Technology Innovation Revives Ventilators Market

Interoperability and decision support tools to optimize workflow and digitalization of ventilators signal the increasing trend for medical devices to be networked to a clinical information system (CIS). These are the latest findings of medical research group InMedica (Wellingborough, United Kingdom).

Traditionally, innovation in the ventilators market has been slow, with the focus on the quality of ventilation provided. But as cost-efficiency becomes an increasingly important factor in purchasing decisions, the technology offered by manufacturers is being more closely scrutinized. With increasing pressure on healthcare providers, manufacturers are witnessing a strong drive for digitalization in the hospital environment, and are consequently required to consider the total care environment and caregiver relationship in future technical developments.

Once such feature is interoperability in an intensive care unit (ICU) ward, and it is becoming more apparent with ventilators now required to work in conjunction with other devices such as patient monitors and infusion pumps. Another feature with increasing importance is closed loop systems and adapted support ventilation (ASV), which minimize risk of over-oxygenation and reduce monitoring demand. Along with high specification of clinical features, manufacturers are also under increasing pressure to provide lightweight, easy to use ventilators with decision support features at lower cost.

“With pressure on physicians and nurses showing no sign of decreasing, automated workflow within the hospital is becoming more important,” said InMedica market analyst Nicola Goatman. “Within the ventilators market there is a need to improve integration with IT systems, allowing data from the ventilator to be stored digitally. Increased use of electronic patient records stored on the CIS is forecast, allowing more informed decision making and treatment planning within the hospital.”

Future replacements of ventilator devices are projected to be dominated by products that offer interoperability and improved connectivity between medical devices and hospitals information systems (HISs). InMedica forecasts a five-year compound-average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2% and 1.2% for the North American and Western European critical care markets respectively.

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