REPORT HIGHLIGHT
The stethoscope market was valued at USD 429.1 million by 2019, growing with 5.1% CAGR during the forecast period, 2020-2026.

The stethoscope is a medical device used for listening or auscultation to the internal sounds of the body. The device usually has one or two tubes connected to two earpieces and has a disc-shaped small resonator that is placed against the body. It is used for listening to multiple sound frequencies of lung, heart, and bowel. The sound of these organs is vital indicators during examining a patient. It plays an important role in carrying out necessary body functions. The application of a stethoscope is always essential since scientists began studying the physical characteristics associated with the heart.

Market Dynamics

The growing prevalence of chronic diseases, especially pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, is an important factor fuelling the growth of the global stethoscope market across the globe. According to the data provided by the National Centre for Biotechnology (NCB), in the U.S., currently, the cardiovascular condition is responsible for more than 17 million death per year and is anticipated to reach around 23.3 million by 2030. Moreover, recent technological advancements coupled with the rising adoption of this product in telemedicine technology support the industry growth. Furthermore, an increasing number of physicians along with rising average patient visits to physicians anticipated boosting the demand for the stethoscope across the globe. For example, as per the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 10 million physicians worldwide and the number is increasing at a rapid pace. However, under-developed healthcare infrastructure in developing economies will create a negative impact on the stethoscope market growth. Furthermore, the high cost of advanced products is another challenge for the growth of the market in the near future.

Product Type Takeaway

On the basis of product type, the global stethoscope market is broadly categorized into two major types as acoustic (traditional), an electronic stethoscope. Of these, acoustic medical equipment is accounted for a dominant industry share. This product consists of two tubes connected to earpieces and a small disc-shaped resonator which is placed on the examined area. The preference of acoustic stethoscope is still high which is supporting the segment growth significantly. Acoustic product is further categorized into cardiology, veterinary, neonatal, paediatric, teaching, and fetal stethoscope (Pinard Horns, and Fetoscope).

In addition, with the advancement in technologies, the electronic models of a new generation stethoscope are introduced with the aim to avoid the limitations of traditional products and to apply the new electronic technologies. This product is projected to grow with the fastest growth rate during the study period. It is sub-divided into amplifying stethoscope and digitizing a stethoscope. The growth of this segment is attributed to high user convenience and efficiency in the patient’s diagnosis. Moreover, enhanced capabilities of stethoscope including audio and visual output and recording enhanced digital sound transmission capabilities, and Bluetooth connectivity with digital wireless hearing aids creates a positive impact on the market growth segment over the forecast period. In addition to this, the growing adoption of wireless electronic stethoscopes in telemedicine is also likely to fuel the segment growth further.

Design Takeaway

The market is segmented on the basis of design as a triple head, double head, and a single head. From these designs, the single head category accounted for the highest value share and is projected to expand at the fastest CAGR in the future. This is owing to the numerous advantages of the single-headed products as compared to the rest of the two segments. Benefits such as its application in both veterinary & human purpose, pressure sensitivity, and tuneable or adjustable diaphragm for listening multiple sound frequencies without flipping the chest piece support the segment growth.

Material Takeaway

Depending upon the material, the industry is divided into chrome-plated zinc, chrome-plated brass, acrylic resin, stainless steel, aluminum, molded resin, silicone, wooden, and zinc. Among these segments, the stainless steel segment recorded the dominant market share. This is attributed to the high adoption of the material due to its properties including amplification, sound quality, high durability, etc. On the flip side, the chrome-plated zinc and brass category are projected to grow with a promising growth rate during the forecast period.

Usability Takeaway

Based on usability, the market is categorized into disposable and reusable. In 2019, the reusable segment was accounted for relatively high-value share of the global market. High popularity for reusable stethoscope is anticipated to boost the dominant share of the segment over the forecast period. The long shelf life of the product coupled with a high price makes it one-time purchase equipment.

Tube Type Takeaway

On the basis of tube type, the market is segmented into a double tube and single tube. Among these, the double tube segment dominates the market demand, owing to its advantages over a single tube including more accurate diagnosis and clear sound. This will also lead to the significant growth of the segment within the study period.

End-Use Takeaway

By end-use, the global stethoscope market is categorized into physician offices, urgent care centers, academic institutes, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. Among the above-mentioned segments, the hospitals segment is anticipated to account for dominant revenue share in the global market. This is owing to the comparatively high number of hospitals available across the globe. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), presently around 6,210 hospitals are offering medical aid to the U.S. This enables a provision for fast deployment of medical tools and devices in the state and in turn, strengthens the demand for stethoscopes in the region. As per the Athena Health based in the U.S., in the last few decades, the number of medical administrators amplified by approximately 3,200% and the number of medical professionals grew by approximately 150%.

Regional Takeaway

In terms of geography, the global stethoscope market is fragmented as North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Among the aforementioned segments, in 2019, the North America stethoscope market dominated the global market, owing to the presence of leading industry players in the U.S. and the introduction of advanced technological products by the companies in the region. According to the data shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), currently, after 37 seconds, there is 1 death because of cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of death in the province.

However, the Asia Pacific stethoscope market is growing at a significant pace during the study period, attributed to huge population especially the rising aging population, increasing government initiatives for such lifestyle diseases, rising in expenditure on healthcare by industry players as well as domestic governing bodies, etc. Additionally, geographical expansion of industry players particularly the U.S. companies in the Asia Pacific also creating a lucrative opportunity for the market across the region.

Key Vendor Takeaway

Some of the key players responsible for the market growth include Rudolf Riester GmbHC, American Diagnostic Corporation, Welch Allyn, Inc., GF Health Products, Cardionics, Inc., Heine Optotechnik GmbH & Co. KG, 3M, Medline Industries, Inc., and Smiths Medical.

Geographical expansion and product innovation are the key strategies adopted by the industry leaders in order to strengthen their market share. For instance, in November 2019, U.S. based medical device company, Eko Devices, Inc. launched a new CORE all-in-one digital stethoscope. This product is featured with Eko’s signal processing capabilities and advanced amplification technology. The product provides advanced noise cancellation features, up to 40x amplification, wireless BlueTooth connectivity, and the ability to switch between acoustic and digital modes. Such introductions would, in turn, help companies to capture a large customer base.

The market size and forecast for each segment and sub-segments has been considered as below:

Historical Year – 2015 to 2018
Base Year – 2019
Estimated Year – 2020
Projected Year – 2026
TARGET AUDIENCE

Traders, Distributors, and Suppliers
Manufacturers
Government and Regional Agencies
Research Organizations
Consultants
Distributors
SCOPE OF THE REPORT

The scope of this report covers the market by its major segments, which include as follows:

STETHOSCOPE MARKET KEY PLAYERS

Cardionics, Inc.
Heine Optotechnik GmbH & Co. KG
GF Health Products, Inc.
Rudolf Riester GmbHC
American Diagnostic Corporation
3M Healthcare
Medline Industries, Inc.
Welch Allyn, Inc.
Smiths Medical, Inc.
STETHOSCOPE MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE

Acoustic Stethoscope
Fetal Stethoscope
Pinard Horns
Fetoscope
Paediatric Stethoscope
Teaching Stethoscope
Cardiology Stethoscope
Veterinary Stethoscope
Neonatal Stethoscope
Others
Electronic Stethoscope
Amplifying Stethoscope
Digitizing Stethoscope
STETHOSCOPE MARKET, BY DESIGN

Single Head
Double Head
Triple Head
STETHOSCOPE MARKET, BY MATERIAL

Aluminium
Silicone
Wooden
Acrylic Resin
Chrome-plated Brass
Zinc
Molded Resin
Chrome-plated Zinc
Stainless Steel
Others
STETHOSCOPE MARKET, BY USABILITY

Disposable
Reusable
STETHOSCOPE MARKET, BY TUBE TYPE

Single Tube
Double Tube
STETHOSCOPE MARKET, BY END-USE

Physician Office
Urgent Care Centres
Academic Institutes
Hospitals
Ambulatory Surgical Centres
Others
STETHOSCOPEMARKET, BY REGION

North America
The U.S.
Canada
Europe
Germany
France
Italy
Spain
United Kingdom
Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
India
China
South Korea
Japan
Singapore
Rest of APAC
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Argentina
Rest of LATAM
Middle East and Africa
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Rest of MEA