by
Keith Loria, Reporter | June 13, 2009
A micro-technology
becomes a
major business
This report originally appeared in the April 2009 issue of DOTmed Business News
Just about everywhere you look arthroscopic procedures are on rise, attributed to their mounting scope and usage in the diagnosis and treatment of ankles, elbow, wrists, hips and knees. Shoulder procedures are also expected to increase with the introduction of advanced knotless fixation systems by some of the OEMs.
When you are dealing with the business of arthroscopy equipment, you need to look into more than just the arthroscopes themselves, as a typical arthroscopy system can include camera, camera cables, light source, sheath, color monitors, printers, fiber optic cable and accessories. Accompanying instruments include shavers, cannulas, blades, burrs and forceps. All of these components make up what the Arthroscopy Association of North America now calls a billion dollar industry.
Cut-away view of an
arthroscope (Image courtesy
of Rigid Repair Center)
Advancements in endoscopes, fluid management systems, cameras, powered instruments, displays, and hand tools are encouraging surgeons to prefer the use of arthroscopic devices to open procedures. Some believe the arthroscopy market is driven by increased utilization in sports-related injuries, as a majority of orthopedic surgeons find arthroscopic surgeries to be less risky.
In a recent marketing report created by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., they cite arthroscopic visualization instruments as representing the largest as well as the fastest growing segment of the field in both the U.S. and abroad. In fact, it is expected to reach more than $515 million in the U.S alone by next year.
The Players
While OEMs such as Stryker, CONMED Corp, Storz and Olympus continue to see sales rise yearly, companies such as Advanced Endoscopy Devices, Inc. have graduated from service and refurbish sales to manufacturing their own new arthroscopic equipment and are seeing success.
"It's pretty competitive out there. One of the things that's really helped us is because we don't have that many layers, like Storz or Stryker, we don't have to do the big markups so our prices are typically 60 percent below what the other manufacturers sell them for," says the company President John Dawoodjee. "For independent distributors and people from other countries wanting to buy product, our price advantage is so much greater and we have seen an increase in sales."
