US Digital Medical Simulation Market for Cadavers

US Digital Medical Simulation Market for Cadavers Executive Summary

The US digital medical simulation market for cadavers was valued at $0.7 Bn in 2022, projected to reach $2.8 Bn by 2030 with a 16.1% CAGR. The medical simulation market for cadavers is growing continuously due to the advantages it has to offer such as the growing recognition of the benefits of cadaver-based medical simulation as well as the rising demand for cadavers for medical education and training.

The use of digital medically simulated cadavers for medical education is estimated to hold the largest market share of the overall market in the US. This is directly correlated to the rising demand for cadavers for anatomy and physiology teaching purposes. During the forecast period, the use of medically simulated cadavers for surgical training is forecasted to experience growth at the highest CAGR. This is due to the increasing emphasis on patient safety and the rising use of cadavers for improving surgical skills.

Depending on the type of cadavers, the largest market share is estimated to be captured by the whole-body cadavers segment during the forecast period. Whereas, the highest CAGR growth is expected to be experienced by the partial-body cadavers segment. This is due to their rising demand in providing specialized surgical training and research.

In response to the rising demand from healthcare professionals and institutions, major market players are developing innovative cadaver-based medical simulation products and services. For example, 3B Scientific has acquired Lifecast Body Simulation, a major player in medical simulation, strengthening its global standing in healthcare education. Lifecast's expertise in manikin production as a cadaveric simulation alternative may impact the US cadaveric simulation market. Meanwhile, Nasco Healthcare secured exclusive global rights from MVR Technologies for VR-based medical simulation training, signaling a notable advancement in medical education technology.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

• Increasing Demand for Effective Training: The complexity of medical procedures and the continuous need for skill enhancement among healthcare professionals drive the demand for medical simulation. Through simulation-based training, healthcare practitioners can refine their skills in a risk-free environment.

• Technological Progress: The evolution of technology, including advanced features in high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality simulators, and computer-based models, has transformed medical simulation. These innovations provide more realistic training experiences, thereby improving the effectiveness of simulation-based education.

• Growing Emphasis on Patient Safety: Patient safety has become a paramount focus in healthcare organizations globally. Medical simulation offers a secure environment for healthcare professionals to practice intricate procedures, enhance teamwork, and improve critical decision-making skills, ultimately leading to enhanced patient outcomes.

• Addressing Clinical Training Shortages: The limited availability of clinical training opportunities, particularly for specialized procedures, creates a substantial demand for medical simulation. This form of training allows healthcare professionals to gain hands-on experience and expertise in a controlled setting.

• Increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses: Chronic diseases that require complicated surgical procedures like diabetes and cancer are rising in the US. This rise is supported by the estimated prevalence rates of cancer and diabetes which were found to be 5.5% and 11.3% of the US population respectively. This contributes to the increased demand for cadaveric simulation for imparting training to surgeons.

• Recognized benefits by medical professionals: A survey conducted by the Association for Surgical Education revealed that about 98% of surgeons in the US were aware of the advantages of cadaveric simulation. Also, the above survey reported that 85% of surgeons in the US are using cadaveric simulation in their training programs. This demonstrates an increase in awareness among medical professionals regarding the advantages of cadaveric simulation for providing training on complicated surgical procedures. This has fuelled the demand for such products in the US.

• Cadaver Availability Challenges: The cost associated with acquiring a cadaver is influenced by its limited availability. In the US, the average cost per cadaver ranges from $10,000 to $20,000 due to its high demand.

Market Restraints

• High Expenditure: The construction of a cadaveric simulation facility in the US comes with an estimated cost exceeding $1 Mn. Moreover, the expense incurred for training a cadaveric simulation specialist in the US surpasses $20,000. The substantial financial commitment required for establishing and maintaining such facilities serves as a hindrance for new entrants in the US market.

• Absence of Standardization: These programs and products lack uniformity, creating a barrier to the development and implementation of standardized quality control measures

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

• Anatomage
• CAE Healthcare
• Simulab Corporation
• Virtual Medicine
• 3B Scientific
• MVR technologies
• Surgical Science

Notable Recent Updates

August 2023: On August 14, 3B Scientific acquired Lifecast Body Simulation, a top producer and marketer of medical simulation goods and services. This acquisition is anticipated to improve the company's standing in the medical simulation industry and progress the provision of medical and healthcare education on a global scale. Lifecast specializes in the manufacturing of manikins, which are an alternative to the use of cadaveric simulation. Hence, this deal has the potential to affect the cadaveric simulation market in the US.

April 2023: Nasco Healthcare reached a deal with MVR Technologies for medical simulation training utilizing virtual reality (VR) technologies. Under the agreement, Nasco Healthcare will have exclusive global rights to sell and distribute MVR products.

July 2021: On July 28, Surgical Science Sweden AB which is a leading provider of virtual reality simulators for medical training acquired the medical simulation business of 3D Systems named Simbionix, for $305 Mn. This deal was executed to focus on its core business of additive manufacturing solutions by divesting the non-core businesses.

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape

Food & Drug Administration (FDA): The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the FDA oversees the regulation of companies involved in the manufacturing, repackaging, relabelling, and/or importing of medical devices distributed in the United States. Both domestic and international manufacturers, as well as initial distributors (importers) of medical devices, are required to electronically register their establishments with the FDA. A waiver from the FDA is necessary for any non-electronic submission of establishment registrations.