Medtronic’s McGrath Mac portable video laryngoscope has been recalled due to the potential for the device to cause serious harm or death to the patient. This can occur due to the battery going past the set minimum power level, leading to increased temperatures and the possible explosion of the battery. Currently, only one injury has been reported. The FDA designated the recall as Class I, which is likely to hurt sales for the medical device giant in the laryngoscope market. The laryngoscope market value was $310.6m in 2023 and is projected to reach $508.2m in 2033, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.05%, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

This is not the first recall for Medtronic’s laryngoscopes. In September 2023, the company issued a recall due to stolen, malfunctioning devices that were distributed by third parties. While no injuries were discovered about the issue, the company’s history of recalls could affect buyers. The seriousness of this latest recall can be expected to have a noticeable effect on Medtronic’s laryngoscope sales as hesitation to purchase these devices compared to competitors’ laryngoscopes sets in.

Medtronic currently holds approximately 10.3% of the laryngoscope market and is overshadowed by major competitors such as Ambu (13.4%), Karl Storz (15.1%), and Olympus (18.1%). With the ongoing Class I recall, the gap between Medtronic and these major players may widen. More specifically, in the submarket of portable video laryngoscopes, Medtronic and Karl Storz dominate the space with market shares of 39.9% and 30.6%, respectively. However, because of ongoing device malfunctions, Medtronic’s hold on this submarket may loosen to the benefit of Karl Storz.

GlobalData expects the overall laryngoscope market to experience stable growth going forward as the number of surgeries requiring airway management increases due to the growing prevalence of respiratory conditions requiring hospitalization.

While Medtronic remains a significant player in the laryngoscope market, incidences involving major damage to patients will have an impact on hospitals purchasing the company’s products, as they require absolute trust in the tools they use. As the demand for laryngoscopes continues to grow, Medtronic may experience a notable hit to its profits.