Brain function monitoring market driven by technological advancements in EEG/EMG systems

The global brain function monitoring market has been forecast to hit a value of US$1.26 billion by 2018, with industry growth primarily driven by technological advancements and the increasing proportion of aged people, particularly in the developed world.

Monitoring of the brain has assumed high significance, as changes in these functions are often a precursor for numerous degenerative diseases including sleep dysfunction, brain trauma, epilepsy, and stroke.

Consequently, the demand for monitoring systems such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) monitors is growing rapidly, as they are used in preventive diagnostic procedures.

Today's technology provides many useful tools for studying the brain. Some have their most important applications in medical diagnosis, and some are used more for research. The latter are often too expensive or limited for cost-efficient medical use, but can prove valuable and necessary in the future through development and further advances.

Technological developments in the industry are expected to act as a catalyst for the brain function monitoring market over the coming years. The introduction of scientifically advanced digital EEG equipment incorporating innovative features continues to drive the market.

This new digital equipment offers cutting-edge functionality at lower costs, sophisticated seizure detection algorithms, high precision monitoring abilities, ease of operation, and inter operability that makes them ideal for brain monitoring functions. EEG systems offer significant advantages over MRI and CT equipment in terms of cost and space requirements, which makes them a suitable alternative to these procedures.

The steady increase in number of channel capacity of EEG systems from 20 to 256 and 512 today has facilitated enhanced spatial resolution. Advanced EEG systems also incorporate real-time automated signal processing techniques for high-fidelity identification and elimination of various artifacts that hinder reliable EEG analysis.

Major players currently dominating the brain function monitoring market include Cadwell Laboratories Inc., Compumedics Limited, Covidien, Electrical Geodesics Inc., Natus Medical Inc., NeuroWave Systems Inc., and Nihon Kohden Corporation.

For more information on the brain function monitoring market, see the latest research: Brain Function Monitoring Market

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