Market Trends of Germany Neonatal and Prenatal Devices Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Germany Neonatal & Prenatal Devices Market according to our research experts:
Incubators Segment is Anticipated to have a Highest Share in the Studied Market Over the Forecast Period
An incubator is an apparatus used to maintain environmental conditions suitable for a neonate (newborn baby). It provides a safe, temperature-controlled environment for a baby that needs NICU care. Neonatal incubators are often necessary for infants. Some low birth-weight infants need respiratory support ranging from extra oxygen (by the head hood or nasal cannula) to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or mechanical ventilation. The temperature regulation of infants is among the major factors to be controlled in neonatal incubator cases. The companies have varied devices on several parameters, among which temperature regulation is very important, as severe temperature differences lead to neonate heat loss, hypothermia, and apnea, which are closely related to airflow and air velocity.
The rise in preterm and low-weight birth drives the segment. For instance, according to the study published by BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth in February 2021, the median gestational age for preterm birth is 32.3 weeks, and 6.1% of babies were born weighing less than 2500 g in 2020. It also stated that birth weights less than the 10th percentile for gestational age were found in 8.5% of the total cohort in the German population in 2020.
Every year numerous studies related to neonates are carried out in the country by the German Neonatal Network, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research to understand the improvements in prenatal care. One such study was undertaken in the year 2020 to understand the survival rates of preterm infants obtaining active perinatal care, in 43 Level III NICUs across Germany. Such initiatives highly facilitate the adoption of neonatal and prenatal care equipment within hospitals.
Ultrasound and Ultrasonography Devices are Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over the Forecast Period
A fetal ultrasound (sonogram) is an imaging technique that uses sound waves to produce images of a fetus in the uterus. Fetal ultrasound images can assist a healthcare provider in evaluating the baby's growth and development and monitoring the pregnancy. Fetal ultrasonography is sometimes used to evaluate potential abnormalities or to confirm a diagnosis.
The availability of technologically advanced products in the market also contributes to market growth. For instance, 3D ultrasound allows doctors to evaluate internal and exterior fetal anatomy using static 3D images. Also, 4D ultrasound has recently been introduced in medical practice and complements 2D and 3D examination by obtaining images in real time. During a 4D ultrasound, the practitioner can broadcast footage of anatomical images. This allows healthcare personnel to observe the function of the fetal heart wall and valves and blood flow through various veins.
Also, a study published in the Journal of BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth in April 2022 reported that ultrasound findings help in the prenatal diagnosis of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome in Germany. In the study, all women underwent a complete fetal abnormality examination, which included fetal echocardiography using high-resolution ultrasound equipment to detect Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome in the fetus. The advantages of ultrasonography in detecting fetus abnormality and various diseases diagnosis are expected to propel the segment's growth over the forecast period.
