Intrapartum Monitoring Devices Market Analysis Report, By Product (Monitors, Electrodes (Fetal Scalp Electrodes, Intrauterine Pressure Catheter, Transducer for Fetal Heart Rate)), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights 

The global intrapartum monitoring devices market size was valued at USD 1.51 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% over the forecast period. An increasing number of preterm births and rising concerns of improved maternity care, with the speedy development of healthcare infrastructure globally, is leading towards the demand for technological advancement in the intrapartum monitoring market.

In addition, the inclusion of factors such as ease of access and affordability in intrapartum care facilities are expected to serve the purpose of enhanced maternity care. The expensive new technologies are categorized based on local needs, technical feasibility, safety, cost, and effectiveness.

According to WHO, 99.0% of the maternal deaths have been observed to occur in low resource healthcare settings. Hence, the emphasis lies on the development of cost-effective intrapartum care technologies. The expenditure on expensive equipment is not justified, the majority of women in the need for intrapartum care, lack access to them. Hence, along with effectiveness and technological advancement, the cost-effective nature of new technologies plays an important role in the increasing demand for intrapartum monitoring devices globally.

Conversely, the majority of women in the low-income countries of the world do not have access to expensive high-end preterm care or intrapartum care facilities. The issues associated with the affordability of these maternity care services are challenging the market growth. The rise in the preterm birth rate in the developing countries leads to an escalation in the issues of unmet need for cost-effective maternity care solutions in developing countries.

In addition, the absence of appropriate and affordable preterm and intrapartum care devices in rural healthcare settings is a major restraining factor of the market. Statistics by NCBI state that 40.0%-90.0% of women in rural areas deliver babies at home and lack access to appropriate labor care and intrapartum monitoring. Hence, the rising concerns associated with the affordability and availability of intrapartum monitoring devices are expected to challenge the market growth.

Device Type Insights

Intrapartum monitoring devices, on the basis of product, are segmented into monitors and electrodes. The electrodes are further segmented into fetal scalp electrodes, intrauterine pressure catheter, a transducer for FHR, and transducer for uterine contractions. Electrodes contribute to the largest share in the global market owing to their repeat purchase and higher purchase volumes. On the other hand, the monitors' segment is expected to exhibit the fastest growth rate over the forecast period.

Electronic Fetal Monitors (EFM) gives realistic numeric data on Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) and maternal Uterine Action (UA) to enable clinicians to monitor fetal prosperity earlier and amid work. FHR frequently displays decelerating and increasing speeds in light of uterine constrictions or fetal developments; certain designs are demonstrative of hypoxia. Examination of these examples, the standard level, and fluctuation attributes can show the need to modify the course of work with drugs or play out an agent transmission, hence, propelling the market growth of monitors over the forecast period.

The electrodes in intrapartum monitoring are either externally attached or minimally invasive for internal fetal monitoring. The external fetal monitoring electrodes include transducers for FHR and transducer for uterine contractions, whereas, the internal monitoring intrapartum electrodes include fetal scalp electrodes and intrauterine pressure catheters. The fetal scalp electrodes held the largest share in the global market in 2016, owing to their higher adoption rates and the rising need for internal monitoring in mothers suffering from Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and obesity. However, the transducers for FHR are expected to exhibit the fastest growth rate over the forecast period.

Fetal Scalp Electrodes (FSE) are employed for monitoring the fetal in critical cases when the external monitors fail to deliver desired results. The FSE is placed just below the skin on the portion of the fetal body that is closest to the birth canal. However, the use of fetal scalp electrodes includes issues such as morbidity and infection, challenging the growth of the fetal scalp electrodes market globally.

One of the major aspects of external fetal monitoring includes fetal heart rate monitoring. The external FHR monitoring is done usually by the Doppler ultrasounds. The transducer is placed on the maternal after palpating and locating the fetus for accurate signaling and better results. Auscultation is a periodic process during labor and requires the patient to be still, creating difficulty during childbirth. However, during low-risk deliveries, external monitoring using transducers is considered safe and reliable. Hence, propelling the market for FHR transducers during the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the global intrapartum monitoring market in 2016. The increasing rate of preterm births, rising cases of obesity, and infant mortality attribute to the rising demand for intrapartum monitoring devices in the region. The Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth rate over the forecast period, owing to the demand for improved maternal care in the region and the increasing rate of premature birth complications.

According to WHO and Health Canada, the rate of obesity in 2014 among women was 18.7%. Obese females are more prone to face complications during childbirth. The infant and maternal mortality rate in Canada are lower than that of the U.S. However, the rising awareness and government initiatives to deliver improved maternal care solutions is driving the intrapartum monitoring devices market growth.

In the European region, the growing population of women and increasing life expectancy are expected to provide scope for market growth. The total population of the European Union is more than 738.0 million. The emphasis of the European Health Commission on improving maternal care throughout the region is a remarkable move, successfully reducing maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate in the region. This, in turn, has proved to be beneficial for the growth of the intrapartum monitoring devices market.

Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the fastest-growing region in the global market. China and India together account for the largest population in the world. Thus, the presence of a large target patient pool is expected to result in lucrative growth opportunities for the market in this region. Governments are focusing on controlling the growing preterm birth rate and infant & maternal mortality are encouraging the adoption of safer and improved maternal care solutions. Hence, these government initiatives increase awareness regarding intrapartum care and drive the growth of intrapartum monitoring devices in the region.

Intrapartum Monitoring Devices Market Share Insights

The key players of the market include Analogic Corporation, GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Medtronic plc; CooperSurgical, Inc.; Stryker, and Olympus Corporation. These players hold a strong position in the market with their strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships with small/local players to expand their geographic foothold, and widening of product portfolio by sharing the technology and products.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global intrapartum monitoring devices market report on the basis of device types and region:

• Device Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Monitors

  • Electrodes

    • Fetal Scalp Electrodes

    • Intrauterine Pressure Catheter

    • Transducer for FHR

    • Transducer for Uterine Contractions

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

  • Latin America

    • Mexico

    • Brazil

  • MEA

    • South Africa