The world market for urodynamics devices and disposables is expected to grow at a rate of 3.0 percent during the 2005-2013 period. There is no single dominant player in the Urodynamics equipment and disposables market. Focused / specialized companies include: Laborie, Life-Tech, MMS, SRS, Urodynamix, Schippers, Menfis, Andromeda, Albyn, and Mediwatch. Larger companies include Bard, Gyrus ACMI, Cooper, and ETHICON (Gynecare).

Over time, the market is likely to see blurring of the mid- and low-end equipment segments – downward price pressures on the mid-range segment, as well as expansion of features in the low-price segment, will contribute to this. Companies are offering relatively inexpensive and simple systems which can be operated by office personnel (nurses and technicians). The urodynamics devices market can be segmented the following way:

•By Equipment Type: High-End, Mid-Range, Low-End
•By Disposable Type: Catheters, Pump Tubing, EMG Electrodes, Other Disposables

Key market drivers in this space include: a) Large and under penetrated market: incidence and prevalence of urological diseases on the rise; b) Favorable Medicare and private insurance reimbursement for urological diagnostic procedures; c) Expanded treatment options for urological conditions; and d) Expansion in testing sites / locations pointing to increased number of procedures.

Market restraints include: a) Invasive procedure; b) Significant per procedure costs; c) Equipment costs; d) Recent focus on marketing of low-end equipment, which tend to offer lower revenues and margins; d) Urologist office space largely penetrated - sales in this market are mostly replacement.

Urodynamics includes a menu of tests or procedures designed to assess the performance of bladder and urethra in storing and releasing urine. These tests help physicians understand how well the bladder and sphincter muscles work. They can also help explain symptoms such as incontinence; frequent urination; sudden, strong urges to urinate; problems starting a urine stream; painful urination; problems emptying bladder completely; and recurrent urinary tract infections.

Most patients are referred to a urologist for urodynamic studies. However, other specialists are also performing these studies, such as gynecologists and Ob/Gyns. Urodynamics studies are conducted using uroflow, urodynamic, ultrasound, and electromyography equipment and associated consumables. Types of procedures include: Flowmetry; Cystometry; Urethral-Cystometry; Pressure-Flow Study; Urethral Pressure Profile; Conductance; Valsalva and Strain Leak Point Pressure; Electromyography. Procedures can range from simple to complex. Complex procedures involve imaging equipment that films urination and pressure monitors that record the pressures of the bladder and urethra

Key participants in the urodynamics devices business include: Albyn Medical; American Medical Systems (AMS); ANDROMEDA; Bard Urological; BEAC Biomedicle; Cook Urological; Cooper Surgical; ETHICON (Gynecare); GYRUS ACMI; HealthTronics; Kendall Patient Care; Laborie Medical Technologies; Life-Tech; MEDICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS (MMS); Medispec; Mediwatch Plc; Menfis bioMedical; Millar Instruments; Mindray Medical International Ltd; Neomedix Systems; Oakfield Instruments; PCK; SCHIPPERS-MEDIZINTECHNIK; SRS Medical; Stille-Sonesta; Urodynamix Technologies; Verathon.

Marketstrat has published a report that analyzes the world market for various urodynamics equipment and disposables, discusses key players, and identifies trends impacting the market for these products. Topics covered include product definitions, revenues, segmentation, disease incidence and prevalence, market share rankingss, competitive position map, brands and models, and company profiles. The report provides market estimates and forecasts for Urodynamics equipment and disposables by product segment, separately for USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.