Plastics for Medical Devices

Report Highlights

• The medical plastics market will reach almost 1.98 billion pounds by the end of 1999 and will grow at an annual rate of about 6%, consuming more than 2.6 billion pounds by 2004. Nondisposables comprise slightly more than 50% of total volume.
• Commodity thermoplastics dominate the market with a little under 50% of total volume.
• The Engineering resins market will grow at an annual rate of about 6.5%, consuming more than 0.3 billion pounds by 2004.

INTRODUCTION

STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to analyze current and future markets for medical plastics, but excluding medical packaging.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

Plastics use in the healthcare field encompasses several distinct markets. These predominantly are applications for medical devices and related products and packaging. Market research studies in the past often have combined these two applications. This does not benefit companies exclusively involved in medical devices or medical packaging.

This study will cover plastics use in medical devices which have sustained annual growth rates far in excess of the gross domestic product (GDP). The obvious aging of the U.S. population, continuing cost reduction pressures in the healthcare field, advances in polymer performance, introduction of new and often life-saving devices and the ever- present environmental/disposable/non-disposable medical device triad warrant an in-depth study as we enter the next decade.

SCOPE AND FORMAT

This report will follow a scope and format similar to BCC's P-121 Plastics in Non-Packaging Medical Applications, published in 1996. All industry and market information will be updated and be more definitive, and detailed market estimates will be provided.

Advances in polymer technology, new types of medical devices, the changing resin producer scenario, impact of government agencies, sterilization techniques and medical plastics product lines and trade-named products are some of the topics that are covered. The future of PVC also will be assessed.

METHODOLOGY

BCC undertook an extensive review of trade and technical literature covering plastics use in medical devices. Following the collection and analysis of this data, unresolved issues were discussed with polymer producers, compounders and medical device manufacturers. Dollar values are in 1999 dollars. The word "millions" often is abbreviated as "MM," and growth rates are annually compounded. All tables not labeled "BCC" were extracted from a variety of trade literature sources.

ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

Following is a list of acronyms used in this report:

ABS - acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer
COPE - copolyester elastomer
EAA - ethylene acrylic acid
EMA - ethylene methylacrylate
EVA - ethylene-vinyl-acetate
HDPE - high-density polyethylene
HIPS - high-impact polystyrene
LCP - liquid crystal polymer
LDPE - low-density polyethylene
LLDPE - linear low-density polyethylene
PBT - poly(butylene terephthalate)
PC - polycarbonate
PC/ABS - polycarbonate - ABS alloy/blend
PC/PET - polycarbonate-PET alloy/blend
PE - polyethylene
PEI - polyetherimide
PET - poly(ethylene terephthalate)
PP - polypropylene
PPO - poly(phenylene oxide)
PUR - polyurethane
PVC - polyvinyl chloride
SAN - styrene acrylonitrile
SBC - styrene block copolymer
SPS - syndiotactic polystyrene
TPE - thermoplastic elastomer
TPO - thermoplastic olefin
TPU - thermoplastic urethane
ULDPE - ultra low-density polyethylene
VLDPE - very low-density polyethylene