Big growth ahead for small medical systems?

Revenues for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in medical applications will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 11.4% over the next five years, from $615.8 million in 2001 to $1,057.2 million in 2006, according to In-Stat/MDR, a market research firm. "Despite the tremendous opportunity for MEMS technology, the medical market is a tough nut to crack, with the biggest hurdles being the requirement of FDA approval and a constrictive supply chain that can be a daunting barrier to entry," says Marlene Bourne, a Senior Analyst with In-Stat/MDR. The re-search shows that while MEMS may hold a technological edge, less expensive conventional technologies are often used instead. As a result, MEMS are not currently being used in applications where one might expect to find them, such as cochlear implants, neural stimulators, and micro-needles for blood glucose testing. The greatest opportunity is MEMS sensors, according to Bourne. She notes that needles, probes, and nozzles are also on the verge of rapid growth. An In-Stat/MDR report, "BioMEMS: Revolutionizing Medicine and Healthcare," provides a detailed look at the devices, medical fields, end-use applications, and healthcare trends that may drive the BioMEMS market segment over the next five years. To purchase this report, visit www.instat.com/catalog/cat-esa.htm or contact Erin McKeighan; [email protected] at (480) 609-4551. The report price is $3,495. In-Stat/MDR is a unit of the Reed Elsevier plc group.