Market trends in Electrosurgery

Electrosurgery procedures employ electrical energy to achieve a desired clinical effect in which a high radio-frequency (RF) 100 kHz to 5 MHz, alternating current at various voltage ranging from 200-10,000V is passed through the biological tissues to cut, coagulate, desiccate, or even fuse tissue. The main advantage of using electrosurgical devices over electrocautery devices is that they reduce damage to the surrounding tissues as these devices are highly precise where the low voltage is preferred for cut modes and a high voltage is preferred for coagulation mode, the other advantages of electrosurgical devices include low cost than other energy forms, electrodes may be bent to meet the clinical counter need, allowing easy smoothing of soft tissue, such as pontic areas that require countering or palatal areas that have irregularities. Electrodes cut on their sides as well as their ends, which afford easy access for cutting deeply into the tissue, electrosurgical devices are faster, while operating cutting consistency, speed and depth of cuts are very good and electrosurgical electrode tips can be modified into a pencil-like shape for extremely narrow and precise cuts. Electrosurgical devices are used in almost all types of surgeries such as open, minimally invasive and robotic surgery.

Technological advancements, new product approvals and product launches are the trends in the electrosurgical devices market, the manufacturers are developing new technologies to meet many shortcomings, For instance, Biosense Webster Inc. a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson medical devices is developing radiofrequency (RF) balloon ablation catheter HELIOSTAR to treat drug-refractory recurrent paroxysmal (intermittent) atrial fibrillation (AF). In February 2019, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David's Medical Center performed the first procedure in the U.S. using the new HELIOSTAR Multi-electrode Radiofrequency (RF) Balloon Ablation Catheter as part of STELLAR U.S. investigational devices exemption (IDE) study. The Megadyne Electrosurgical Generator by Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon) was released in 2020 to provide simplicity and intelligence within the operating room. This device is incorporated with Geometric Electron Modulation (GEM) technology and is fundamentally different from standard electrosurgical devices. GEM technology focuses the energy on the tapered edges of a specially designed blade and modulates the power level to create low voltage plasma.

Potenza radiofrequency (RF) micro-needling device by Cynosure got regulatory approval in February 2020, which is the first and only FDA-cleared four-mode RF micro-needling device offering clinicians unrivaled versatility and personalized treatments for patients, the device is intended for electrocoagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue for dermatologic conditions. In September 2019, Ethicon, a part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, launched a new product in its MEGADYNE MEGA SOFT portfolio of reusable patient return electrodes which is a lightweight pressure reduction pad, designed with more cushion to increase patient comfort and enhance pressure reduction.

There is a rising trend in the adoption of minimally invasive surgeries (MIS), due to their advantages with respect to both patient care, and the mitigation of the infection during surgery. Studies have revealed that patients undergoing MIS procedures report less pain and require a lesser dose of pain relievers. These procedures result in reduced duration of hospital stay, quick recovery, lower infection rate, reduced recurrence rates, and other complications and overall savings in money spent on each patient. Electrosurgical devices have become an integral part of surgeries, hence, there is increasing use of electrosurgical devices in oncology-related surgeries. However, the volume of surgeries assisted by electrosurgery device had a negative effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 62.2 million surgeries performed in 2020 when compared to 77.6 million surgeries in 2019 which is a 20.0% reduction.

According to IQ4I analysis, the electrosurgical devices global market is estimated to reach $6,635.6 million by 2027 growing at mid-single-digit CAGR from 2020 to 2027. An increase in the adoption of minimally invasive surgeries and increase in the number of robotic surgeries, rapid growth in the aging population, a growing number of cosmetic surgeries, the prevalence of obesity and its related surgeries, the advancement in technology, and demand for electrosurgical procedures in emerging regions are driving the growth of the electrosurgical devices global market. However, the risk of side effects, rising incidence of product recalls, preference for non-invasive procedures, healthcare reforms especially government pressure to minimize healthcare costs and pricing pressure on device manufacturers are restraining the growth of electrosurgical devices global market.

Major players in the electrosurgical devices market are B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Apyx Medical Corporation (U.S.), Bowa Electronic GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), CONMED Corporation (U.S.), Medtronic, PLC (Ireland), Erbe Electromedizin GmbH (Germany), Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon) (U.S.), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Smith & Nephew PLC (U.K.), Utah Medical Products Inc. (U.S.), Applied Medical Resources Corporation (U.S.), Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), Karl Storz SE & Co. KG (Germany), Arthrex Inc., (U.S.), Stryker Corporation (U.S.), Cooper Companies, Inc., (U.S.), Richard Wolf GmbH (Germany) and KLS Martin Group, (Germany).