The U.S. market for patient monitoring devices, accessories, and consumables was worth nearly $6.2 billion in 2007, according to a research report from BCC Research, Wellesly, Mass., (bccresearch.com). The company says it projects the market to grow to almost $6.5 billion in 2008 and $8.6 billion by 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate of 5.7%.

The research firm divides the market into two segments: monitoring devices for one, and disposable sensors and consumables. Patient-monitoring devices have the larger market share and is valued at $3.6 billion in 2007 and an estimated $3.8 billion in 2008. This is expected to increase 6.2% to reach $5.1 billion in 2013.

Disposable sensors and other consumables, the smaller share, was worth $2.6 billion in 2007 and an estimated $2.7 billion in 2008. This segment is projected to grow at 5.1% and reach $3.4 billion in 2013.

Patient monitoring devices is further broken into categories of bedside and tabletop, telemetry, personal, implantable and wearable monitors. Handheld and wearable monitors make up the largest part of the market segment, at 66.6% in 2007. Their share of the market is expected to decline to 61.9% by 2013. Bedside and tabletop monitors should increase their share of the market from 30.7% in 2007 to 35.9% by 2013.

The research firm also spotted a trend toward networked rather than standalone monitors. Networked monitors accounted for 35.3% of the market in 2007, a share that is expected to grow to 46.2% by 2013. Wirelessly networked monitors should increase from 13% of the market to 15%.