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Minimally Invasive Surgery Creates Opportunity for New Surgical Technologies
Popularity of Minimally Invasive Surgery to Boost Prospects of Robot Assisted and Image Guided Technologies
Corresponding to the increasing preference for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been the growth in robot-assisted surgery (RAS) and image-guided surgery (IGS) technologies. The rising popularity of MIS has generated immense market potential for enabling technologies such as IGS and RAS that support increased accuracy levels and improved surgical outcomes.
For instance, image guided navigation enables the surgeon to manoeuvre through the body using three-dimensional (3D) navigation with images capable of being altered to provide greater detail. This allows for higher accuracy levels. Enhanced surgical outcomes include shorter operation times, minimal invasion into the body and quicker recovery time.
Such smaller, less invasive and more precise surgeries are likely to benefit patients unable to withstand major surgeries. At the same time, robotic assistants are likely to aid in the performance of steadier surgical techniques, decrease surgery times, guide more precise procedures and permit staff to carry out more dynamic tasks.
Currently, IGS is being deployed in neurological, orthopaedic, ENT surgeries, dental applications such as oral implantology and other emerging applications including maxillo-facial surgery. Robotic applications are presently designed for use in surgical procedures such as general, cardiac, orthopaedic and brain.
Superior surgical outcomes, the ability to go deeper and with more precision, overall technology advancements and increase in applications are expected to be key in promoting demand for IGS. "Assertive marketing and publicity campaigns, the prestige perceived in utilising the latest technology for surgery together with anticipated cost-efficiencies and streamlining of procedures are set to provide a further boost to market expansion," notes Kavitha Ravikumar, Research Analyst with global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan.
Improved precision levels in surgery are expected to be central to the popularity of RAS. The ability to build on a surgeon's skill even while reducing stress levels is likely to be key to RAS' increasing uptake. Freeing medical personnel for more productive jobs and compensating for staff shortages by performing peripheral tasks are likely to further underline its appeal. Potential expansion into tele-surgery and simulated learning and extending the reach to other procedures such as endoscopies are also likely to support adoption rates.
At present, image guidance is more popular than robotic assistants as the surgeon controls and performs the operation while using navigation to minimise errors and increase precision. Accordingly, the European IGS market was estimated at USD 93.6 million in 2004 with a compound annual growth rate of 13.9 per cent projected over 2004-2008. The USD 18 million European RAS market is forecast to grow at a much more sedate CAGR of 3.6 per cent from 2004 to 2008. The orthopaedic segment in image-guided surgery is currently the fastest growing and most promising.
One of the key deterrents to market growth is likely to be the high installation and capital equipment costs with many hospitals expecting free upgrades. Hospitals are also looking for open platforms that enable them to integrate products from different companies into the system.
"Further technological improvements, greater integration along with more open and flexible platforms are likely to broaden the number of application areas, thereby spurring market growth," says Ms. Ravikumar. "Manufacturers need to concentrate on surgical procedures where the product provides maximum benefit as well as clearly demonstrate how these products provide value for money in terms of investment versus outcome."
To justify high capital costs, technology, treatments and applications need to be more closely integrated to ensure enhanced results. The development of new surgical applications and performance of more clinical trials would also help emphasise how high outlays are more than compensated for in terms of improved outcomes.
At the same time, efforts must be made to provide simpler and more user-friendly technology that benefits both surgeons and patients. While easy-to-use technology is likely to positively impact acceptance and usage levels, such trends have to be reinforced by education and training programmes and on-site help during surgical procedures.
If you are interested in an analysis overview providing an introduction into the Strategic Analysis of the Image-Guided and Robot-Assisted Surgery Markets in Europe - then send an email to Katja Feick -Corporate Communications at
katja.feick@frost.com with the following information: Full name, Company Name, Title, Contact Tel Number, Email. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be emailed to you.
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