AIRWAY MANAGEMENT DEVICES MARKET ANALYSIS

Airway Management Devices Market Size and Trends

The Airway Management Devices Market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.41 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.71 Billion by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% from 2024 to 2031.

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The demand for emergency care devices is expected to increase owing to the rising incidence of chronic diseases, respiratory diseases, and accidents globally. Additionally, increasing investment by key players to develop advanced airway management devices and growing number of surgical procedures will further aid in the market growth. However, lack of skilled professionals and high costs associated with emergency care devices are factors challenging the market growth.

Increasing Incidence of Preterm Births and Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The rising incidence of preterm births and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome has been a major factor driving the demand for airway management devices. Preterm birth, which refers to babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, is rising worldwide. According to recent estimates by the World Health Organization, preterm births account for over 1 in 10 infants born globally each year. The highest preterm birth rates are found in North America and Africa. Several factors have contributed to this increasing trend including the rising prevalence of infertility treatments that result in multiple births, lifestyle changes such as delayed childbearing, and chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension in mothers. For instance, according to ACS estimates released in 2022, around 236,740 Americans were anticipated to receive a lung cancer diagnosis in that year. Suctioning becomes more necessary as the number of lung cancer cases is predicted to rise. Suctioning can help lung cancer patients who are experiencing a respiratory emergency avoid infection. Through the course of the forecast period, this is anticipated to boost the market growth.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

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Technological Advancements Leading to Product Innovations

The airway management devices market has seen significant progress in recent years, driven by ongoing advancements in product design and development. Key manufacturers have made substantial investments in research and development to bring forth innovative devices boasting enhanced safety, efficacy, and user-friendliness. Among the notable technological innovations are advanced ventilators featuring closed-loop volume guarantee and pressure control, which contribute to improved patient care and outcomes. For instance, in December 2021, the USFDA approved Olympus's Airway Mobile scopes, MAF-TM2, MAF-GM2, and MAF-DM2, allowing medical professionals to carry out a range of upper and lower airway management operations.

Key Takeaways of Analyst:

The airway management devices market is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period driven by the rising prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing number of general surgeries, and growing geriatric population worldwide prone to such diseases and conditions. Furthermore, technological advancements facilitating the ease of use and enhanced efficacy of airway management are expected to support market avenues. For instance, the recent introduction of flexible intubation scopes and video laryngoscopes have improved first-pass success rates for endotracheal intubation.

However, lack of skilled professionals for handling airway management equipment, stringent regulatory approvals for new products, and perceived risks of certain medical procedures hampering the adoption of airway management devices are expected to challenge market potential. High costs of innovative devices may also restrict market growth in price-sensitive developing regions.

The North America airway management devices market holds the dominant share currently owing to increasing healthcare expenditure and rapid uptake of advanced technologies. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness fastest gains over the forecast period creditable to rising medical tourism, growing disease burden, and improving access to healthcare in the region. Key players are advised to focus on enhancing their presence in Asia Pacific through tie-ups with regional distributors and low-cost product portfolio.

Market Challenge – Stringent Regulatory Approvals

Stringent regulatory approvals for airway management devices is one of the major factors restraining the growth of this market. These medical devices are used for lifesaving procedures and hence subjected to rigorous clinical testing and evaluation before being approved for patient use. The approval process involves pre-clinical testing on animal models to check for device functionality and biocompatibility. Only after successful animal studies, limited human clinical trials are permitted which takes around 1-2 years to collect adequate safety and efficacy data. During this time, companies cannot commercialize or market the devices. The clinical trial process requires enrolment of large number of patients across multiple hospitals which poses significant logistical and financial challenges for manufacturers.

Market Opportunity – Emerging Opportunities in the Airway Management Device Industry

A growing and aging global population will increase demand for emergencies and procedures requiring airway management. New entrant devices promising improved outcomes over existing products may see strong uptake if clinical trials are successful. There is also room for innovation in single-use devices for cost-savings and in portable devices suitable for pre-hospital settings.

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By Use: Growing preference for safer and cost-effective options drives the single use segment

In terms of Use, the Single Use segment contributes the highest share of the market 60.50% IN 2024 owing to growing preference for safer and more cost-effective options across healthcare facilities. Single use airway management devices eliminate the risk of cross-contamination associated with reusable devices. This is a major driver considering patient safety is the top priority in the medical industry. Single use variants also help reduce facility reprocessing costs as no sterilization or high-level disinfection is required between each use. Managing large volumes of patients more efficiently using disposable tools has significant return on investment benefits. Additionally, as invasive procedures continue rising globally due to growing disease incidence, demand for single use disposable variants will rise in tandem as they enable quick turnover and optimal workflow in packed schedules.

Insights, By Device Type: Advancements in technology and design fuel supraglottic options

Among device types, the Supraglottic Airway Management Devices segment contributes the highest share 35.12% In 2024 owing to continued innovations making these safer and easier to place. Features like integral bite blocks, drainage ports and gastric access channels have enhanced performance. Adoption is also improved by self-advancing tip designs requiring minimal manual manipulation during insertion. This addresses placement challenges often faced during emergency situations. Added user-safety through self-guiding balloon tipped and pre-formed anatomical contour variants further augment the segment. Ongoing developments in material science to improve softness, stability and sealing capabilities of supraglottic masks are also stimulating preference over other device types.

Insights, By Patient Type: Growing elderly demographic boosts adult patient segment growth

In terms of patient type, the Adult Patient segment contributes the highest share 80.10% In 2024 driven by the rising geriatric population worldwide. Ageing increases the risk of respiratory diseases and comorbidities requiring intensive care and skilled airway management. For example, elderly patients undergoing surgeries are more prone to developing complications necessitating post-operative ventilation support. Equipping operating rooms, emergency units and ICUs with a wide range of adult-sized airway gadgets thus becomes imperative. This steady growth in addressable patient pool underscores the need for developing enhanced adult airway management solutions tailored for the specific age group challenges.

Regional Insights

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North America has established itself as the dominant regional market for airway management devices globally with highest share of 39.2% in 2024.The large size and sophistication of the healthcare infrastructure in countries like the U.S. has contributed significantly to its leading position. Advanced airway management technologies have been widely adopted across hospital and pre-hospital settings to enable efficient care. Moreover, the availability of skilled professionals familiar with complex procedures has allowed for numerous innovative products to gain popularity. Leading medical device companies have also entrenched their presence in the region, introducing next-generation products at a regular frequency. This has ensured physicians and patients have access to the latest solutions.

Stringent regulations have helped raise quality standards while also incentivizing continued R&D investments by market players. Reimbursement policies further support uptake of premium devices for critical care. A mature multi-layer distribution network completes the value chain, delivering equipment smoothly across the vast geography. Given the region's economic might and focus on surgical specialties including trauma management, airway management shall remain central to clinical workflows. Going forward, consolidation in the emergency medical services sector may further propel demand for single-use and portable devices.

The Asia Pacific region has emerged as the fastest growing market for airway management devices worldwide. Countries such as China, India, and Japan are experiencing considerably high economic expansion along with a growing patient pool requiring critical care. Due to improved access to healthcare insurance and expanding medical tourism industries, more complex surgeries are being performed. This has prompted hospitals and anesthesia service providers to increasingly invest in advanced airway solutions for safer procedures.

Market Report Scope

Airway Management Devices Industry News

• In September 2023, Verathon, a prominent provider of airway management solutions, introduced GlideScope Go 2, a handheld video laryngoscope designed for durability, featuring storage capacity for up to 40 hours of video
• In June 2023, Teleflex Incorporated, a major player in the industry, partnered with Shenzhen Insighters Medical Technology Co., Ltd, a medical device company, to distribute Insighters Video Laryngoscope system in the U.S., facilitating glottic airway examination and endotracheal intubation
• In July 2023, Inogen, Inc., a medical technology company, finalized an agreement to acquire Physio-Assist SAS, a France-based private firm known for manufacturing and developing Simeox, a technology-driven airway clearance device
• In October 2023, ABM Respiratory Care, a medical device startup, partnered exclusively with Mercury Medical, a specialty healthcare organization, to distribute their BiWaze Clear and BiWaze Cough products to non-government acute care facilities in the U.S. This collaboration is set to enhance access to airway clearance solutions in hospitals across the country, showcasing the impact of distribution agreements by key industry players on product accessibility worldwide.
• In June 2023, SunMed, a leading medical device manufacturer, finalized an agreement to acquire Avanos Medical, Inc.'s respiratory health business, encompassing the MICROCUFF and BALLARD product lines. This acquisition, which includes airway management products like endotracheal tube adapters with ports, is anticipated to drive industry growth in the coming years.

*Definition: The airway management devices market consists of medical products used to ensure the patency or opening of a patient's airway during procedures requiring anesthesia or sedation. This includes laryngoscopes, supraglottic airway devices, tracheal tubes, oral and nasal airways, and intubation accessories. These products help maintain a clear pathway for oxygen flow and prevent airway obstruction during surgery or emergency care situations where a patient may be at risk for complications if their airway closes or becomes blocked.

Market Segmentation

• Use Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Single Use
  • Reusable
• Device Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Supraglottic Airway Management Devices
    •  Laryngeal Mask Airway
    •  Oropharyngeal Airway
    •  Nasopharyngeal Airway
  • Infraglottic Airway Management Devices
    • Endotracheal Tubes
    • Tracheostomy Tubes
  • Laryngoscopes
    • Conventional Laryngoscope
    • Video Laryngoscopes
  • Resuscitators
  • Others (Cricothyrotomy Kits, etc.)
• Patient Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Adult Patient
  • Pediatrics
• End User Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Hospitals
  • Ambulatory Surgery Centers
  • Others (Home Care, etc.)
• Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • Spain
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East
    • GCC Countries
    • Israel
    • Rest of Middle East
  • Africa
    • South Africa
    • North Africa
    • Central Africa
• Key Players Insights
  • Medtronic plc Teleflex Incorporated
  • Smiths Medical
  • Ambu A/S
  • Intersurgical Ltd.
  • Vyaire Medical Inc.
  • Flexicare Medical Limited
  • Verathon Inc.
  • SunMed
  • Karl Storz SE & Co. KG
  • Mercury Medical
  • Cook Medical
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited
  • LMA International (acquired by Teleflex)
  • SourceMark
  • Hamilton Medical
  • Vygon SA
  • Armstrong Medical Inc.
  • Salter Labs (part of SunMed)
  • GE Healthcare