Market Forecast: LEDs Used in Medical and Biophotonic Devices

ElectroniCast Consultants, a leading market/technology consultancy, recently announced the release of a new market research study of the global consumption of packaged light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in Medical and Biophotonic Devices.  This market analysis covers devices, which transfers energy via light (such as therapy or surgery), as well as applications, which excite matter via light and transfer information back to the operator, such as diagnostics.

The LED market is segmented into the following sub-application categories:

·        Sensing/Detection and Analytical/Monitoring

·        Photo-therapy/Sanitation/Cell Regeneration/Curing

·        Instrumentation Light Source and Imaging

·        Operating Theater (OT)/Surgical/Dentistry Lighting

The market data for are also segmented by the following colors (type):

·        Red

·        Green

·        Blue

·        White

·        Multiple Color/Multiple Chip

·        UV and Other

According to the ElectroniCast report, Sensing/Detection and Analytical/Monitoring applications, in 2010, represented 43% of the worldwide consumption value of packaged LEDs in the selected and medical and biophotonic devices. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has a wide range of applications in the field of analytical chemistry.   “CE detectors based on LEDs as light sources have gained considerable attention due to their exceptionally high stability, high intensity, low cost, and a variety of wavelengths in the UV and visible spectrum,” said Stephen Montgomery, president- International Business at ElectroniCast.  In 2017, the relative market share (%) of LEDs used in the Sensing/Detection and Analytical/ Monitoring applications is forecast to decrease; however, will increase by a multiple of 3x in consumption. 

The consumption of LEDs in Phototherapy/Sanitation/Cell Regeneration/Curing, including water treatment, medical, health & beauty Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), as well as curing methods (especially in dentistry applications), is forecast with strong growth of 49.4% per year (2010-2017).  LED Skin Rejuvenation is the interaction of light, delivered through LEDs, to activate cell receptors causing them to produce collagen or multiply. “The use of Yellow LEDs for PDT is making advances in the marketplace.  LED Yellow light is used in the cosmetic treatment of burns (such as sunburns) to reduce the appearance of redness, swelling as well as other inflammation,” Montgomery added.

LEDs used in Instrumentation Light Sources and Imaging devices are forecast to increase in value at an annual growth rate of 26.1% during the forecast period.  “Typically, high-pressure mercury or xenon light sources are used for fluorescence microscopy; however, often these sources are too bright and harmful for the living organisms being studied.  Excessive brightness can destroy cells or otherwise affect them, as well as several other drawbacks; therefore LEDs are increasing in use,” he said.

The use LEDs for the illumination in the operating theater (OT), surgical and dentistry lighting application category is forecast for very impressive growth of 76.4% per year (2010-2017).