US-based respiratory medtech company Verathon, a subsidiary of Roper Industries, has launched Spectrum QC eco, its first single-use video laryngoscope (VL; endoscope) that is mostly made with bio-based plastics.
Designed with sustainability in mind, Verathon notes the device’s shell comprises 80% bio-based plastics and has received an International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).
According to the device’s Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data, the bio-based materials used in Spectrum QC have a 74% lower carbon footprint compared to fossil fuel-based alternatives.
Verathon president Earl Thompson commented: "As a market leader in single-use medical devices, we are demonstrating that exceptional patient care and care for the environment are not mutually exclusive.
“We are excited about launching Spectrum QC eco to our customers. This is a big step forward and further reinforces our commitment to sustainability."
GlobalData’s Market Size & Growth database indicates that the global airway management market was valued at around $1.6bn in 2023 and is forecast to reach a valuation of around $2.1bn by 2033.
According to GlobalData analysis, the disposable endoscopes market was worth an estimated $1.1bn in 2024 and is projected to reach a valuation of $1.9bn by 2030 – an increase driven by the fact disposable endoscopes are on track to replace traditional endoscopes as more healthcare practitioners are promoting the use of this alternative globally.
According to GlobalData analysis, Verathon is the leading player in the global laryngoscopes market, followed by Medtronic and Flexicare Medical in second and third place respectively.
Roper Industries acquired Verathon in 2009 from DW Healthcare Partners in a deal worth around $300m.
Elsewhere in the endoscopy space, GE HealthCare recently added several new functions to its OEC 3D C-arm portfolio to enhance clinician workflows and improve the visualisation of airways in the lungs during endoscopic bronchoscopy procedures.
Editor's note: This article was amended on 11 December 2024 to correct market data and analysis about the global laryngoscopes market.
