Thoracoscopes Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Flexible, Semi-Rigid, and Rigid), By Procedure (Pleural Fluid Drainage, Parietal Pleural Biopsy, Pleurodesis, and Others), By End User (Hospitals & ASCs, Specialty Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Thoracoscopes are thin, flexible tubes with a light and small video camera at the end that are used while performing a thoracoscopy procedure. These devices are used to look at the space inside the chest, which includes the lungs and the space surrounding the lungs (pleural surface). Healthcare professionals perform thoracoscopy procedures in cases where the minimally invasive tests do not produce conclusive results.

Rigid thoracoscopes are placed into the pleural surface to diagnose pleural diseases or to perform minor therapeutic procedures such as pleurodesis, amongst others. These procedures can be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. In addition, thoracoscopy can sometimes also be used to treat small cell lung cancers by removing the part of the lung that has a tumor, in some cases, it may also be used to treat cancers of the thymus and esophagus.

The increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases among the population will contribute to the increase in the number of thoracoscopic procedures performed. In addition, with a significant increase in the number of therapeutics for lung cancer, immune modulation, and immunosuppression, medical thoracoscopy will continue to play an important role in the evaluation and research of pleuropulmonary diseases.

• According to the data published by the American TelePhysicians in 2024, in developed countries, the incidence of pleural effusion is estimated to be around 320 cases per 100,000 people. The most common causes of pleural effusion are cancers, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonia.

Furthermore, the growing preference for shorter hospital stays and the development of technologically advanced thoracoscopes with enhanced illumination are some of the factors contributing to the market growth. Shorter hospital stays are less expensive than inpatient care, and they provide easy access to quality healthcare, which is beneficial for individuals who do not have access to inpatient care. Thus, these factors will drive the market growth in the coming years.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global thoracoscopes market as several elective procedures were suspended to prioritize resources for COVID-19 patients and minimize the risk of virus transmission. The temporary halt of these procedures reduced the number of thoracoscopy procedures conducted due to the reduced number of hospital patient visits. According to the data published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in June 2022, there was an 11.3% decrease in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) during the pandemic. These factors contributed to the reduced demand for thoracoscopes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Prevalence of Key Disorders By Key Countries, 2022/2023


• Overview: Technological Advancements in Thoracoscopes


• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships)


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Thoracoscopes Market

Analysis by Product Type

Based on the product type, the market is segmented into flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid. The rigid segment accounted for a significant market share in 2023. Rigid thoracoscopy offers enhanced vision, provides large biopsy samples using a single port of entry, and offers significant assistance when biopsies have to be taken from ribs (or hard lesions). Moreover, rigid thoracoscopy is cost-effective and offers high optical quality, which makes it easier for healthcare providers to perform these procedures. Thus, the significant advantages offered by rigid thoracoscopy will increase their preference among healthcare professionals as they provide enhanced results. These are some of the factors that contribute to the segmental growth.

Furthermore, the semi-rigid segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Semi-rigid thoracoscopy is well tolerated and can be easily performed as an outpatient procedure. Moreover, biopsy procedures can be enhanced with accessories that are compatible with this thoracoscopy, such as a cryoprobe and insulated tip knife. Semi-rigid thoracoscopy offers several advantages, such as the reduced need for sedation and analgesia, less compression over the ribs, and fewer complications. In addition, it provides a higher diagnosis rate in differentiating exudative pleural effusion (pneumonia, malignancy, tuberculosis, and others). Thus, continuous advancements in thoracoscopy coupled with several added advantages will drive its demand in the coming years.

Regional Analysis

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The global market is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is projected to account for a significant share of the global thoracoscopes market in 2023. The growth of the market in the region is attributed to factors, such as the increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, such as pleural effusion and others, as well as the presence of technologically superior healthcare infrastructure with the availability of advanced procedures to treat the respiratory diseases.

• According to the data published by MDPI in February 2024, pleural effusion is the most common disease among all pleural diseases, and it affects approximately 1.5 million patients every year in the U.S. Thus, increasing the number of cases every year will boost the demand for thoracoscopy procedures consequently driving the demand for thoracoscopes. Thus, these factors are contributing to the region’s market growth.

Moreover, the market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing population, coupled with the growing number of respiratory diseases in countries, such as China, Japan, and India, are some of the factors driving the region’s market growth. In addition, Asia Pacific has a growing healthcare expenditure, which will contribute to advanced thoracoscopy procedures in the region. Thus, growing advancements in healthcare infrastructure will accelerate the development of thoracoscopy procedures, further driving the demand for thoracoscopes in the region.

Key Players Covered

The report includes the profiles of key players, such as Endoso Life, Karl Storz GmbH, Richard Wolf GmbH., Arthrex, Inc. B. Braun Melsungen AG, and Olympus Corporation.

Key Industry Developments

• In January 2024, Endoso Life received funds of approximately USD 13.8 million from Wego Songyuan Fund and the Lapam Capital. The company will further expand the product portfolio of single-use endoscopes and optical rigid endoscopes and will accelerate the global distribution of sales. Therefore, the growing advancements in the field of rigid endoscopes will also contribute to the innovations and advancements in thoracoscopes.


• In October 2023, Olympus Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation announced the start of a demonstration experiment on a cloud endoscopy system that enables image processing on the cloud. Technological advancement in the endoscopy field will also bring advancements in thoracoscopes.


• In May 2023, Air Water Inc. and Keio University developed the ultra-fine rigid endoscope, which utilizes graded-index plastic optical fiber (GI-POF) technology. The new endoscope transmits images from inside the body. Constant advancements in the endoscopy field will also enhance thoracoscopy procedures.