Cardiac Implants

Additional Information

ICDs, CRT devices will remain dominant types
Cardiac implants extend into several product groups. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and related cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices together with their accessories generate the largest demand, followed by various types of stents. These two product groups will continue to lead cardiac implant sales based on new product introductions, widening eligibility for private and public health insurance coverage, expanding numbers of new patients, and diminishing safety concerns. Providing the most effective therapy for bradycardia, pacemakers and accessories will continue to serve a large, expanding US market. However, growth opportunities for these devices will decelerate over the long term as they have already achieved a high level of market penetration.

Heart-related grafts will provide strong growth opportunities as improvements in stenting systems create new safe and effective devices for treating aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial diseases and stroke. Demand for heart valves will benefit from advances in tissue engineering, which will improve the safety, performance and longevity of animalderived xenografts. Heart valve repair products, consisting of annuloplasty rings and bands, will also fare well in the marketplace as new cardiac diagnostics enable valvular heart diseases to be detected in earlier stages before complete valve replacement becomes necessary. Less favorably, strong growth in the market for tissue valves and valve repair products will be partially offset by decreasing sales of mechanical valves.

Demand for embolic protection devices will rise at a strong pace as many more heart patients undergo procedures that pose an elevated risk of deep vein thrombosis and embolisms. The market for ventricular-assist devices will continue to grow moderately, spurred by widening applications in the management of pretransplant and late-stage heart conditions. Based on their ability to detect heart attack symptoms earlier and save lives, implantable heart monitors will register strong sales growth over the long term.