by History of Lung Stent Industry
Lung stents have been used since the 1980s to maintain airway patency after lung cancer surgery or to prevent airway collapse in severe emphysema patients. Some of the earliest stent designs included expandable metallic stent grafts, silicone stents and self-expandable nitinol stents. Significant advances over the past few decades have led to the development of newer stent designs with improved functionality and safety.
Types of Lung Stent Industry
There are different types of lung stents used globally based on their material, design and intended usage:
Metal Stents: Common metal stent materials include nitinol (nickel-titanium alloy), stainless steel and cobalt-chrome alloys. They are radio-opaque and provide good scaffolding of airways. Basic designs include wire stent cage structures and tubular stent grafts covered in silicone or polyurethane. Global Lung Stent These stents are easy to place using bronchoscopy. However, tissue ingrowth needs control to prevent complications.
Silicone Stents: Made of medical-grade silicone elastomer, they are soft, pliable and biocompatible. Silicone stents conform well to airway walls but lack radial strength. They are mostly used as temporary internal splints. Migration resistance is limited due to weak scaffolding. Advanced designs add nickel-titanium alloy wires for reinforcement.
Bioresorbable Stents: Newer biodegradable polymeric stents dissolve gradually in vivo, eliminating the need for stent removal. Common polymers are poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA). They do not cause fibrous encapsulation long-term but lack mechanical support over time as they degrade.
Lung Stent Market Size and Projections
North America dominates the global lung stent market owing to growing bronchoscopic procedures, lung cancer rates and awareness. The European region is the second-largest market driven by reimbursement policies and healthcare infrastructure in major countries.
As per estimates, the global lung stent market was valued at around $120 million in 2020. It is projected to grow at a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2021 to 2027. Some key factors driving this growth include:
– Increasing incidence of lung cancer worldwide, expected to rise by 45% between 2020-2040.
– Growing geriatric population at risk of chronic respiratory diseases like COPD which may require stents.
– Improving healthcare access and facilities in developing nations boosting diagnostics and interventional pulmonology.
– New bioresorbable stent designs entering clinical trials with promise of being implant-free alternatives.
– Growing preference of minimally invasive procedures over open surgeries augmenting demand for bronchoscopic stents.
– Favorable medical reimbursement scenarios supporting adoption of high-end therapeutic solutions.
Leading Lung Stent Manufacturers
The key players in the global lung stent market include Boston Scientific Corporation, Taewoong Medical Co., Ltd., Micro-Tech (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., Merit Medical Systems, Cook Medical, Efer Endoscopy, EFER ENDOSCOPY, Standard Sci. Tech Inc., and CONMED Corporation among others.
Some manufacturers have a strong focus on research and development to introduce new materials and designs to address unmet needs. Strategic acquisitions and regional expansions have also helped companies penetrate niche markets and widen their geographic footprints over the years. Strong marketing networks aid product awareness and sales. Manufacturing partnerships with local players in emerging markets boost access to affordable stents.
Future Outlook
The future outlook for the global lung stent market looks positive with continued technological innovations and clinical research. Some areas attracting R&D attention include:
– Biodegradable alloys and polymers to make fully dissolving stents without extraction needs.
– Drug-eluting and gene-eluting stents able to locally deliver chemotherapy, antibiotics or growth factors.
– 3D-printed stents custom tailored for individual patient airway anatomies.
– New imaging modalities to guide precise placement of ultra-thin stents in smaller branches.
– Antimicrobial and antibiofilm coatings to prevent stent blockage from infections.
– Bioresorbable self-expandable plastic stents as cheaper alternatives in emerging markets.
In Summary, with improvements addressing current limitations, lung stents have significant scope to become a mainstay in management of various respiratory disorders worldwide over the coming years. This will ensure continued growth opportunities for innovation-driven manufacturers.
*Note:
1.Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2.We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
