KIDNEY STONE MANAGEMENT DEVICES MARKET ANALYSIS

Urolithiasis is the most frequent and common urological disease, which involves stone formation in the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract. The reasons behind stone development in above mentioned areas are mainly associated with decreased urine volume and increased excretion of stone-forming substances such as oxalate, calcium, cysteine, urate, phosphate, and xanthine. Kidney stones can be treated effectively, due to presence of advanced methods and associated medical devices. According to the American Urologic Association (AUA), direct and associated treatment cost related to kidney stone diagnosis and management has increased over the past few years. Despite recent advancements in therapeutic and surgical treatment techniques, the overall health care expenditure for the kidney stone disease management has increased. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the cost for medical management of kidney stones is expected to reach to US$ 1.24 Bn annually in the U.S. by 2030. Cost containment for the patients has been made possible by technological development in terms of shorter duration hospital stays and more minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Kidney stones can occur in one or both kidneys. It can affect people between ages of 30 to 60 years according to the National Health Service (NHS). Furthermore, the global prevalence of kidney stones annually is three in 20 men and two in 20 women according to NHS. The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), published in 2012, stated that the prevalence of kidney stones in men was 10.6% and was 7.1% in women.

New product launches and ongoing research on prevention and treatment of kidney stones is expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period

Technological advancements and innovative product launches have allowed for therapy optimization and better management of the stones irrespective of their sizes. Terumo Corporation launched GLIDEWAY ureteral access sheath, which was used in minimally invasive urologic procedures in 2014. Boston Scientific launched LithoVue single use digital flexible ureteroscopes in Europe in 2016, which provided high-quality visualization better than leading ureteroscopes at the time.

Ongoing research in the field of prevention and effective treatment of kidney stone diseases is expected to impact the kidney stone management devices market. For instance, in 2017, Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), scientific data research center for the Urinary Stone Disease Research Network, launched a two year clinical trial to determine the ways to prevent recurrence of kidney stones. Moreover, in 2016, American Urological Association (AUA) released new guidelines for surgical treatment of patients with renal stones. The most pertinent change was decision about treatment and therapy for kidney stones, which should be shared between physician and patients. These guidelines state expert recommendations in relation to treatment of renal stones, small hard mineral deposits inside the kidneys and ureteral stones.

Kidney Stone Management Devices Market Taxonomy:

On the basis of product type, the global kidney stone management devices market is segmented into:

• Lithotripters
  • Intracorporeal
  • Extracorporeal
• Ureteroscopes
  • Rigid
  • Semi rigid
  • Flexible
• Retrieval Devices

On the basis of end user, the global kidney stone management devices market is segmented into:

• Hospitals
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Technological advancement in the surgical procedures requiring minimal invasion is expected to boost the growth of the kidney stone management devices market

Advancements in the surgical procedures to treat kidney stones such as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), Ureteroscopy, and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy have simplified the surgical procedures over the years. Advent of high resolution imaging devices, increased availability of flexible ureteroscopes and lithotripsy devices, and decreased invasiveness of the procedures have helped to favorably shape the kidney stone management devices market. Smaller and more flexible ureteroscopes namely LithoVue and effective stone retrieval devices have been made available by the industry players to increase the efficacy of the surgical procedures. These cost-effective techniques have allowed faster recovery with few treatment cycles requiring minimal sedation. Ureteroscopy is being preferred more currently, owing to advantages, such as immediate stone removal and low risk of complications, especially in treatment of symptomatic stones located in pelvic kidneys, where this technique excels over the other two. Increasing reimbursement support from government and private sources for medical devices such as separate reimbursements for physician payment, hospital outpatient, and hospital inpatient by Medicare as well as implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the U.S. has been a major growth factor for the kidney stone management devices market.

Key players in the kidney stone management devices market

Some of the key players operating in the kidney stone management devices market include Bard Medical Division, Coloplast Group, Allengers Medical Systems, Boston Scientific Corporation, Cook Medical, Electro Medical Systems, Lumenis Ltd., Storz Medical AG, Dornier Medtech, and Richard Wolf GmbH.