North American Medical Device Plastics Market to reach nearly 2.9 bn pounds by 2008

The use of plastics in the healthcare field encompasses several distinct markets-predominantly applications for medical devices and related products, and packaging. Market research studies in the past have often combined these two applications, which does not benefit companies exclusively involved in either medical devices or medical packaging. Healthcare players are vulnerable to a variety of pressures, although the industry is in good shape, compared with most others since the economic slowdown that started in the last quarter of 2000. The healthcare industry has nowhere to go but up, thanks to inexorable demographic trends, led by 75 million aging baby boomers who will demand quality care.

According to a report from Business Communications Company, Inc. ( http://www.bccresearch.com/ ) RP-121U Plastics for Medical Devices, the North American medical plastics market was estimated at slightly over 2.2 billion pounds by the end of 2002. It is expected to grow at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of about 4.3%, consuming almost 2.9 billion pounds by the year 2008. Disposable medical devices comprise about 60% of the total volume for all years.

Commodity thermoplastics dominate the market with approximately 50% of total volume for all years. In the aggregate, a slight shift from commodity thermoplastics to engineering resins, styrenics, thermosets and TPEs is forecast.

Major non-disposable medical markets include testing/diagnostic equipment, surgical instruments/related equipment, prostheses/ implants, and dental/ophthalmic products. Disposable medical products include: syringes, kits, lab ware, tubing, blood bags, fluid administration systems, utensils, gloves, trays, catheters, thermometers, etc.

North American Medical Plastics Market by Resin, through 2008

* Includes thermo sets, TPEs and miscellaneous resins Source: BCC, Inc.

There are hundreds of companies that convert resins derived from resin manufacturers into medical devices. Some of these firms specialize in one or two product areas; others supply a wide variety of products. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) exercises enormous control, since "new" devices must have its approval before they can be introduced into the marketplace.

Confronting the industry are many conflicting and critical issues that will significantly affect its growth and the demand for its plastic products. Some of these issues are:

• Shifts in medical device sterilization technologies 

• Increases in infectious diseases that result in increased usage of disposable products 

• Changing FDA regulations-mainly speeding up of new drug approvals 

• Moving of healthcare payments from individual physicians and hospitals to HMOs, nursing facilities and centralized purchasing 

• The trend toward “defensive medicine,” primarily due to increased liability law suits 

• An aging U.S. population 

• New technologies, the most recent of which include diagnostic imaging and laser surgery, and polymers with improved biocompatibility properties 

• The continued drive toward industry cost containment policies 

• Recent emphasis on PVC alternatives.

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