Fetal Monitoring Market Assessment, By Product [Ultrasound, Electronic Maternal/Fetal Monitors, Uterine Contraction Monitor, Fetal Electrodes, Fetal Doppler, Telemetry Devices, Accessories and Consumables], By Portability [Portable, Non-Portable], By Meth

Fetal Monitoring Market Assessment, By Product [Ultrasound, Electronic Maternal/Fetal Monitors, Uterine Contraction Monitor, Fetal Electrodes, Fetal Doppler, Telemetry Devices, Accessories and Consumables], By Portability [Portable, Non-Portable], By Method [Invasive, Non-Invasive], By Application [Antepartum, Intrapartum], By End-user [Hospitals, Gynecological/Obstetrics Clinics, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global fetal monitoring market is projected to witness a CAGR of 7.02% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 4.54 billion in 2023 to USD 7.81 billion in 2031. Factors are driving the global fetal monitoring market such as increasing birth rates, prevalence of pregnancy related complications, and technological advancements.

Fetal monitoring devices are essential tools used to assess the health and well-being of a fetus during pregnancy. These devices include ultrasound systems, electronic fetal monitors, and fetal dopplers, which help healthcare providers to monitor fetal heart rates, movements, and maternal contractions. This growth is driven by several factors, including the rising incidence of preterm births and pregnancy-related complications, advancements in technology, and increasing awareness of prenatal care. However, challenges such as high costs, regulatory hurdles, and limited awareness among expectant mothers and healthcare providers may hinder market expansion. North America currently holds the largest market share, but Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit the highest growth rate, influenced by improvements in healthcare infrastructure and rising demand for advanced monitoring solutions.

On 26th June 2024, the food and drug administration (FDA) granted 510(k) approval to Clarius Health Corp for its AI-based handheld ultrasound device. Clarius OB AI, has been trained on over 30,000 fetal ultrasound images, automates appropriate caliper placement for calculating fetal biometry measurements and allows users to add the measurements to patient electronic medical records via the Clarius app.

Increasing Prevalence of Pregnancy Related Complications

The increasing prevalence of pregnancy-related complications is significantly driving the demand for fetal monitoring devices. Conditions such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preterm labor have become more common, necessitating enhanced monitoring to ensure the health and safety of both the mother and fetus. As these complications can lead to serious health risks, healthcare providers are increasingly relying on fetal monitoring systems to facilitate timely interventions and manage high-risk pregnancies effectively. The market for these devices is projected to grow, with advancements in technology allowing for more accurate and efficient monitoring solutions. The surge in demand is fueled by rising awareness among expectant mothers about the importance of prenatal care and the capabilities of modern fetal monitoring technologies, which enable continuous assessment of fetal well-being and maternal health. Pregnancy problems, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, may increase the chance of mortality even decades after delivery. Women who had serious problems during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature mortality. Such prevalence leads to growth of the global fetal monitoring market.

Technological Advancements to Drive Market Growth

Technological advancements in fetal monitoring are revolutionizing prenatal care, enhancing both the accuracy and convenience of monitoring fetal health. Innovations such as wearable devices, such as the abdominal patch developed by UC Irvine engineers in November 2022, allows expectant mothers to track fetal heart rates at home using a smartphone, promoting continuous monitoring without the need for trained technicians. The device utilizes an algorithm called Lullaby, which effectively isolates fetal electrocardiogram signals from maternal heartbeats, improving the clarity of data collected. Additionally, transabdominal fetal monitors are gaining traction, offering a non-invasive method that simplifies the monitoring process by using adhesive patches that do not require constant adjustments. These advancements improve the user experience and address challenges related to the global shortage of skilled healthcare professionals.

Portable Ultrasound Devices to Grow at a Fast Rate

Portable ultrasound devices are expected to see a significant increase in demand for fetal monitoring in the coming years due to several key factors. Handheld ultrasound systems are compact, lightweight, and easy for healthcare providers to use at the point-of-care, allowing for more frequent monitoring of fetal health. This is especially beneficial for high-risk pregnancies or in remote areas with limited access to traditional ultrasound machines. Technological advancements are enabling portable ultrasound devices to produce higher quality images comparable to cart-based systems. As the gap in functionality continues to decline, portable ultrasound will become an increasingly viable option for fetal monitoring. Artificial intelligence is being integrated with portable ultrasound to enhance diagnostic capabilities and guide treatment decisions, especially in emergency situations.

Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. launched PocketPro H2, a wireless portable ultrasound device for general imaging in point-of-care applications, in July 2023. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas Inc. partnered with Healcerion Co Ltd to commercialize the PocketPro H2 in the United States for urology and gynecology applications, bringing a new level of flexibility and affordability to ultrasound.

Hospitals to Dominate the Global Fetal Monitoring Market Share

Hospitals are equipped with advanced ultrasound technology and have specialists trained in interpreting fetal ultrasound images. They can provide comprehensive fetal monitoring throughout pregnancy, from early dating scans to detailed anatomy surveys and growth assessments. Hospitals have the capability to perform more specialized ultrasound exams such as fetal echocardiograms to evaluate the fetal heart. Additionally, hospitals are equipped to handle high-risk pregnancies that require closer monitoring, such as those with maternal conditions such as diabetes or preeclampsia, or fetal abnormalities detected in ultrasound. Portable ultrasound devices are increasingly being used in hospitals to provide point-of-care monitoring, allowing for more frequent checks on fetal well-being.

Future Market Scenario (2024-2031F)

Noninvasive fetal electrocardiography (ECG) and uterine contraction monitoring technologies are expected to bring novel metrics and potentially improved safety to obstetrics in coming years. These technologies filter ambient noise and focus on the fetal ECG waveform and uterine contraction patterns to provide more accurate monitoring. Fetal monitoring bands with innovative features like real-time data analysis, wireless connectivity, and portability are being introduced to make monitoring more convenient for providers and expectant mothers. These wearable devices allow for ambulatory monitoring outside the hospital setting.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The market witnessed some substantial market deals such as acquisitions, regulatory approvals, and product launches to expand the market share of key players. NeuroLogica Corp. launched the V6, their latest ultrasound system, in November 2023. The V6 provides full imaging capabilities in 2D, 3D, and color picture quality, with a focus on Women's Health and Urology. The V6 recently gained 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration for commercial usage, and it is intended to be cost-effective while meeting workflow and productivity requirements. A semi-automated tool based on deep learning that allows for one-click fetal growth measures, improving exam uniformity while minimizing keystrokes and allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care.