Robotic Endoscopy Devices Market

Market Overview

The global robotic endoscopy devices market size was valued at USD 1.90 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 9.51 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period (2022-2030).

A non-surgical treatment called endoscopy is performed to inspect a patient's body. Robots in endoscopy are widely used in gastrointestinal diagnostics and minimally invasive surgery since they were created to overcome the limits of traditional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Inflammatory bowel disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and pancreatic cancer are just a few of the chronic diseases that are becoming common among people of all ages due to poor lifestyles and the growing elderly population, which require endoscopy devices for treatment. The market for robotic endoscopy equipment is projected to undergo a revolution due to technological advancements in endoscopy visualization systems, raising the standard of services. The need to deliver high-quality endoscopic services at lower prices is anticipated to grow as integrated healthcare systems are developed.

Market Dynamics

Global Robotic Endoscopy Devices Market Drivers

Increasing Geriatric Population

One of the main reasons contributing to the global market's expansion is the rising elderly population. The need for managing GI tract problems is increasing as the world's population ages quickly. It becomes more susceptible to gastrointestinal disorders due to advanced age, which raises the demand for robotic minimally invasive procedures like laparoscopy and other similar ones. For instance, the World Ageing 2019 report estimates that roughly 703 million adults worldwide in 2019 were 65 or older. Among gastrointestinal disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most frequently recognized.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, in 2019, it was estimated that 10-15% of Americans had symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, even though only 5-7% of people had the disorder formally diagnosed. In addition, IBS is most common in South America, where it affects about 21% of people, and least common in Southeast Asia, where it affects 7% of people, according to Nicolas Patel in a 2020 article. In the US, Canada, and Israel, women are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than males to experience IBS symptoms. These factors are anticipated to drive the global robotic endoscopy devices market over the forecast period.

Global Robotic Endoscopy Devices Market Restraints

High Cost of Endoscopic Surgical Techniques and Difficult Repayment Approaches

The high price of these devices has hampered robotic endoscopic system adoption, but more hospitals are concluding they are worthwhile investments. The tools can assist surgeons in minimally invasive surgeries, allowing for a quicker and easier recovery for patients than more extensive ones. The installation of robotics is still constrained by high investment costs, with the majority of large tertiary/university hospitals in significant metropolitan areas with the highest acceptable caseload. According to a 2018 study published on the JAMA Network, the average cost of the tools and accessories used in robotic minimally invasive surgery is USD 1866.

In addition to the equipment's cost, the procedure of negative reimbursements is a substantial obstacle to the market's growth. Especially in Europe, the healthcare system makes it difficult to perform more surgeries using robotic assistance. Since NHS finance in the United Kingdom is hospital-specific, smaller hospitals are less likely to spend significantly on robotic endoscopic procedures. Robotic surgery is covered by private insurers in the US and Korea under "minimally invasive" codes, although it raises individual insurance costs.

Global Robotic Endoscopy Devices Market Opportunities

Growing Preference for Minimal Invasive Procedures and Technological Advancements

Patients only need a small dose of pain medication to go through minimally invasive procedures (MIS) with shorter postoperative recovery times. Furthermore, MIS-related body scars are hardly visible. Endoscopes are used to prevent, diagnose, and treat several disorders. Technologically advanced gadgets can carry out all the tasks above in a less invasive manner with better healthcare results.

These procedures typically yield results that are comparable to those of open surgeries, as well as several significant advantages, including less major bleeding, fewer postoperative infections, fewer complications, a shorter hospital stay, a quicker return to normal activities, less scarring, and costs that are comparable to or less than open surgeries. These procedures have consequently grown in popularity in recent years. The emergence of advanced robotic endoscopic devices is a crucial factor driving the market.

Regional Analysis

The global robotic endoscopy devices market is bifurcated into four regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. 

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant shareholder in the global robotic endoscopy devices market and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 12.00% over the forecast period. The United States dominates the robotic endoscopic device market, which is expected over the forecast period. The market is expanding due to an increase in therapies and a rising population with a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal illnesses. The number of annual gastrointestinal procedures is likely to rise due to the rising prevalence of digestive disorders, the preference for minimally invasive surgeries, the aging of the population, and the expanding therapeutic capabilities of robotic endoscopy equipment, all of which are driving the growth of the endoscopy equipment market in the United States.

Europe is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 13.10%, generating USD 1256.64 million over the forecast period. The market for robotic endoscopy in the UK is predicted to experience significant development over the forecast period. The overall market expansion is driven by the aging population, the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and the rising demand for minimally invasive procedures. In addition, endoscopy is the most often carried out gastrointestinal procedure, according to a recent study by Thomas J.W. Lee published in 2019. Every year, about 2 million gastrointestinal procedures are carried out in the United Kingdom. As a result, the demand for innovative technology has expanded along with the number of gastrointestinal and endoscopic units, which has further contributed to the rise in the popularity of robotic endoscopy tools.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow significantly over the forecast period. There is a significant need for robotic-assisted surgery systems in China because of the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes, the country's aging population, the preference for minimally invasive operations, and positive economic and demographic trends. The benefits of these systems drive the market expansion and increasing adoption of robotic-assisted surgery systems in China. For instance, a study by P. Zheng et al., published in the Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery in April 2020, revealed that the benefits of robotic surgery included less urinary and sexual dysfunction, a lower conversion rate, and decreased intraoperative blood loss. Participants in the Chinese market use a wide range of strategies, such as forming strategic alliances, acquiring rivals, and releasing innovative products, to increase their market share.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. The GCC nations share social and economic backgrounds, health problems, and nearly identical health systems and regulations. In addition, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Israel, and other Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations are among those included in the rest of the Middle East and Africa. In Iran, 6.4% of the population was 65 years of age or older in 2019, and this figure is expected to rise to 20.2% by 2050, according to the World Population Aging 2019 study. The need for robotic endoscopic devices is anticipated to increase due to the elderly population being more susceptible to chronic gastrointestinal disorders that frequently call for minimally invasive operations. In the rest of the region, adult obesity is slowly taking on an epidemic dimension, which is anticipated to increase the usage of MIS operations for weight loss or underlying reasons.

Segmental Analysis

The global robotic endoscopy devices industry is segmented by product, application, and end-user.

Based on Product, the global market is bifurcated into diagnostic and therapeutic.

The therapeutic segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.40% during the forecast period. An endoscope-based therapeutic robotic endoscopic method offers a form of treatment. A procedure that starts as a diagnostic or screening endoscopy may change into a therapeutic endoscopy depending on what is discovered during the procedure. Endoscopic hemostasis, foreign body removal, polypectomy, stenting, variceal banding, endoscopic mucosal excision, and endoscopic ablation are therapeutic robotic endoscopic techniques. In modern gastroenterology, therapeutic endoscopy plays a crucial role. GIT bleeding can be effectively treated using therapeutic robotic endoscopy. Hemostasis techniques are used during endoscopic control of gastrointestinal bleeding: photocoagulation, electrocoagulation, thermocoagulation, and injectable approach.

Robotic endoscopic tools are being used more frequently to diagnose diseases. Endoscopes are currently employed to prevent, diagnose, and treat numerous ailments, even though they were initially created to peer within the body. The need for these devices has grown as disorders that can be identified through endoscopy have become more common. The robotic endoscopic diagnostic process includes collecting cell and tissue samples using a brush or biopsy forceps. Endoscopes come in a variety of varieties and have extra diagnostic capabilities. Robotic endoscopes with ultrasound capabilities can image mucosal, submucosal, or extraluminal lesions or assess blood flow.

Based on Application, the global market is bifurcated into laparoscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, and other applications.

The laparoscopy segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.70% during the forecast period. Laparoscopy is a type of surgery in which tiny incisions are created in the body, such as the abdominal wall, through which a laparoscope and other tools can be inserted to visualize interior body components. Robotic assistance during laparoscopic surgery enables surgeons to do less invasive procedures that generally require a laparotomy, improving patient care. All the benefits of minimally invasive surgery apply to robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, including less postoperative discomfort, more minor and perhaps more visually pleasing incisions, a shorter hospital stay, quicker healing, and a quicker return to work.

A bronchoscope is primarily a hollow metal tube or a thinner tube with a connected fiberoptic or video camera for conveying the image when it is used to examine the trachea, windpipe, and lungs. Robotic bronchoscopy uses adaptable robotics to open up new endoscopic options. Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy devices are predicted to become more popular as respiratory disorders become more common. According to the National Center for Health Statistics 2020 update, those over 85 years old have the highest number of physician ambulatory-care visits for respiratory disorders in the US, and around 85.2 million of these visits had respiratory disease as the primary diagnosis.

Based on End-User, the global market is bifurcated into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and other end-users.

The hospital segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.65% during the forecast period. A hospital, often known as a medical center, offers specialized surgical techniques for patient treatment. Due to the fact that hospitals perform the majority of surgical procedures, hospitals account for a sizable portion of the market for robotic endoscopic systems. The numerous minimally invasive surgical techniques are used more frequently in hospitals due to the rising number of surgical procedures to cut down on blood loss, infection rates, and operating time. Most laparoscopic surgical operations, including bariatric, gynecologic, and gall bladder surgery, are carried out in hospitals due to the simplicity of treating emergency circumstances during surgical procedures or postoperative complications.

Ambulatory surgery centers, or ASCs, are cutting-edge medical establishments that provide same-day surgical care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures. According to American Hospital Association (AHA) figures from 2018, around 5,532 ambulatory surgery centers are Medicare-certified in the country. In addition, compared to hospital admissions, the total number of outpatient visits increased by 1.2% annually. Additionally, according to an article in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a survey was carried out in 2019 to compare hospital and outpatient settings for laparoscopic hysterectomies. Laparoscopic hysterectomy surgeries were performed in most complicated cases in outpatient settings, with a 99.8% same-day release rate compared to 88% in hospitals.

Recent Developments

• November 2022- Founded in 2017 and based in Hong Kong Science Park, an innovative robotic start-up company, Precision Robotics (Hong Kong) Limited (PRHK), entered a significant milestone with its revolutionary flagship product—SIRIUS Endoscope System. The SIRIUS system is a fully integrated 3D HD compact camera system with a single-use flexible tip that can change its viewing direction.
• November 2022- Shanghai Operation Robot Co., Ltd announced the results of its initial clinical trial of the ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) robot in biliary stent placement surgery. It is the world's first Robot-assisted human clinical trial of biliary stent placement surgery.