Ureteral Stents Market Overview
The global ureteral stents market is projected to grow at a steady pace during the forecast period, owing to the rising cases of kidney transplants, increasing incidence of urological diseases, and growing geriatric population. On the basis of product, the market is categorized into open-end, closed-end, double-pigtail, multiloop, and other stents. Among these, double-pigtail stents are estimated to hold the largest share in the market in 2017. The market for multiloop stents, however, is predicted to undergo to grow at the highest rate because of the increase in the prevalence of urological disorders, rise in geriatric population, and technological advancements in multiloop stents leading to reduced complications.
On the basis of material, ureteral stents are made up of either metal or polymer. During the forecast period, polymer stents are expected to acquire a larger share in the ureteral stents market, because of the higher strength of these stents and less chances of them causing infection to the patient. Ureteral stents are generally used for patients with problems such as kidney stones and urinary incontinence and several other conditions such as kidney failure and tumor demanding kindly transplant. Ureteral stents find major application in the removal of kidney stones—a factor that has contributed to the largest market share of ureteral stents from this application, during the historical period.
On the basis of end user, the ureteral stents market is categorized into hospitals, clinics, and ASCs. During the forecast period, ASCs are expected to lead the market, in terms of both size and growth. During the historical period, North America held the largest share in the ureteral stents industry, because of the availability of advanced medical facilities and high prevalence of kidney stone problems in the region. However, during the forecast period, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR, because of the surging population, increasing medical awareness on these stents, growing prevalence of urological diseases, increasing initiatives of the government for the improvement of healthcare, and rising disposable income of the people in the region.
Ureteral Stents Market Dynamics
Growth Drivers
The market for ureteral stents is primarily driven by the increasing cases of kidney transplants, rising incidence of urological diseases caused by the colonization of microorganisms or sedentary lifestyle, surging geriatric population, and technological advancements in stent composition materials.
According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), around 17,600 kidney transplants were performed in the U.S. in 2013. From 2012 to 2013, there was a 3.1% increase in the cumulative number of recipients with a functioning kidney transplant. As of December 31, 2013, the kidney transplant waiting list increased by 3%, from the previous year, to 86,965 candidates (dialysis patients only), 83% of whom awaited their first kidney transplant.
Opportunities
Advancements in the healthcare technology, rising investments in the healthcare infrastructure in developing countries, and development of ureteral stent tracker products are the factors providing numerous growth opportunities to the players in the ureteral stents market.
Ureteral Stents Market Competitive Landscape
Some of the major players in the ureteral stents market are Becton, Dickinson and Company; Cook Medical LLC; B. Braun Melsungen AG; Olympus Corporation; Coloplast A/S; Medline Industries Inc.; Allium Medical Solutions Ltd.; Teleflex Incorporated; Boston Scientific Corporation; and Pnn Medical A/S.
For instance, in March 2016, Boston Scientific Corporation launched a new app, called the Ureteral Stent Tracker, to help urologists and their staff keep tabs on ureteral stents implanted in patients with kidney stones. The app was developed in partnership with the health app developer Visible Health Inc.
