Abstract
INTRODUCTION
The first microelectronic medical implant (MMI) was introduced over 45 years
ago and remains to be the best-known pacemaker. Assisting people with weak or
failing hearts in living longer, fuller lives has continued to be a major
focus of medical implant R&D. The pacemaker has been followed by a variety of
other implantable cardiac devices, including defibrillators, loop recorders,
heart assists, and even heart replacements.
Neurostimulators, implantable devices that employ the same principles as
pacemakers for the purposes of neural stimulation, have also been introduced.
Neurostimulators were used initially for pain relief, but are now being used
for other neurological indications ranging from the treatment of urge
incontinence to preventing epileptic seizures.
Other therapeutic implantable devices have followed, including bone growth
stimulators, drug infusion pumps, and ear implants that provide a semblance of
hearing for the deaf. Eye implants that can restore limited vision to people
with certain types of blindness are under development and may become a
commercial reality around the end of this decade.
SCOPE OF STUDY
This report contains:
- Major implant types and applications, both commercial and developmental
- Global market size and segmentation, including historical data on sales by
application and implant type
- Market drivers and constraints.
- Detailed market projections through 2012
- Industry structure, competition, and market shares
- Factors that may influence the long-term market for microelectronic
implants.
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
The findings and conclusions of this report are based on information gathered
from manufacturers and distributors of microelectronic implants, hospitals,
doctors, and other end users. Interview data were combined with information
gathered through an extensive review of secondary sources such as trade
publications, trade associations, company literature, and online databases to
produce the baseline market estimates contained in this report.
The base year for analysis and projection is 2006. In cases where year-end
data for 2006 was unavailable, figures were extrapolated from 2005 demand
statistics and historical trends.
With 2006 as a baseline, market projections were developed for 2007 to 2012.
These projections are based on a combination of a consensus among the primary
contacts combined with our understanding of the key market drivers and their
impact from a historical and analytical perspective. The analytical
methodologies used to generate the market estimates are described in detail in
the section on Detailed Market Projections.
All dollar projections presented in this report are in 2006 constant dollars.
View Cart
