Disposable Device Sales Rising in Europe with Possible Spread of Diseases during Surgery

Heightened awareness among both electrosurgical device companies and consumers about the potential spread of communicable diseases during surgery is encouraging the uptake of disposable electrosurgical devices. However, high customer expectations regarding the provision of after-sales and service support is putting market participants, particularly smaller companies, under tremendous pressure. With single-use medical devices being recycled in up to one-fifth of the hospitals in some European countries, medical technology companies are pushing for changes to existing regulations on reprocessing these medical devices. Rising awareness about communicable diseases and the need to ensure higher safety and health standards has triggered a review of the European Union’s Medical Devices Directive. This is likely to introduce regulatory changes that promote the adoption of disposable surgical devices, including electrosurgical devices. At present, however, cost containment issues are causing several hospitals to continue investing in reusable devices.