None of us are getting any younger, to state the obvious. That demographic truth combined with a growing middle class, particularly in emerging economies, is the foundation of a consistent customer base for the medical technology industry. It also creates an attractive market for materials suppliers and plastics processors, as polymers are uniquely suited to satisfy the needs of device designers engineering increasingly small parts with complex geometries.

This Special Report provides an analysis of the global medtech market and describes some of the challenges manufacturers face in developed and emerging markets, including regulatory issues and shifting business models that prioritize outcomes-based reimbursement and cost containment.

A particular focus of the article is the innovative role that plastics play in the design of next-generation medical devices. In fact, medical plastics are forecast to grow at a faster pace through 2020 than the overall medical technology industry, as demand for disposable medical devices continues to soar.

The article also includes a sidebar on emerging medical technologies and trends, including the rise of wearables and the uberication of healthcare.