Airway Management Devices Market

Airway Management Devices Market Size

The global airway management devices market held a notable share in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a decent CAGR during 2025-2034, driven by rising respiratory diseases, improvements in medical technology, and rising emergency medical interventions. As per NIH.gov, approximately 545 million people worldwide are currently living with a chronic respiratory condition, accounting for 7.4% of the global population. Airway management devices are an integral part of safe and effective airway management in patients, especially in critical care environments (ICU), emergency departments, and operating rooms (theatres).

Airway management devices are required for both normal and complicated respiratory problems, both related to trauma and anesthesia. The rise in cases of respiratory diseases (COPD, asthma, sleep apnea, etc.), and the increasing cases of respiratory failure with multi-organ failure, will further expand the need for airway management devices. Both the need for airway management devices and a rise in respiratory disease will initially demonstrate solid growth in the market. In addition, the trends of healthcare systems adopting advanced technologies when managing airway management will enhance the airway management device market considerably in the next decade.

Airway Management Devices Market Trends

Several key trends will define the future of the market. First is the trend of growing demand for non-invasive and minimally invasive airway management devices, which provide less discomfort to patients and faster recovery times. Newer devices, such as video laryngoscopes and supraglottic airways, allow for greater visualization of the airway and lead to faster, more reliable placement.

The second trend is the fusion of digital technologies and advanced monitoring systems. One trend is real-time monitoring of airway pressures, oxygen, and ventilation effectiveness. The new technologies being introduced help healthcare providers deliver more targeted and adjusted surgery. Finally, there has been a shift towards homecare solutions. There has been an increase in patients with chronic conditions often associated with respiratory disorders. Therefore, many healthcare providers are turning to portable, easy-to-use airway management devices that can be used in a home-care setting. For example, patients with sleep apnea will benefit from airway management devices with portability as they will be monitored regularly.

Airway Management Devices Market Analysis

The infraglottic airway management devices segment held robust growth in 2024, driven by devices such as endotracheal tubes (ETT), laryngeal masks, and tracheostomy tubes. These devices are designed to secure the airway below the glottis, effectively controlling ventilation for patients undergoing procedures and during emergencies, as well as anesthesia. Endotracheal tubes are ubiquitous in the ICU setting, emergency room, and during major surgical operations that require the use of general anesthesia.  

In the past decades, there has been a concerted interest in enhancing the safety and effectiveness of infraglottic airway management devices. Manufacturers constantly manufacture devices that provide improved seal integrity, enhanced patient comfort, and better ease of insertion. Furthermore, the growing interest in non-invasive and less traumatic airway management is pushing targeted research and new developments within this segment of devices.

The airway management devices market from intensive care units (ICUs) segment held sizeable growth in 2024, driven by the demand for critical care, alongside the rise in prevalence of respiratory disorders and diseases. Several airway management devices are used to secure and maintain the airway of critically ill patients in ICUs. Reasons patients are admitted to the ICU with airway management include trauma, surgery, and chronic illnesses resulting in multiple organ failure and severe respiratory failure. As sophisticated healthcare systems develop and patient management in healthcare improves, demand for airway management devices is expected to rise, to allow for improved monitoring, comfort, and precision ventilation.

The growth in demand for endotracheal tubes, tracheostomy tubes, laryngeal masks, and devices to manage and monitor airways in critically ill patients has positively impacted the ICU segment of this market.  In addition, the higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, which often lead to respiratory complications, are increasing the number of ICU admissions. Furthermore, as the global population continues to age, there will be a rising need for intensive care for respiratory distress and respiratory failure, so the demand for airway management devices in the ICUs will increase.

North America airway management devices market held a notable share in 2024. The region's strong healthcare structure, high know-how and sophistication for medically advanced devices, and a rapid increase in the incidence of illnesses related to respiration (asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea) can explain their presence in airway management. Moreover, North America has high investment in healthcare and hospitals (and healthcare in general when compared globally), so this is again advantageous in sustaining the importance of airway management devices. Certainly, leading medical device manufacturers have significant representation in North America, contributing to the market growth.

The USA contributes to growth in North America due to the number of hospitals, clinics, and ICUs relevant to airway management devices. The proliferation of advanced airway management solutions has encouraged their use in critical care areas, i.e., ICU, and the rise in the number of surgeries contributes to the increase in airway management devices being used. Because of a sharper focus on minimally invasive surgery, there has become a greater level of awareness that requires advancements in airway management devices. In short, many hospitals and outpatient clinics prefer technologically advanced devices, which correlates to the increase in the sophistication of airway management devices.

Airway Management Devices Market Share

Prominent airway management devices industry players include:

• Verathon (Roper Technologies)
• Intersurgical
• Teleflex
• Medtronic
• Smiths Group
• Olympus
• Karl Storz
• Flexicare
• Vyaire Medical
• Ambu
• SunMed
• VBM Medizintechnik
  

To bolster their business-strengthening position within the competitive market, they have made some strategic decisions. Several large players have put a lot of resources into research and development (R&D) for Innovation, thereby developing new technologies. Some of the manufacturers developed advanced devices that are user-friendly and can improve patient outcomes and company reputation. Strategic Partnerships/collaborations with hospitals, healthcare provider, and research institutes have contributed to their goal of expanding their market interaction in providing devices in airway management. Moreover, they learned about what clinicians and patients needed through partnerships/collaborations to develop more informed products.

Companies have recently focused on regional expansion in emerging economies where healthcare development is continuously evolving, identified as a healthcare market with an undetermined potential. Further, they can develop marketing agendas and local distribution in regions such as Asia-Pacific or Latin America to increase their market share initiative, as healthcare development is a rapid progression stage.  Several companies have made a move to acquire smaller companies, which adds further diversity in product portfolios, and develop or enhance their business position in an experienced market.

Airway Management Devices Industry News:

• In January 2025, Ambu launched its new video laryngoscopy solution, Ambu® SureSight™ Connect, which was fully integrated with Ambu’s advanced digital software systems, Ambu® aView™ 2 Advance, and Ambu® aBox™ 2. This solution was designed to streamline intubation in both routine and challenging airway procedures, whether in the operating room (OR) or intensive care unit (ICU).
  
• In January 2025, ResMed launched AirSense 11 in India. It was the next-generation Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, created to simplify the process for individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) to begin and continue their therapy.