Medical Device Link.

As a result of continuing high demand and innovation, medical electronics represents the fastest growing industrial semiconductor opportunity for suppliers, according to a recent report from Databeans, a market research firm focused on the semiconductor and electronics industry. The report says that the medical electronics market is estimated to be valued at $124.8 billion for 2009, and it is expected to reach a market size of about $208 billion by 2014, resulting in a growth rate of 7.2% over the next five years.

The report, “2009 Medical Semiconductors,” notes that the home, clinical, and imaging end-equipment segments are all requiring improved components with advanced performance characteristics, smaller sized packaging, lower power consumption, and cost-effectiveness. These requirements are leading to increases in profitability.

“Relative to the overall industrial market, the medical electronics market is a small, but attractive and growing, market of opportunity for suppliers as healthcare shifts toward home-based applications, and as new product development continues,” the report says. One major trend in medical electronics, it says, is the continued movement of patient care away from professional facilities, such as hospitals, and into the home environment. The report finds that although this shift comes as a by-product of advancing medical technology, it also is being driven by another trend. “From the healthcare provider point of view, the trend toward home patient care serves to improve the efficiency and reduce the costs incurred by doctors.”

An interesting finding is that, in general, electronic medical equipment is still manufactured within the same region of its intended use. It notes, however, that this is likely to change as the emerging countries become more developed with medical electronics implementation. It also points out that the Asia Pacific region is becoming a major manufacturing center for medical electronics, “perhaps someday having the same kind of impact upon medical as it has upon other markets.”

For more information on the report, go to www.databeans.net/reports/current_reports/IND_Medical.php.