Infant Incubator Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Global Infant Incubator Market is segmented By Product (Transport Infant Incubator, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Incubator), By Application (Neonatal Hypothermia, Lower Birth Weight, Genetic Defects and others), By End User (Hospitals & Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Birthing Centers and others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

Infant Incubator Market Size

The Global Infant Incubator Market reached US$ 424.54 million in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 635.98 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

Owing to the factors such as increasing birth rates, rising preterm births, increasing advancements in infant incubators, increasing demand for the transport incubators and rising focus on neonatal care are expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

The infant incubator consists of a transparent cabinet in which the baby is kept in a neutral environment for medical care. Neutral means, that the surrounding air has the optimal temperature and moisture and the baby only needs minimum of energy to maintain normal body temperature.

Further, incubators can monitor many vital signs, including heart rate and temperature. Holes within the incubator’s structure enable various interventions and procedures, such as medication delivery and feeding via IV.

An incubator can include equipment to track a range of things including a baby’s temperature and heart rate. This monitoring allows nurses and doctors to constantly track a baby’s health status.

Overall, the infant incubators market is expected to continue growing, driven by above mentioned factors and growing investments in neonatal care infrastructure. However, market growth may be hindered by factors such as high costs associated with advanced infant incubators and limited access to healthcare facilities in certain regions.

Infant Incubator Market Scope

To Know More: Download Sample

Infant Incubator Market Drivers

Rising Preterm Birth Rates

The rising preterm birth rates may increase the demand for the infant incubators, which is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

The increasing incidence of preterm births worldwide has a direct correlation with the demand for infant incubators. These devices play a critical role in providing a warm, stable and protective environment for premature infants, helping to regulate their body temperature, provide respiratory support, reduce the risk of infection and minimize environmental stressors.

For instance, according to the World Health Organization, 13.4 million babies were born too early in 2020. That is more than 1 in 10 babies. Approximately 900 000 children die in 2019 of complications of preterm birth. Many survivors face a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems.

Certain maternal health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, infections and multiple pregnancies, increase the risk of preterm labor and delivery. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, substance abuse, inadequate prenatal care, and maternal stress can contribute to preterm birth risk.

Socioeconomic disparities, including poverty, lack of access to healthcare and limited educational opportunities, may increase the likelihood of preterm birth among disadvantaged populations, which is expected to increase the demand for the infant incubators.

Infant Incubator Market Restraints

High Cost of Infant Incubators

The high cost associated with the infant incubators is expected to hamper the market over the forecast period.

Infant incubators with advanced features such as closed-loop temperature control, humidity regulation, integrated monitoring systems and wireless connectivity tend to have higher production costs. The incorporation of sophisticated technology and components contributes to the overall expense of manufacturing these devices.

For instance, a standard incubator found in a newborn intensive care unit costs between $1,500 and $35,000 beyond the means of many hospitals in low- and middle-income countries.

Developing and innovating new infant incubator technologies require substantial investments in research and development. Manufacturers allocate significant resources to R&D activities aimed at improving product performance, enhancing user experience, and meeting evolving customer needs, which contributes to the overall cost of bringing new products to market.

The procurement of high-quality materials and components for infant incubator construction can contribute to higher manufacturing costs. Components such as sensors, heating elements, insulation materials and electronic components all incur expenses, particularly if they need to meet specific durability, reliability, and safety requirements.

Infant Incubator Market Opportunity

Demand for Portable Incubators

The expansion of portable incubators is expected to create a market opportunity for infant incubators market.

Portable incubators are designed to be lightweight, compact and easily transportable, allowing healthcare providers to deliver neonatal care to patients in diverse settings. This mobility enables timely interventions and improves access to neonatal care, particularly in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure or during emergency situations.

For instance, in July 2022, The mOm Essential Incubator is a compact and portable neonatal incubator developed by mOm Incubators and the engineering team at EG Technology. There are more than one million premature infant deaths each year, three quarters of which could be prevented through thermoregulation. The mOm incubator is intended to save the lives of premature infants in complicated, low or middle-income environments, as well as expand routine neonatal care alternatives in the UK and other developed nations.

Portable incubators facilitate the provision of neonatal care in remote or underserved areas where access to specialized healthcare facilities may be limited. These devices enable healthcare professionals to conduct outreach programs, mobile clinics, and telemedicine consultations, extending the reach of neonatal care services to marginalized populations.

Asia-Pacific:

China: In China, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) regulates medical devices, including infant incubators. Manufacturers must obtain Medical Device Registration Certificates (MDRC) from the NMPA before marketing infant incubators in China. Relevant standards include GB 9706.1-2007 for medical electrical equipment safety and GB 18279-2000 for infant incubators.

Japan: The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) oversees medical device regulations in Japan. Infant incubators are classified as Class II medical devices, and manufacturers must obtain marketing approval or clearance from the PMDA. Standards such as JIS T 0601-2-19:2012, which aligns with IEC 60601-2-19, are applicable to infant incubators in Japan.

India: In India, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) regulates medical devices under the Medical Device Rules, 2017. Infant incubators are classified as medical devices, and manufacturers must obtain registration from the CDSCO before marketing their products. Relevant standards include IS/IEC 60601-2-19:2019 for safety and performance of infant incubators.

South Korea: The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) oversees medical device regulations in South Korea. Infant incubators are classified as Class II or III medical devices, depending on their intended use and risk level. Manufacturers must obtain approval or certification from the MFDS before marketing infant incubators in South Korea. Relevant standards include KS IEC 60601-2-19:2013, which is based on IEC 60601-2-19.

Covid-19 Impact Analysis On Infant Incubator Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the global infant incubators market.

Preterm birth is the leading cause of death under five years of age. Worldwide, more than one in ten infants, an estimated 15 million, are born preterm every year. Together with sick and low birthweight infants, these newborns require specialized care to prevent mortality, support adequate growth and development, and to reduce the risk of morbidities in later life. Yet, their needs have not been considered adequately during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created exceptional challenges and disrupted healthcare provision across the globe even more.

Recent NIH research demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions are affecting both provision and quality of neonatal care [4] with a severe impact on infant and family-centred developmental care (IFCDC).

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the demand for neonatal care services as healthcare facilities faced challenges in managing preterm births and other neonatal complications. Infants born to mothers with COVID-19 or those requiring intensive care may necessitate the use of infant incubators for respiratory support, temperature regulation and infection control.

The disruption in global supply chains caused by the pandemic, including factory closures, transportation restrictions and logistical challenges, may have affected the production and distribution of infant incubators. Manufacturers faced difficulties in sourcing components, raw materials and parts, leading to delays in manufacturing and delivery timelines.

Market Segmentation – By Product

Transport Infant Incubators

The market value for transport infant incubators is likely to reach USD XX million in 2031, from its recorded value of USD XX million in 2023, growing with a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period 2024 to 2031.

Infant Transport Incubator (Ambulance Incubator) is intended to circulate warm air at an operator selected and controlled temperature while transporting preterm with critical condition to hospitals by ambulance, prepared for neonatal intensive care by trained personnel.

Transport Incubator has an integral and retractable baby tray to aid resuscitation during transport with internal battery backup for 4 hours operating in both AC and DC currents.

Transport incubators play a crucial role in emergency preparedness and response by enabling healthcare teams to swiftly transport newborns to specialized care facilities or treatment centers in cases of medical emergencies or disaster situations.

Market Segmentation – By Region

North America region in infant incubators market is likely to reach USD XX million in 2031, from its recorded value of USD XX million in 2023, growing with a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period 2024 to 2031.

The North America region is expected to account for the largest market share owing to the factors such as increasing demand for infant incubators due to increasing preterm birth rates and strong presence of major players in the region.

North America especially the United States is very well known for its strong presence of major players in the field of infant incubators, further these strong market players increases the advancements in infant incubators.

These major market players have established manufacturing facilities, distribution networks and research and development capabilities in the region. Their strong presence allows them to cater to the growing demand for infant incubators effectively and leverage their expertise to develop innovative solutions tailored to the needs of the market.

North America, including the United States and Canada, faces a significant challenge with rising preterm birth rates. This demographic trend drives the demand for infant incubators as these devices are essential for providing specialized care to premature infants. With a higher prevalence of preterm births, there is a greater need for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) equipped with advanced medical equipment, including infant incubators.

For instance, according to the March of Dimes Organization, in 2022, there were 380,548 preterm births in the United States, representing 10.4% of live births. In 2022, 1 in 10 babies (10.4% of live births) was born preterm in the United States. During 2020-2022, in the United States, preterm birth rates were highest for women ages 40 and older (14.6%), followed by women under age 20 (10.6%), ages 30-39 (10.5%) and ages 20-29 (9.8%). In the United States in 2022, 8.7% of singleton births were preterm, compared to 62.2% of multiple births. Multiple births represent of live births in the United States. Current multifetal pregnancy is one of the most consistently identified risk factors for preterm birth.

These increasing preterm birth rates is expected to increase the demand for infant incubators in the region.

Company Share Analysis

The global Infant Incubators market is expected to be moderately competitive, owing to the presence of big brands. Also, the market is expanding due to the presence of several large and regional players entering the market.

The key players that are contributing to the growth of the global market include GE HealthCare, Atom Medical Corp, Bistos Co., Ltd., MEDICOR Elektronika Zrt., Fanem Ltd., Phoenix Medical Systems, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Cobams srl, GINEVRI srl and PT Fyrom International among others.

The key players are adopting strategies such as partnerships, mergers, acquisitions and regional expansion to stand out as strong competitors in the market. Novel services and enhanced focus on research and development are other ways the leading players can improve their market presence.

General Electric Company(Parent Company) – Overview

General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate incorporated in New York State and headquartered in Boston.

In  2018, the company operated through the following segments: aviation, power, renewable energy, digital industry, weapons manufacturing, locomotives, and venture capital and finance.

In 2021, the conglomerate had divested from several areas and primarily consisted of the first four segments: aviation, healthcare, power, and renewable energy.

Moreover, the company has a presence in over 100 countries.

The company subsidiaries are GE Additive, GE Aviation, GE Capital, GE Digital, GE Healthcare, GE Power, GE Renewable Energy and GE Research.

GE Healthcare(Subsidiary) – Overview

GE Healthcare is a subsidiary of American multinational conglomerate General Electric Company.

The company manufactures and distributes diagnostic imaging agents and radiopharmaceuticals for imaging modalities used in medical imaging procedures as of 2017.

Dyes for magnetic-resonance imaging methods are available from the firm.

GE Healthcare also manufactures medical diagnostic equipment, including CT image machines.

 Moreover, it develops Health technology for medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, disease research, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

The company is operated in more than 100 countries.