnancy, allergies, cancer and heart disease are expected to improve the rate diagnosis in
these regions.
Table 25
Global Market for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Application, Through 2027
($ Millions)
CAGR%
Application 2016 2017 2027
2017-2027
Patient monitoring 7,605 8,134 18,473 8.5
Diagnosis 676 874 5,933 21.1
Drug response monitoring 169 192 734 14.4
Total 8,450 9,200 25,140 10.6
20,000
18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
$ Millions
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2016 2017 2027
Biosensors
The device that captures the biological signal and converts it into a detectable electrical signal is known
as a biosensor. The purpose of the biosensor is to produce a digital electronic signal which is
proportional to the concentration of a specific chemical or set of chemicals. This emerging technology
crosses conventional tools and offers a powerful new tool. Biosensors contain a combination of
biological elements such as microbial, DNA, RNA, proteins, and enzymes to the electrochemical
transducers to detect and observe certain biological analytes such as antibody-antigen interaction.
There are several types of biosensors that are employed in the fields of biomedical, environmental and
food industries successfully and which are used to detect and remove certain non-living or living entities
Many companies such as Roche and HICOMP MicroTech Co. Ltd. are manufacturing biosensors for
cancer detection, glucose level monitoring, insulin level detection, and more. In 2015, Roche and
BioMed X collaborated to develop nanomaterial-based biosensors for near-patient testing. Other
companies such as LifeScan Inc., Abbot, and Bayer are using biosensors in their blood analysis products.
Table 26
Applications of Biosensor in Healthcare
Application Description
The biosensors are generally recognized for measuring blood gases, ions and
Measurement of metabolites metabolites. Biosensors allow for a better estimation of the metabolic state
of a patient.
Biosensors are widely used in the diagnosis of diabetes across the globe.
Diabetic patients have a lack of insulin, which is essential in the metabolism
of a number of carbon sources. Due to this deficiency, various metabolic
Diabetes
abnormalities happen including higher than normal blood glucose levels. The
biosensor detects the deficiency of insulin in the human blood and notifies
the patient.
The glucose in the blood has been estimated on finger-prick blood samples
with a colorimetric test strip, or more recently, with an amperometric pen-
Insulin therapy size biosensor device operated by the patients themselves. The insulin
diagnostic kits are portable, very simple to use, and require minimum of
expert interpretation.
The closed-loop system becomes an artificial pancreas, where the glycemic
Artificial pancreas
control is achieved through an implantable glucose sensor.
The single drop blood test can be used to diagnose various types of allergies in a person. Generally,
diagnosis takes place with a skin test (scratch test) which can be itchy and uncomfortable, or by drawing
blood. However, in May 2017, a new blood test called the Allergy Pro was made available in Bellaire, the
Woodlands, and Lake Jackson, Texas. Allergies can be 70 environmental allergens and 50 food allergens.
The test can identify more than 100 allergens, and with four drops of blood, up to 120 allergens can be
confirmed.
The single drop blood test is also finding opportunities in the diagnosis of cancer. There are more than
100 types of known cancer. In 2017, a team of researchers in Japan directed by the National Cancer
Center (NCC) in Tokyo, Japan with Toray Industries Inc., and other institutions, has worked on the
diagnosis of cancer. They have developed a new method for the diagnosis of 13 different cancer types
with just a single drop of blood. This method detects differences in microRNA (miRNA). It can find the
alteration between healthy cells and cancer cells. The method is able to detect severe cancers including
cancers in the breast, lung, stomach, colorectal tract, esophagus, liver, and pancreas.
The miRNA cancer detection rate is more than 95% accurate. Due to the introduction of this new
method, it is possible to detect cancer at the early stages of development. The chances of survival in a
cancer patient will increase if the diagnosed in the initial stage. Similar technology for detecting cancer
through miRNA is being actively followed in Europe; however, there haven’t been any studies where
research was conducted on patients as in Japan. The researchers are preparing the test for government
approval, and it is expected that it will be launched commercially in the next three years.
POC technology includes blood glucose testing, rapid coagulation testing, rapid cardiac markers
diagnostics, fecal occult blood analysis, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, pregnancy testing,
hemoglobin diagnostics (HemoCue), infectious disease testing, and cholesterol screening. The POCT is
carried through the use of portable, easier to transport and handle instruments like the blood glucose
meter and other test kits such as the CRP, HBA1C, Homocysteine, HIV salivary assay and more.
In addition, the POCT method is less expensive compared to conventional testing methods for many
diseases which majorly include diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and acute coronary syndrome.
The POCT provides diagnosis results immediately in an electronic medical record, and hence results can
be shared instantaneously with medical professionals. The POCT has a vital application in disaster
situations such as floods, earthquakes and other catastrophic events along with the treatment of
military personnel in remote fields where the requirement for fast action is even more critical.
Finger Prick
The finger-prick method is a type of blood test conducted on venous blood obtained by a fingerstick,
and the blood is captured in a capillary tube. This method is basically used in adults for collecting blood
samples and a heel prick is employed for use in infants, which is less painful. This method of blood
collection is performed when a small amount of blood is adequate for needed tests. Finger-prick blood
tests offer low-pain and low-drain blood diagnostics, making patient care more pleasant.
Many practitioners may use a syringe-needle technique for venepuncture, which involves puncturing in
the vein to draw blood for collection. This process consists of evacuated tube system with a needle, tube
holder and evacuated tubes. The needle is attached to the tube holder by the needle practitioner post
blood collection.
Diagnosis
Point-of-care technology for cancer diagnosis is boosting the growth of the market. North America is
expected to dominate the market for single blood drop cancer diagnosis due to the extensive research
ongoing in this region. Many major companies are U.S.-based, and the company that introduced the
concept and technology for single drop testing was U.S.-based Theranos.
Genalyte, a start-up company, is bringing a technology platform that counts the binding of biomolecules
including proteins, antibodies, etc. to silicon photonic biosensors. Its technology is being used by various
Currently, single blood drop testing technologies are available for HIV and the Zika virus. Additionally,
diarrhea-causing diseases are highly infectious and a significant danger to the health of immune-
compromised or elderly patients; such infections can be life-threatening when not caught in time to
allow for appropriate therapy. Alere provides diagnostic products for detecting infectious bacteria.
Alere’s HIV diagnosis product, SD BIOLINE HIV/Syphilis Duo test, is an immunochromatographic assay for
the qualitative detection of antibodies to all isotypes and can detect HIV with single blood drop. Alere
additionally provides lab-based analyzers for blood analysis called Alere q analyzer that provides POC
results in real-time.
Patient Monitoring
Patient monitoring has become a crucial factor in providing efficient healthcare in both healthcare
facilities and the home to the population. Routine cholesterol monitoring and blood glucose monitoring
for keeping these diseases in check has become important. Patient parameters such as heart rate and
rhythm, respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood-oxygen saturation, and many other parameters have
become a common feature of care for critically ill patients. Patient monitoring plays an important role
when accurate and immediate decision-making is required for the further diagnosis of a specific disease,
and electronic monitors are frequently used to collect and display physiological data.
• With technological advancements, patient monitoring has been made possible. Data is collected
using non-invasive sensors from less seriously ill patients in a hospital’s medical-surgical units,
labor and delivery suites, nursing homes, or in patients’ homes to detect unexpected life-
threatening conditions, or to record routine and required data efficiently. The Apollo Dx
monitoring platform is one such example that uses mobile-based technology to deliver results
with a single drop of blood. Increasing rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart
problems are a serious concern due to lack of sufficient facilities and extremely high cost.
• Increasing rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart problems in the aging population
are becoming severe and require patient monitoring systems. The situation is difficult for the
people residing in remote areas far from medical facilities as delays in diagnosis and treatment
may lead to mortalities. Timely diagnosis and treatment is enabled with effective patient
monitoring.
Competitive Lanscape
Single drop blood testing as a point-of-care technology is widely accepted for glucose monitoring in
blood. Hence, companies are developing similar devices for the diagnosis of the other diseases such as
tuberculosis, malaria, sepsis, cancer, HIV and so on. Companies are also investing in significant research
in regular cholesterol monitoring as a point-of-care technology. A number of companies, startups, and
universities are investing time and money in the discovery of new devices or increasing the accuracy of
the product, and it is expected that new products with better accuracy will be approved by the
government and will be launched during the forecast period.
Table 28
Approved Products for the Single Blood Drop Analysis Technology Industry
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 100
Company Date Description
the requirement of fingerprick.
The company received FDA approval for its Enlite Sensor for use with the iPro2
September
Professional Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system. The Enlite sensor is a
2016
disposable glucose sensor which can be worn up to six days to provide better comfort.
Medtronic
Guardian (TM) Connect mobile continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system received
PLC
the CE mark of approval for people with diabetes using insulin injection therapy. It is
July 2016
Medtronics' first smartphone-enabled CGM system. The product had been launched
in European countries in the second quarter of 2017.
One Drop announced Health Canada approval for One Drop | Chrome in November
November 2017. One Drop's complete diabetes management platform is now available
One Drop
2017 throughout the U.S., E.U., Canada and the U.K. It is now bringing affordable, accessible
and clinically effective diabetes care to people in 30 countries.
January The company received its second FDA clearance for the modified version of its novel,
Velano
2016 needle-free blood draw device.
Vascular
February The company received its third FDA approval for its product, PIVO, a needle-free
Inc.
2017 blood device.
Patent Analysis
Patent analysis is a tool to analyze the recent developments and interests of the key players. It provides
the knowledge of competitor’s technology and the product or service development process. Interpreting
patent information into focused knowledge enables the firm to measure its present specialized
intensity, to figure technological patterns, and to plan for potential rivalry in light of new innovations.
The patent by technology for the single blood drop analysis has been categorized by blood analyzer,
blood collection technology, low volumetric testing, POC devices, and sensor technology. The patent
numbers have been increasing with every year as there has been much technological development. The
patent for blood collection technology is increasing as it has been as easy for an individual to collect and
send in for testing, the new blood collection technology is painless and can be easily utilized. In 2015, 12
patents were published, and in 2016, the number was 14. Until November 2017, around 12 patents
were awarded to innovative companies and the research institutes.
Table 29
Patent for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Technology, 2015–2017
Source: Google Patents, Free Patent Online, BCC Research (*Note: The data were recorded until
November 2017)
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 101
Several companies that are developing new technologies include Abbott, DNT Scientific Research LLC,
Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co. Ltd., and others. The market players have been developing new
technologies. The technologies have been developed for testing of the diseases using low volumes of
blood.
Table 30
Patent for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Assignee, 2015–2017
Source: Google Patents, Free Patent Online, BCC Research (*Note: The data were recorded until
November 2017)
There has been a total of 35 patents registered in the U.S. that includes 12 patents in the year 2015, 12
patents registered in the year 2016 and 11 in the until Nov. 2017. The U.S. is considered to have the
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 102
largest number of patents registered as there are several key players that are U.S.-based. Several startup
companies are receiving funding, and there has been noted technological development. Several
research and development projects are ongoing in the U.S. The healthcare expenditures in the U.S. are
considered to be higher as compared to that of Europe.
Table 31
Patents for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Patent Office, 2015–2017
Source: Google Patents, Free Patent Online, BCC Research (*Note: The data has been recorded until
November 2017)
Table 32
Patent for Single Blood Drop Analysis, by Technology, 2015–2017
Source: Google Patents, Free Patent Online, BCC Research (*Note: The data were recorded until
November 2017)
Several companies that are developing new technologies include Abbott, DNT Scientific Research LLC,
Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co. Ltd., and others. The market players have been developing new
technologies. The technologies have been developed for testing of the diseases using low volumes of
blood.
There has been a total of 35 patents registered in the U.S. that includes 12 patents in the year 2015, 12
patents registered in the year 2016 and 11 in the until Nov. 2017. The U.S. is considered to have the
largest number of patents registered as there are several key players that are U.S.-based. Several startup
companies are receiving funding, and there has been noted technological development. Several
research and development projects are ongoing in the U.S. The healthcare expenditures in the U.S. are
considered to be higher as compared to that of Europe.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 103
Future Outlook
Companies are expected to continue to invest in the single blood drop diagnosis market globally to find
new methods of diagnosis for different diseases. Various companies and universities are researching on
a single drop blood test for different diseases which includes cancer, tuberculosis (TB), HIV AIDS, and
more. New devices such as the Marti TB Diagnostic which is used for TB single drop blood analysis, is
under development and expected to launch in 2019. Due to the wide scope of opportunities in remote
areas of developing and under-developed countries, the companies are targeting these areas to produce
cost-effective devices along with POC technology. Remote areas with a lack of infrastructure are
considered as great opportunities for the market. Additionally, POC devices being developed for
individuals show great potential for growth in this market.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 104
Chapter 8
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 105
Chapter 8: Cognitive Computing and
Artificial Intelligence Systems Market
in Healthcare (HLC208A)
Introduction
Study Goals and Objectives
• Define as well as identify key market segments and the market structure of cognitive computing
and artificial intelligence systems in healthcare technologies.
• Measure as well as estimate the global market for cognitive computing and artificial intelligence
systems in healthcare and its market segments by cognitive systems type and geographic
segmentation.
• Identify key market dynamics and the factors impacting the global market for cognitive
computing and artificial intelligence systems in healthcare and its subsegments.
• Focus exclusively on segmentation based on offering, technology, application, end users and
geography. Analyze trends and opportunities in the major regions of North America, Europe,
Asia and the Rest of the World (ROW).
• Identify major stakeholders, product portfolio and recent developments as well as draw a
competitive landscape of the market leaders.
Scope of Report
This research report presents an in-depth analysis of the global market for cognitive computing and
artificial intelligence systems in healthcare by offering, technology, application, end users and
geographic markets. The report includes key factors driving growth of cognitive computing and artificial
intelligence systems in healthcare. The report discusses the role of supply chain members ranging from
manufacturers to researchers. The report has an in-depth analysis of key companies operating in the
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 106
global market for cognitive computing and artificial intelligence systems in healthcare. The report’s
in-depth patent analysis will focus on providing extensive technological trends across years and
geographies such as the U.S., Europe and China.
The market for cognitive computing and artificial intelligence systems in healthcare is mainly segmented
into five major components: type of offering, technology, application, end user and geography. Based on
offering, the market is segmented into hardware, software and services.
Based on technology, the market is categorized into natural language processing, context aware
processing, deep learning and querying method. The market is classified by applications into robot-
assisted surgery, preliminary diagnosis, clinical trial participant identifier, dosage error reduction, virtual
nursing assistant, administrative workflow assistance, fraud detection and others. Based on end users,
the market is divided into healthcare provider, pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, patient and
payer. The market is segmented by region into the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and ROW.
The geographic segmentation was assessed through various parameters such as the number of players
in a particular region, incidence and prevalence rates, the extent of research activity occurring in that
geography and future potential.
Geographic Breakdown
In this report, the geographic regions considered for market analysis include and only include:
North America
• United States.
• Mexico.
• Canada.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 107
Europe
• U.K.
• France.
• Germany.
• Rest of Europe.
Asia
• China.
• Japan.
• India.
• Australia.
• Rest of Asia-Pacific.
Analyst’s Credentials
Sangeeta Rai is a senior researcher who has analyzed and forecasted healthcare and advanced chemicals
markets since 2011. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biotechnology and a Master of Business
Administration in marketing. Prior to joining BCC Research, she has held senior research roles at Global
Data and Infinity Research. Sangeeta Rai is a pseudonym of the author.
Report Summary
Artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive technologies have gained significant traction and have been
more widely adopted in recent years. Increased adoption of cognitive and AI platforms can be attributed
to their wide application potential across the healthcare industry, including patients and hospitals.
Major market players such as IBM, Microsoft and Google have made significant investments in finding
healthcare uses for cognitive computing and providing a platform for various startup firms that create
specialized applications.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 108
The cognitive healthcare industry represents a new partnership between human beings and technology
that has the potential to transform healthcare on a global scale. Cognitive systems that understand,
reason and learn are assisting people expand their knowledge base, improve their productivity and
deepen their expertise. This has proven extremely useful in various areas of the healthcare industry.
With the increasing integration of cognitive computing, users can now see health data that were
previously inaccessible which can in turn can have a great impact on the healthcare industry by greatly
improving patient care.
The market for cognitive computing and AI in healthcare is segmented based on type of offering,
technology, application, end user and region. The market by type of offering is classified into hardware,
software and services. Whereas, based on technology, the market is classified natural language
processing, context aware processing, deep learning and querying method. Further, based on
application the market is categorized into robot assisted surgery, virtual nursing assistants,
administrative workflow assistance, fraud detection, dosage error reduction, clinical trial participant
identifier, preliminary diagnosis and others. Moreover, based on end users, the market is divided into
healthcare providers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, patients and payers.
The research for cognitive computing and artificial intelligence systems in healthcare is being
increasingly utilized to improve efficiency of various healthcare applications such as diagnosis and
medical imaging.
Developed regions of North America show predominant application of cognitive computing and artificial
intelligence systems in healthcare, however, the developing regions of Asia-Pacific display lucrative
opportunities for the expansion of cognitive computing and artificial intelligence systems in healthcare.
Table 33
Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare,
by Region, Through 2022
($ Millions)
CAGR%
Region 2016 2017 2022
2017-2022
North America 789 1,152 7,104 43.9
Europe 462 679 4,333 44.9
Asia-Pacific 260 400 3,180 51.4
ROW 131 198 1,461 49.1
Total 1,642 2,429 16,078 45.9
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 109
Figure 16
Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare,
by Region, 2016–2022
($ Millions)
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
$ Millions
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2016 2017 2022
Cognitive Computing
Cognitive computing systems are developed for cognitive and perceptive knowledge processing. These
systems are based on contemporary denotational mathematics and are centered by the parallel
autonomous inference and perception mechanisms of the brain. Cognitive computing has helped in
designing next generation cognitive computers and autonomous intelligent systems that have the ability
to think and feel. These intelligent computing systems uses autonomous inferences and perceptions to
mimic the mechanism of the brain.
Computing technologies and systems can be classified into the following categories: imperative,
autonomic and cognitive. Imperative computing is a traditional technology and is passive in nature. This
technology is based on stored-program controlled behaviors for data processing. Autonomic computing
is a goal-driven technology and is capable of self-decision. It does not rely on instructive and procedural
information. When compared to imperative and autonomic computing, cognitive computing is a more
intelligent technology. It represents major natural intelligence behaviors of the brain such as inference,
learning, thinking and perceptions.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 110
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be defined as the use of computers to carry out tasks such as speech
recognition, decision-making, visual perception and translation between languages. Although AI
simulates human decision-making, it does not replace human intelligence. AI involves understanding
natural language that is written-out text. AI technology can be trained to make more logical decisions by
understanding natural language and generating hypotheses based on evidence and learning.
Figure 17
Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare Applications
Artificial intelligence systems have been designed Apps like Babylon, used in the U.K., integrate AI to
to analyze data that contain notes and reports offer medical consultation based on personal
from a patient’s file, external research and clinical medical history and common medical knowledge.
expertise to help select the correct, individually
customized treatment path.
Applications
In modern terms AI can be defined as an intelligent agent that acts within an environment to perform
successful actions. Some of the actions which artificial intelligence performs, but are not limited to, are
learning, reasoning, perception, problem solving and language-understanding.
• Learning: Learning is differentiated into various forms. The basic form of learning is trial-and-
error. It allows the user to perform tasks better in situations that it has not previously
encountered.
• Reasoning: Reasoning comprises drawing inferences which are applicable to the task or situation
at hand. However, it is challenging to develop AI with the capability to differentiate the relevant
from the irrelevant.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 111
• Perception: In perception-based actions, a situation is scanned by various sense organs, real or
artificial. It also processes the internal data to the perceiver and analyses the objects and their
features and relationships between objects.
• Problem solving: Various types of problems can be addressed in AI, but generally they fall into
two categories: special purpose and general purpose. A special-purpose method is also known
to be tailor made and only solves a specific problem, whereas the general-purpose method
solves problems in a step by step process.
The increasing availability of large data sets, such as the World Wide Web or genomic sequences, as well
as increased available computational power, has created opportunities for new AI methods that rely
more on data than on algorithms. For example, the traditional approach to answering a natural language
query from a data repository emphasized deep understanding of the query, which is a very complex
task. However, when the repository is as large as the World Wide Web, one may simply provide a
template for the answer, being very likely that it will be matched by some information on the web.
Progress in various areas of AI has led to a renewed interest in developing agents that integrate multiple
cognitive functions. This, in turn, has led to an understanding that various approaches and methods
developed in the isolated subfields of AI (natural language processing, knowledge representation,
problem solving and planning, machine learning, robotics, computer vision, etc.) need to be
interoperable to both facilitate and take advantage of their integration.
Other cognitive systems provide support for healthcare-payer customer service agents. With a corpus, a
large and structured set of texts, that contains more relevant information than people could possibly
consume and retain, these systems answer relevant questions and provide new insight about their
health. Discovery applications are used in situations such as drug discovery or to discover the optimal
treatment for a patient.
In both types of cases, the healthcare organization needs to begin by defining the end user of the
system, the types of questions that will be asked and the content that is required to build the knowledge
base for the system. The cognitive system is used to understand relationships and discover patterns in
data that may lead to improved healthcare outcomes.
Healthcare taxonomies and ontologies—a coding system or semantic network of medical terms and the
relationships among these terms—are important to the development of a corpus for cognitive
healthcare applications. These ontologies are used to map the relationships between terms with similar
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 112
meanings. There are many ontologies that are already widely used in healthcare to organize terminology
related to medical conditions, medical treatments, diagnostic tests, ingredients and dosing for clinical
drugs as well as drug complications.
One example of a medical ontology is the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The ICD‐10 is the
current version endorsed by the World Health Organization. However, it has not yet become the
standard in all countries. The ICD‐10 has become standard in the United States as of October 1, 2015.
The ICD includes codes for diseases, disease symptoms and medical findings about diseases. The ICD is
only one of many different taxonomies and ontologies in use across the healthcare ecosystem. To build
an efficient corpus for a healthcare application, one needs to find a common language to ensure that
data from different sources can be integrated and shared. Without a taxonomy of terms, the cognitive
system cannot learn as quickly, and the accuracy of results will be insufficient. Systems will miss a lot of
terms that have the same meaning.
Market by Technology
Artificial intelligence in healthcare uses algorithms and software to analyze complex medical data. Based
on technology, the market is categorized into deep learning, querying method, natural language
processing and context aware processing. As machine learning and deep learning capabilities of artificial
intelligence achieve better clinical outcomes during diagnosis and surgical procedures, it is expected to
grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Natural language processing is the largest
contributor towards the market growth, as it plays a vital role in decision-making processes of
healthcare professionals.
Natural language processing is a subset of AI, where the machine is programmed to understand and
interpret human language. This helps fill the communication gap between humans and computers. The
advancement in natural language processing is expected to enhance the interface between human and
machines using AI applications, which in turn improves patients’ ability to take charge of their health.
Natural language processing techniques can be used to extract actionable insights from complex and
varied data sets which may help to develop a new generation of clinical decision support tools.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 113
Figure 18
Segmentation of the Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems
in Healthcare, by Technology
Natural
language
processing
Context
Querying
Technology aware
method
processing
Deep
learning
Deep learning is a type of machine learning mechanism where the machine can learn from a variety of
data representations. These capabilities provide the possibility of using machines to improve care
provided to the patient, diagnostics and reproducibility in surgical procedures, which in turn, may
improve the probability of better clinical outcomes. This technology can also be used to generate
reports and perform administrative duties, increasing physicians’ time for patient care. In the querying
method, AI helps to understand and solve the query of the physician and patient regarding any health-
related problems.
Context aware processing is the ability of AI to adapt to changing circumstances and respond
accordingly to the situation. This may help anticipate immediate needs of patients depending on
situational and environmental information available. The technology utilizes various applications to
enhance the patient experience and provide the most appropriate approach to fulfil the needs of the
patient.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 114
Table 34
Global Market for Cognitive Computing and AI Systems in Healthcare,
by Technology, Through 2022
($ Millions)
CAGR%
Technology 2016 2017 2022
2017–2022
Natural language processing 824 1,212 7,766 45.0
Querying method 339 500 3,258 45.5
Context aware processing 316 469 3,159 46.4
Deep learning 163 248 1,895 50.2
Total 1,642 2,429 16,078 45.9
Government Regulations
A significant increase in the number of computer applications incorporating machine learning (ML) and
artificial intelligence (AI) techniques has been witnessed in recent years. AI and cognitive computing
platforms are designed to make interacting with devices increasingly seamless, which will ultimately
make technology easier to use while making humans more efficient in finding and managing
information. In addition, AI technologies have been largely adopted by government organizations for the
management of unprecedented amounts of available data.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 115
Figure 19
Emerging AI and Cognitive Computing Technologies and Government Implications
However, professionals have stated that the government should consider regulations for artificial
intelligence. This is attributed to the fact that artificial intelligence technologies may pose fundamental
existential risk for human civilization.
The pace of introducing AI and cognitive computing technologies to the market is accelerating and the
government must figure out an appropriate method to deal with it. The government must imply proper
regulations to harness opportunities and mitigate threats posed by AI technologies. If so, AI technologies
can help users overcome many of the healthcare industry’s severe challenges and improve people’s
lives. Thus, it is considered that AI can truly bring about transformation with its wide array of potential
applications, provided they are regulated with thoughtful foresight by the government.
Future Outlook
Increases in the processing power and capabilities of AI systems and the dearth of skilled healthcare
professionals are expected to drive market growth, whereas, limitations of AI decision-making and
limited acceptance from healthcare professionals due to risk of injury and misinterpretation are
expected to restrain the market growth. Conversely, application of AI for novel surgeries and screening
in conjunction with an untapped market in developing regions offer lucrative opportunities for market
expansion. Some of the future applications of AI and cognitive computing in healthcare application
include:
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 116
• Management of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Diagnosis predict treatment outcome and prognosis of various types of cancer such as breast
cancer and nonsmall cell lung cancers.
• Management of diabetic complications.
• Artificial neural network in diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 117
About BCC Research
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 118
About BCC Research
With our unparalleled 45-year history, BCC Research provides comprehensive analyses of global market
sizing, forecasting and industry intelligence, covering markets where advances in science and technology
are improving the quality, standard and sustainability of businesses, economies and lives.
BCC Membership
From market sizing and forecasts, to opportunity assessments and competitive analyses, our ever-
expanding library gives you the data, insights and intelligence required to ensure your project is a
success. Members benefit from ongoing, unlimited access to the category or collections of their choice,
and most membership packages pay for themselves within two to three reports being accessed.
Did you buy this report? You may qualify to apply your purchase price towards a full membership.
Call 866-285-7215 or email info@bccresearch.com to request a demo.
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 119
DISCLAIMER
The information developed in this report is intended to be as reliable as possible at the time of publication and is of a
professional nature. This information does not constitute managerial, legal or accounting advice, nor should it be considered as
a corporate policy guide, laboratory manual or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is speculative in
nature. BCC Research and the author assume no responsibility for any loss or damage that might result from reliance on the
reported information or from its use.
March 2019
© 2019 | BCC Research LLC HLC068G 2018 Healthcare Research Review | 120