Bladder Scanners Market

Market Overview

The global bladder scanners market size was valued at USD 141.70 million in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 232.38 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.65% during the forecast period (2023-2031). This is because many people globally have urinary problems, and there is a growing need for bladder scanners, which are the tools used for checking the bladder. About 29.36% of people experience urine leakage issues, showing a big demand for better diagnostic tools like bladder scanners. Ongoing research aimed at developing innovative sensors for precise bladder volume measurement is expected to result in improved scanners, further driving market expansion.

A tool used to scan the urine bladder is called a bladder scanner. Patients with aberrant urinal function, diabetes, renal calculi, and other bladder-related illnesses must have their bladders inspected immediately. The bladder can be quickly, easily, and non-invasively examined with a bladder scanner, a portable, user-friendly ultrasound device. An ultrasonic probe and a transductor are included in this device to transmit sound waves from the bladder to the scanner. A non-invasive bladder scan creates a virtual representation of the urinary bladder and the amount of pee it can hold. Acute care, long-term care, and doctor's offices frequently use bladder scans.

Highlights

• The portable bladder scanners segment is the major contributor to the market by product.
• The hospital segment is the major contributor to the market by end-user. 
• North America is the major revenue contributor by region.

Market Dynamics

Global Bladder Scanners Market Drivers:

Increasing Prevalence of Urology-Related Disorders

According to research studies, the prevalence of urological problems varies by location and contributes to the market's expansion. The prevalence of urine incontinence, for instance, was estimated to be 29.36% in the International Journal of Health Sciences and Research Article titled "Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence among Young Healthy Females in Gujarat - A Cross-Sectional Study" published in June 2021. It also said that of all females with incontinence, stress incontinence accounted for the most significant percentage (51.70%), followed by mixed incontinence (37.15%) and urge incontinence (11.15%). The youthful population's high prevalence of urine incontinence is anticipated to fuel the market's expansion.

Additionally, a Frontiers in Public Health article titled "A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Urinary Tract Infections Among Geriatric Patients: Prevalence, Medication Regimen Complexity, and Factors Associated with Treatment Outcomes" published in October 2021 stated that approximately 7 million hospital visits, 1 million emergency visits, and 100,000 hospitalizations are caused by urinary tract infections every year, which accounts for about 25% of all conditions among older people. The prevalence of UTIs in older men and women is reported to range from one infection per 14 to 20 person-years; this high burden of UTIs is also boosting the market's expansion.

Global Bladder Scanners Market Restraint:

Strict Regulatory Changes

The complexity, hazards, and benefits of medical devices vary greatly in the United States. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of the United States has therefore established the risk-based device categorization for medical devices, such as Class I or "low risk," Class II or "moderate risk," and Class III or "high risk." Each device is given a regulatory class depending on the oversight required to ensure its effectiveness and safety.

The regulatory authorities have recalled products that don't adhere to sufficient quality or safety standards, restraining the market's expansion. For example, Verathon, Inc. recalled its BladderScan Prime Plus Probe in December 2020 owing to a change in the handle material and manufacturing method that could cause the probe handle to shatter. This probe is used to measure the volume of urine in the bladder non-invasively. Such recalls by strict regulatory requirements are limiting bladder scanners market growth.

Global Bladder Scanners Market Opportunities:

Technological Developments in Bladder Scanner

The ongoing research on creating and discovering new sensors that can measure bladder volume will also lead to new scanners, which will benefit the market's expansion throughout the forecast period. For example, in March 2020, UC Davis medical and engineering professionals collaborated to develop an undergarment biosensor to detect a person's full bladder in real-time. A non-invasive sensor will combine many sensing modalities, including ultrasound, resonance sensing, and light, to determine if a bladder is full or empty. The government's encouragement of creating such devices also contributes to the market's expansion.

The market is also growing as technologically advanced scanners are becoming more widely available. For instance, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's radiotherapy department received new bladder scanning equipment from the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund in March 2021. The department's capacity will grow due to the new bladder scanner, allowing for a more precise reading and preventing the need for a second CT scan. Patients with bladder, prostate, gynecological, or colorectal malignancies can now access this improved scanning technology.

Regional Analysis

The global bladder scanners market share is divided into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. 

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the major revenue contributor and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.70% during the forecast period. Kidney stones, problems with bladder function problems, prostate problems, urinary bladder infections (UTI) in adults, and urine retention are only a few of the consequences of urological illnesses. The market for bladder scanners is anticipated to expand gradually due to the growth in urological conditions, increased RandD of cutting-edge bladder scanners, and rising Medicare spending. Due to frequent ailments, this nation has become the center for the big players. Nearly one-seventh of all persons in the United States have chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to National Institutes of Health data released in September 2021. (i.e., 37 million people).

Europe is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.20% during the forecast period. Due to the increasing prevalence of chronic disorders like chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and urological conditions such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and bladder control issues, among others, the market for bladder scanners is expanding in Germany. As a result of the rise in urological illnesses, the bladder scanners market is anticipated to grow steadily. The study's findings indicated that patients with lower baseline kidney function, male sex, diabetes, higher blood pressure, and higher albuminuria had a higher chance of end-stage kidney disease or mortality. 

In the Asia-Pacific region, Urinary incontinence's rising prevalence and the number of strategic efforts launched by market players are the main drivers of market expansion. Healthcare professionals use bladder scanners to measure postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume and avoid needless catheterization. These products may improve diagnosis and differentiation of urological problems, which aids in managing and treating urological diseases, including the establishment of voiding schedules, the study of bladder biofeedback, and fewer urinary tract infections (UTIs) monitoring of potential urinary incontinence after surgery or trauma. Therefore, the increased prevalence of UTI and urine incontinence is propelling market expansion in the nation.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Factors include the rising prevalence of bladder and prostate cancer disorders, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, and an aging population are among them. One of the key factors propelling the market's expansion in the area is the rise in the number of older adults. For instance, 3.4% of Kuwait's population is 65 or older, as per United Nations Population Fund's World Population Dashboard's Statistics 2021.

Segmental Analysis

The global bladder scanners market is segmented by product and end-user industry.

Based on product, the global bladder scanners market is bifurcated into bench-top bladder scanners, portable bladder scanners, and handheld bladder scanners.

The portable bladder scanners segment is the major contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.70% during the forecast period. Most portable bladder scanners are ultrasound devices that provide three-dimensional images of the bladder and employ automated technology to digitally register bladder volume, including post-void residual (PVR) volume. One of the portable ultrasound bladder scanner's main benefits is their user-friendly, accurate diagnostic testing. A portable bladder ultrasound scanner's portability, dependability, cost-effectiveness, and non-invasiveness are other key advantages. These products may improve diagnosis and differentiation of urological problems, which helps manage and treat urological diseases, including establishing voiding schedules, studying bladder biofeedback, fewer urinary tract infections (UTIs), and monitoring potential urinary incontinence after surgery.

Thanks to portable bladder scanners, operators and healthcare professionals can examine a patient's bladder without introducing a catheter. The use of handheld gadgets is becoming more popular as a result of various benefits, including better patient care. Clinical adoption of these tools is growing in urologists' everyday practice. Additionally, the demand for handheld bladder scanners has increased due to the rising frequency of urological problems and technological improvements in the bladder scanner market that have boosted its dependability for diagnosing lower urinary tract symptoms.

Based on end-users, the global bladder scanners industry is bifurcated into hospitals, diagnostic centers, and others.

The hospital segment is the major contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.20% during the forecast period. Modern technical equipment for diagnostic and surgical operations and better therapies are well-equipped in hospitals. The number of diagnostic procedures and surgeries connected to urology-associated diseases is increasing. Due to the low cost of procedures and medications, as well as the availability of cutting-edge infrastructure, hospitals are the primary treatment facilities for urological illnesses worldwide. Hospitals provide integrated services from diagnostics to treatment and post-treatment. As a result, they are patients' first choice for any diagnostic and treatment procedure, boosting demand for bladder scanners in the market and the expansion of this market segment under investigation.

Tests and procedures used in diagnostic centers are frequently described in their specificity, sensitivity, and usability. However, a diagnostic test's accessibility and cost are essential in determining its precise clinical impact. In environments with fewer resources, this is especially true. The rising prevalence of urological illnesses is driving the need for bladder scanners at diagnostic centers—according to the same source, 3 to 6 million people in the U.K. struggle with urine incontinence. Furthermore, urine incontinence affects 24% of elderly persons in the United Kingdom.

Clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, specialized clinics, and long-term care facilities are some of the other end users. An increase in diagnostic and treatments is driving the segment. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), also known as outpatient surgery clinics, day surgery centers, or facilities for same-day surgery, are cutting-edge healthcare establishments that offer same-day surgical care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures that don't call for an overnight stay in the hospital. According to the Ambulatory Surgical Centers Association of the United States, California had the most Medicare-certified ambulatory surgical facilities than any other state in the U.S., Eight hundred seventeen ambulatory surgical centers with Medicare certification were founded in the state in 2021.

Recent Developments

• June 2022- Paige announced a partnership with Janssen Research and Development LLC (Janssen) to examine the feasibility of developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered biomarker test based on hematoxylin and eosin (HandE) to identify specific, actionable mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) genes in patients with advanced urothelial cancer, also known as bladder cancer.
• February 2022- The iViz Handheld system was released, according to Fujifilm. This device can scan the bladder volume.

Market Share

In the bladder scanner market, there is competition between several key players. Becton Dickinson and Company, dBMEDx Inc., Vitacon, Laborie Medical Technologies Inc., GE Healthcare Inc., EchoNous, Inc., SRS Medical Systems, and Roper Technologies, Inc. are some prominent names in this industry. Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD) stand out as a major player, offering the BBS Revolution bladder scanner that utilizes ultrasound energy to generate bladder images. 

Another noteworthy development comes from Withings, recognized for its health-focused consumer tech. At CES 2023, they unveiled the U-Scan, described as the "first hands-free connected home urine lab." This device allows users to conveniently monitor urine composition without the hassle of cups or test strips. It seamlessly integrates with the Health Mate app, providing valuable insights. Clarius Mobile Health, a global leader in wireless ultrasound solutions, has received FDA clearance for its Clarius Bladder AI. This non-invasive tool can swiftly measure bladder volume, enhancing efficiency in healthcare settings. The industry is dedicated to creating user-friendly, technologically advanced bladder scanning solutions for improved patient outcomes and enhanced ease of use for healthcare professionals.