AI in Neurology Operating Room Market

Market Overview

The global AI in neurology operating room market size was valued at USD 149.12 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 5,195.18 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 48.38% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Artificial intelligence (AI) mimics cognitive processes by computers and computer programs. It includes speech recognition, machine vision, natural language processing, and expert systems. The creation and training of machine learning (ML) algorithms are based on improved hardware and software. It eliminates errors, carries out dangerous activities, and continuously automates various tasks. It aids in gathering huge volumes of labeled training data, analyzing the data for correlations and patterns, and using these patterns to forecast future states. Data collection and analysis can also yield insights that can be applied when designing tasks. In order to improve surgeon performance and lower errors related to neurosurgery, there is now an increase in demand for AI in the neurology operating room.

Highlights

• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) dominates the offering segment
• Neurotechnology dominates the indication segment
• Hospitals dominate the end-user segment
• Europe is the highest shareholder in the global market

Market Dynamics

Global AI in Neurology Operating Room Market Drivers

Advancement in Robotics and Medical Visualization Technologies

The adoption of AI in operating rooms and surgeries is expected to grow against the backdrop of technological advancements in 3-D visualization technologies and growth in surgical robotics. Surgical robotics is already assisting neurosurgeons in treating conditions such as epilepsy. Robots also help in other surgical fields such as orthopedics, gynecology, general surgery, ENT, and urology. Although the number of market participants in surgical robotics has increased, the field is still in the early phases of robotic surgery development.

Robotics, when combined with AI, can significantly improve the outcome of surgery by seamlessly assisting surgeons with real-time insights and outcomes analysis. Similarly, several key players are working on advanced visualization technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), volumetric imaging, and light field technology. A few of these technologies are already used in training and medical education. The implementation of AI in the operating room for neurology will immediately benefit from more advancements in robotics and 3-D imaging.

Growing Adoption of AI-Enabled Technologies in Healthcare Settings

There has been a growing interest in AI-based solutions among end users. The penetration of AI in the neurology operating room is low as of 2021, with a few end users being early adopters. Moreover, Brainomix Limited is the key player in the field of AI in the neurology operating room, specifically for neurological and cerebrovascular applications. The company has witnessed an increasing number of hospitals adopting its e-Stroke suite of products. The company has also partnered with strong and well-established players such as Stryker Corporation and Boehringer Ingelheim to promote its products and work together to improve stroke treatment, driving market growth.

Global AI in Neurology Operating Room Market Restraint

Limited Studies and Data on the Efficiency of AI in Operating Rooms

The use of machine learning is expected to be combined with insights collected from electronic health records and genomics to understand disease profiles better. However, the limited studies and available data are critical barriers to gaining trust among end users and patients. According to a study published in 2019 by a Council member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, titled 'The Future of Surgery,' The Lancet Digital Health published a review of 20,500 articles on the ability of AI to make accurate diagnoses. The study found that only 14 articles directly compared AI performance with health professionals. Although the 14 articles concluded that deep learning algorithms could use the available data to make accurate diagnoses in 87% of the cases as opposed to 86% by healthcare professionals, more is needed to convince many end users to invest in AI-based solutions. Therefore, more studies and data would be necessary to grow.

Global AI in Neurology Operating Room Market Opportunities

Leveraging Business Synergies for Capability and Portfolio Enhancement

No robotic surgery is entirely autonomous to date. Surgeons control surgical robots to perform specialized tasks. However, this technology is not to replace surgeons. Work is being done to improve the precision of robotic movements leveraging computer communications. Advancements through R&D are aimed at increasing endurance, improving human precision, and augmenting the perioperative experience. Additionally, most companies developing AI in operating rooms are startups operating in a market niche and entering into mergers and acquisition (M&A) agreements with established players. These M&As are expected to increase the level of competition and innovation gradually.

M&As can also be leveraged to expand the company’s geographical footprint. In February 2021, Brainomix Limited partnered with Stryker Neurovascular to expand access to its life-saving stroke treatment transformative solution across the EMEA region. Further, such agreements may also allow AI-enabled technologies to penetrate several untapped markets. Countries, including China, India, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa region, possess high patient populations and have strong potential to expand AI in the neurology operating room.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global AI in neurology operating room market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Europe Dominates the Global Market

Europe is the most significant shareholder in the global AI in neurology operating room market and is predicted to rise at a CAGR of 39.87% over the forecast period. The Europe region is one of the key markets with early adopters and is likely to remain among the top markets for AI in the neurology operating room. The Europe market is expected to benefit from strategic collaborations, M&As, a high preference for AI-based solutions among end users, and innovation in use cases. The countries in the Europe region have high technology readiness and are expected to be at the forefront in terms of AI adoption. In addition, the increasing awareness related to the advantages offered by AI-enabled solutions, paired with the growing complexities of clinical decision-making and the expanding number of government initiatives promoting the adoption of AI technologies, are expected to drive the growth of AI in the neurology operating room market in Europe. Further, some key factors that can act as a barrier to growth initially include challenges with MDR implementation, technical challenges associated with the utilization of machine learning and automation for neurosurgery, limited availability of the efficiency of AI in neuro surgeries, and the lack of standardized regulatory guidelines.

North America is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 44.31% over the forecast period. The North American region has a large base of early adopters and is expected to remain the leading market for AI in the neurology operating room. Many of the leading companies in the market are headquartered in this region and maintain a strong presence in the U.S. market. The growing number of funding activities, paired with the increasing number of startups, is expected to contribute to the growth of AI in the neurology operating room market in North America. Moreover, several key factors, such as advancement in AI technology, rising adoption of AI-enabled solutions, and growing applications of AI in health informatics, are expected to fuel the growth of North America AI in the neurology operating room market during the forecast period. In addition, most of the industry stakeholders agree that integrating AI in the neurology operating room has more benefits than conventional neurosurgeries.

The Asia-Pacific region represents lucrative growth opportunities for AI in the neurology operating room market over the forecast period. The investments made by private and government organizations, the increasing establishment of startups, and the number of partnerships among market players, are expected to be the prominent market growth-promoting factors. In addition, China is one of the major countries which is at the forefront in terms of research on AI. Countries in Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia and Singapore, also represent lucrative growth opportunities for adopting AI in neurology operating rooms. Furthermore, most of the unmet demand in neurosurgery is generated in low- and middle-income countries with high populations. Therefore, market players are expected to target the Asia-Pacific region for business expansion.

Latin America has witnessed the adoption of AI in healthcare to some extent in medical research. According to a study published in Springer in 2020, titled, 'Machine Learning in Neurosurgery: A Global Survey,' the adoption rate of machine learning in neurosurgery was 33.3% in Latin America. In addition, most of the countries in the Latin America region are emerging economies. They are undergoing significant technological advancements along with improvements in their healthcare systems. However, some challenges inhibiting the region's market growth are the lack of awareness regarding the use of AI, data security concerns, and the lack of curated healthcare data.

The Middle East and Africa is estimated to grow steadily over the forecast period. According to a study by Microsoft Corporation in 2019, titled "Artificial Intelligence in the Middle East and Africa," which was conducted across five countries in the Middle East and Africa region, AI is anticipated to create new business avenues in the future and is accelerating digital transformation in the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, ongoing investments in developing AI solutions for the healthcare industry are expected to fuel market growth. For instance, Dubai Future Foundation invested substantially in AI development initiatives, including UAE AI and Robotics Award for Good.

Segmental Analysis

The global AI in neurology operating room market is bifurcated into offering, technology, indication, application, and end-user.

Based on the offering, the global market is divided into hardware and software-as-a-service (SaaS). 

The software-as-a-service (SaaS) segment is the highest contributor to the market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48.38% over the forecast period. The software-as-a-service segment includes the AI-enabled platforms that provide software-as-a-service (SaaS) through a subscription or fee-per-case model. Theator Inc., LeanTaas, DeepOR S.A.S., and Scalpel Ltd. are some of the key companies operating in this segment. The increasing adoption of AI technologies in surgeries, the emergence of advanced surgical robots, and the limited clinician workforce are some of the primary propellers for services segment growth.

Based on technology, the global market is divided into machine learning (ML) and deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and others.

The machine learning (ML) and deep learning segment owns the largest market share and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 46.38% over the forecast period. ML and deep learning assist across different surgical applications in operating rooms, such as surgical automation, evaluation of surgical skills, improving robotic surgical materials, and surgical workflow modeling, which is expected to be a strong market growth driver. In addition, ML and deep learning assist in processing large volumes of clinical data, conducting relevant analysis, and delivering insights based on several aspects of surgeries. Moreover, the scope of machine learning and deep learning is projected to widen in the coming years, with many company companies only scratching the surface of possibilities in healthcare.

Based on indication, the global market is divided into neurotechnology and neurosurgery. 

The neurotechnology segment is the highest contributor to the market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 45.08% over the forecast period. Neurotechnology is broadly defined as the assembly of methods and instruments that directly connect technical components with the nervous system. One of the positive sides of neurotechnology is that it can leverage technologies such as surgical robotics and 3D printing to revolutionize healthcare. AI's potential is only being explored, so more sophisticated uses are likely to emerge.

Based on application, the global market is bifurcated into training, diagnosis, surgical planning and rehabilitation, outcomes and risk analysis, integration and connectivity, and others. 

The training segment owns the largest market share and is estimated o grow at a CAGR of 40.43% over the forecast period. The training segment comprises apps and software which create step-by-step procedural playbooks or videos to train new neurosurgeons. The videos also enable surgeons and physicians to observe critical surgeons perform procedures and follow digital best practices. The data collected from the operations performed during surgeries help design guides to train surgeons for further surgeries.

Based on the end-user, the global market is bifurcated into hospitals and others. 

The hospital segment is the highest contributor to the market and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 49.35% during the forecast period. Hospitals are at the forefront in terms of the adoption of AI in neurology operating rooms. AI adoption, in general, is higher in hospitals during the initial phase. Brainomix Limited, a key player in the market, has contracts with several hospitals using its product "e-Stroke." The adoption of AI for neurosurgery in hospitals is expected to be driven by the need for a more streamlined workflow in the operating rooms.

Recent Developments

• October 2022- NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation was granted FDA 510(k) clearance to market its Evo sEEG Electrode technology for temporary (less than 30 days) use with recording, monitoring, and stimulation equipment for the recording, monitoring, and stimulation of electrical signals at the subsurface level of the brain.

• July 2022- Royal Philips stated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted 510(k) clearance to its SmartSpeed artificial intelligence (AI)-powered MR acceleration software.