Table of Contents
Overview
New York, NY – June 06, 2025 – Global Catheter Market size is expected to be worth around US$ 112.4 billion by 2034 from US$ 58.2 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period 2025 to 2034.
Catheters are flexible, thin medical tubes used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes by enabling the passage of fluids into or out of the body. These devices are essential in numerous clinical procedures, including cardiovascular interventions, urinary drainage, drug administration, and minimally invasive surgeries. Catheters may be inserted into the bladder, blood vessels, or body cavities depending on the application and patient condition. They are typically made of medical-grade materials such as silicone, latex, or polyurethane to ensure biocompatibility and patient safety.
Globally, catheter usage has increased due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, growing geriatric populations, and the expansion of minimally invasive procedures. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urinary tract infections related to catheter use remain among the most common healthcare-associated infections, which has prompted advancements in antimicrobial-coated and hydrophilic catheters. These innovations aim to reduce complications and improve patient outcomes.
Catheters are broadly classified into categories such as cardiovascular catheters, urological catheters, intravenous catheters, and neurovascular catheters, each designed to serve a specific clinical purpose. With ongoing investments in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in emerging economies, the global catheter market is poised for sustained growth. Technological advancements in catheter design, such as steerable tips and pressure-sensing capabilities, are further enhancing their safety and precision in clinical use, reinforcing their integral role in modern medicine.
Key Takeaways
- In 2024, the global catheter market generated a revenue of approximately USD 58.2 billion. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%, reaching an estimated value of USD 112.4 billion by 2033.
- By product type, the market is segmented into cardiovascular catheters, intravenous catheters, neurovascular catheters, urology catheters, and specialty catheters. Among these, cardiovascular catheters emerged as the leading category in 2023, accounting for a dominant market share of 38.6%.
- Based on end-user distribution, the market comprises hospital stores, retail stores, and others. Hospital stores held the largest share in 2023, capturing 54.4% of the total market, driven by the high volume of surgical procedures and inpatient care services.
- Regionally, North America led the global catheter market in 2023, securing a substantial share of 39.7%. This dominance can be attributed to the region’s advanced healthcare infrastructure, high adoption of minimally invasive procedures, and growing elderly population.
Segmentation Analysis
Product Type Analysis: In 2023, cardiovascular catheters dominated the market with a 38.6% share, driven by the increasing global burden of cardiovascular diseases. These catheters are critical in procedures such as coronary angiography and stent placement. The rise in minimally invasive surgeries and advancements in catheter design focusing on flexibility and precision support segment growth. Additionally, the growing elderly population, which is more susceptible to heart conditions, further fuels demand for cardiovascular catheterization procedures globally.
End-user Analysis: Hospital stores accounted for 56.4% of the catheter market in 2023, reflecting their central role in device procurement and inventory management. The segment’s growth is supported by high patient admissions and the frequent use of catheters in surgical and chronic care settings. Hospitals increasingly rely on internal supply chains to streamline operations and reduce costs. This preference for in-house sourcing, coupled with growing demand for specialized catheters, ensures steady expansion of the hospital stores segment.
Market Segments
Product Type
- Cardiovascular Catheters
- Electrophysiology Catheters
- PTCA Balloon Catheters
- PTA Balloon Catheters
- IVUS Catheters
- Intravenous Catheters
- Peripheral Catheters
- Midline Peripheral Catheters
- Central Venous Catheters
- Neurovascular Catheters
- Urology Catheters
- Hemodialysis Catheters
- Peritoneal Catheters
- Intermittent Catheters
- Foley Catheters
- External Catheters
- Specialty Catheters
- Wound/Surgical Catheters
- Thermodilution Catheters
- Oximetry Catheters
- IUI Catheters
End-user
- Hospital Stores
- Retail Stores
- Others
Regional Analysis
In 2023, North America led the global catheter market, capturing a revenue share of 39.7%. This dominance is attributed to the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and widespread adoption of minimally invasive procedures. According to the American College of Cardiology (2023), over 12 million individuals in the U.S. are affected by peripheral artery disease (PAD), increasing the need for catheter-based interventions. Rising cases of arrhythmias and coronary blockages have further driven the demand for advanced vascular access technologies.
Technological innovations, including drug-coated and bioresorbable catheters, have improved procedural safety and clinical outcomes. A growing elderly population, higher healthcare spending, and favorable reimbursement policies continue to support market growth across the United States and Canada.
Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific region is expected to register the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period. This is due to rising healthcare investments, increasing incidence of cardiovascular conditions, and expanding infrastructure in countries like India, China, and Japan. Advancements in robotic-assisted surgeries and AI-based diagnostics, along with growing medical tourism and international collaborations, are expected to enhance regional access to high-quality, minimally invasive catheter procedures.
Emerging Trends
- Advanced Device Approvals: In 2024, multiple new catheter devices were approved for clinical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These approvals indicate a shift toward catheters with specialized functions, such as integrated mapping and ablation capabilities. For example, the VARIPULSE platform was cleared in November 2024, and the Sphere-9 catheter received clearance in October 2024, both intended to improve precision during electrophysiological procedures. Such approvals reflect a trend toward catheters that combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions in a single device.
- Real-Time Tip Guidance and Reduced Radiation: A growing trend involves the use of real-time tip confirmation systems that rely on the patient’s own cardiac signals rather than X-ray imaging. The ECGuide™ technology, cleared by the FDA in 2024, allows clinicians to verify catheter tip placement by monitoring ECG waveforms. This reduces patient exposure to ionizing radiation and streamlines workflow during procedures such as peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placements and central venous catheter insertions. Simultaneously, bedside tip confirmation systems have become more common; globally, about 8.5 million PICCs are placed annually, with over 3 million in the U.S., driving the adoption of technologies that minimize reliance on radiographic imaging.
- Enhanced Safety Features: Innovations aimed at protecting both patients and healthcare workers are becoming standard. For example, in mid-2024, a new IV catheter was cleared that incorporates fully automatic, passive needlestick protection while offering multi-access blood control in longer lengths. This catheter is designed to access deeper veins in patients with difficult vascular access, and to maintain patency for extended dwell times, potentially reducing the need for frequent catheter changes and associated complications. Such safety-focused designs are being prioritized to decrease needlestick injuries and improve patient outcomes.
- Infection Prevention and Catheter Selection Guidelines: Efforts to prevent catheter-associated infections are increasingly data driven. The CDC’s 2024 recommendations emphasize the selection of catheter type based on intended use and expected duration, advising that midline or peripherally inserted central catheters be used instead of short peripheral catheters when IV therapy will exceed six days. Ultrasound guidance for insertion is also recommended to reduce mechanical complications and improve success rates. These guidelines reflect a broader trend toward standardized protocols to lower rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and central line–associated bloodstream infections.
Use Cases
- Long-Term Intravenous Therapy via PICC: PICC lines are widely used for administering antibiotics, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition over extended periods. Globally, about 8.5 million PICCs are placed each year, generating roughly $1 billion in revenue annually; in the U.S. alone, over 3 million PICCs are placed annually, representing a $550 million market. These catheters allow for high-osmolarity fluids and vesicants to be delivered safely. Their use reduces the need for repeated peripheral IV insertions, thereby lowering patient discomfort and preserving smaller veins.
- Central Venous Access in Critical Care: In acute care settings, central venous access is essential for hemodynamic monitoring, rapid fluid resuscitation, and administration of vasoactive drugs. More than 2.5 million PICCs are inserted annually in U.S. hospitals, and around 5 million are placed internationally each year. Their bedside placement is facilitated by ultrasound and tip-navigation technology, which increases first-attempt success rates and negates the need for fluoroscopic guidance in many cases. PICCs are especially useful in intensive care units where critically ill patients require stable, long-term venous access.
- Urinary Drainage and Bladder Management: Urinary catheters are frequently used for patients who cannot empty their bladders independently or who require strict urine output monitoring. Approximately 15–25 percent of hospitalized patients have a urinary catheter in place at any given time, and nearly 75 percent of in-hospital urinary tract infections are associated with catheter use. Catheters are indicated for acute urinary retention, measurement of urine output in critically ill patients, and perioperative management in urological or certain gynecological procedures. Proper maintenance and timely removal as outlined in CDC guidelines can reduce the incidence of CAUTIs.
- Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiac Procedures: Catheters play a central role in both diagnostic angiography and interventional cardiology. During diagnostic cardiac catheterization, fluoroscopic guided catheters are inserted to visualize coronary arteries and measure intracardiac pressures. In 2023, U.S. hospitals performed more than 500,000 cardiac catheterization procedures, reflecting steady demand for minimally invasive diagnostics (CDC National Healthcare Safety Network, 2024). Interventional applications include percutaneous coronary interventions and transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR). After TAVR’s clinical approval, surgical aortic valve replacement volumes declined, and overall aortic valve replacement procedural mortality decreased significantly, particularly at new TAVR centers (mortality ratio reduced from 0.41 to 0.67).
- Neurovascular and Electrophysiology Applications: In neurovascular interventions, specialized catheters are used to navigate tortuous cerebral vessels for aneurysm coiling and stroke treatment. In mid-2024, a novel catheter designed for neurovascular access was cleared by the FDA, enabling clinicians to reach distal intracranial territories with greater stability and flexibility, and without the need for intermediate catheters. Similarly, catheters equipped with mapping electrodes, such as the Sphere-9 catheter approved in October 2024, facilitate precise electrophysiology ablation during atrial fibrillation treatment by integrating real-time anatomical and electrical data in a single device.
- Intravenous Access in Oncology and Dialysis: For patients undergoing chemotherapy or long-term antibiotic therapy, tunneled central venous catheters (CVCs) and implantable ports are common. These catheters provide repeated, durable access without repeated venipunctures. In chronic renal failure, tunnelled CVCs are used for hemodialysis access when arteriovenous fistulas are not immediately available; however, fistulas remain preferred to reduce infection risk. Port-a-caths are often used in oncology settings, where over 250,000 implantable ports were placed in U.S. cancer centers in 2023, ensuring reliable venous access for chemotherapy infusions.
Conclusion
The global catheter market is witnessing sustained growth driven by rising chronic disease prevalence, technological innovation, and expanding healthcare infrastructure. Advancements in catheter design such as enhanced safety features, real-time navigation, and infection prevention are improving clinical outcomes and procedural efficiency.
With strong regional leadership in North America and rapid growth projected in Asia Pacific, the market remains dynamic and innovation-driven. Increasing adoption of minimally invasive procedures, favorable regulatory support, and diversified product applications across cardiac, neurological, urological, and oncological care are expected to reinforce catheter demand, positioning the sector for continued expansion through 2033.
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