Rapidly Increasing Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Volumes Will Drive Growth In The US Electrophysiology Mapping And Ablation Device Market

TORONTO, July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, procedure volume expansion, particularly supported by an increase in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations, will drive strong growth in the electrophysiology (EP) mapping and ablation device market in the United States. An aging population as well as increased physician confidence and proficiency in performing ablations are the main factors contributing to rises in overall procedure volumes.

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"EP ablations are achieving greater acceptance as a primary treatment option for AF," said MRG Analyst Mirel Giugaru. "This strongly supports revenues because AF ablations are complicated procedures, and in general, a greater number of premium-priced, specialized ablation devices are therefore used during these procedures."

For example, a majority of AF ablations employ advanced technologies such as Medtronic's Arctic Front cryoballoon catheter as well as irrigated-tip radiofrequency (RF) catheter offerings from companies like Biosense Webster and Boston Scientific. Other novel devices that will offer an alternative to current technologies and increase competition in the ablation catheter segment are expected to enter the market around 2015 or onward. These include CardioFocus' HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System (EAS) laser ablation catheter and force-sensing irrigated-tip RF ablation catheters such as Endosense's TactiCath and Biosense Webster's ThermoCool SmartTouch. New products will facilitate the performance of AF ablations and further spur revenue growth.

While all segments of this market will experience growth through 2021, revenues in the diagnostic and ablation catheter segments will grow significantly faster than revenues for capital equipment. Cost-conscious facilities delaying purchases of expensive capital equipment and slowed growth in the construction of new EP labs will limit the EP lab system market.

Another trend in this market is the increased reprocessing of diagnostic catheters. In response to this trend, original equipment manufacturers such as Stryker and Johnson & Johnson have acquired reprocessing companies in order to remain competitive.

Overall, however, the uptake of AF ablations will drive the US EP mapping and ablation device market to reach a value of more than $2.4 billion in 2021.

Millennium Research Group's US Markets for Electrophysiology Mapping and Ablation Devices 2013 report includes unit, installed base, procedure, average selling price and revenue information, along with market drivers and limiters and a competitive landscape for EP lab systems, diagnostic catheters and ablation catheters in the United States.

About Millennium Research Group
Millennium Research Group (www.MRG.net), a Decision Resources Group company (www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com), is the global authority on medical technology market intelligence and the leading provider of strategic information to the healthcare sector. The company provides specialized industry expertise through multiclient market research, ongoing Marketrack™ projects, customer loyalty tracking, facility-level procedure forecasting, and customized solutions.

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information, and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources Group at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

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SOURCE Millennium Research Group