Market Dynamics
Introduction
In the medical industry, carbon composites are increasingly preferred in applications such as radiographic imaging tabletops, cradles, prosthetics, tabletop extensions & accessories, oncology treatment overlays, positioning products, and surgical table components. Operating tables with carbon composite tabletops offer radiolucency, which makes them suitable for hybrid operating rooms and diagnostic imaging.
Carbon fiber composites are often used as the surface material with a foam core in a “sandwich” structure, supporting patients while ensuring high X-ray transmission rates. Compared to traditional table surfaces, carbon fiber medical panels offer advantages in X-ray transmission, image clarity, strength, and rigidity. Carbon fiber composite materials are characterized by high strength, low density, and extremely low X-ray absorption rates.
• X-ray Transmission: Medical panels with high X-ray transmission rates can reduce radiation dosage, thereby lowering radiation exposure for both patients and medical staff. Diagnostic accuracy is also ensured owing to clear imaging.
• Durability: Other than transmission rate and surface strength, the longevity of the medical surgical table is also a crucial aspect. Carbon fiber is a non-metallic material with low electrochemical activity, excellent corrosion resistance, and, during procedures, is not susceptible to damage from alcohol, medications, or bloodstains, while also meeting sterile medical requirements. Additionally, it can bear heavy weights and withstand repeated use.
Key Market Drivers:
Some of the key driving factors include the rising geriatric population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and increasing incidences of surgeries across the globe. Improvement in healthcare facilities across the globe has led to the introduction of modern, advanced, and technologically enabled surgical tables, and demand for the adoption of surgical tables with new modalities is expected to drive long-term demand.
• The increasing aging population worldwide and the rising number of hospital admissions by geriatric patients, specifically those suffering from end-stage chronic diseases that involve surgical treatment: According to UNFPA data, the global share of people aged 65 and over has nearly doubled from 5.5% in 1974 to 10.3% in 2024. This figure is projected to reach 20.7% by 2074, with the number of those aged 80 and over more than tripling.
• Increasing number of surgeries: A new study presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that, based on projection models, orthopedic surgeons will need to either double their total joint arthroplasty (TJA) caseload or increase the number of surgeons by 10% every five years to meet demand.
• Increasing healthcare spending: According to WHO, global spending on health continued to increase in 2021, the second year of the pandemic, to US$ 9.8 trillion (10.3% of global GDP).
• Need for replacement of old and outdated surgery tables: Surgery tables or operating theater tables can typically last for 10 to 15 years. For traditional tables, spare parts may even become obsolete in a few years, thus making it nearly impossible to repair them. The dire need to replace outdated and traditional surgical tables with newer, advanced, and more efficient surgical tables is also likely to augment the long-term demand.
Key Developments:
• Eschmann Holdings Ltd. designed the T20 series of powered operating tables with advanced features with X-ray translucent tabletop, height adjustment, narrow T-shaped base, interchangeable and removable head, leg section, handset with Battery status indicator, width adjuster for obese patients, and others. Such modern surgical tables are capable of general as well as specialty surgeries. The rise in the adoption of these advanced tables helps medical experts in performing critical procedures with much ease.
• SurgiGraphic 6000 image-guided surgical table from STERIS Corporation is designed for minimally invasive procedures related to endovascular, vascular, cardiovascular, pain management, and other procedures that require intra-operative fluoroscopic C-Arm imaging. It is highly flexible and enables latitude and longitudinal floating, lateral tilt, height adjustments, and others enabling surgeons to complete control of the table.
• Steris ASC 2000 battery-powered surgical table enables patient position flexibility for modern ambulatory surgical care with features such as lateral lift and adjustable height function.
• Nuvo Inc.'s V800 surgical table can accommodate orthopedic, neurological, and other surgeries that come with distinct features such as sliding top, low base, reverse orientation, and others. It is also compatible with C-arm access, and self-diagnosis with instant error code display providing maximum benefits during procedures.
• WIT-Composites' efforts to design a more effective all-composite surgical table led to the development of complex components and an elastic carbon fiber material. The table's key features include: an all-composite tabletop, side rails, and optional surgical arm enlarged area of X-ray transparency; elastic composite sections within rail and hinge connection systems enable an air pumping system for securely attaching medical equipment to the table; the technology serves as a springboard for future composite-on-composite joint technologies.
