Medical Technologies Banner
Medical Technologies
Our healthcare specialists in the United States and around the world offer assistance and insight to help you determine market opportunities, challenges, and more.

Medical Technologies

Medical Technologies

Section 201(h) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act defines medical technologies as instruments, apparatus, machines and their component parts and accessories intended for use in the diagnosis of disease, or disease cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention that are intended to affect the structure or function of the body and which does not achieve its primary intended purposes through chemical action within the body.[1] 

The medical technologies industry (sometimes referred to as the medical device industry) contains a wide range of products which help in the diagnosis and treatment of a patient’s medical condition. These include computed tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, cardiac stents, X-rays, orthopedic appliances, and defibrillators. 

U.S. manufacturers shipped $141 billion in medical technologies in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a $10 billion increase from 2016.[2]  The United States has the largest percentage share of the global market, at approximately 40 percent. In addition, U.S. medical technology manufacturers are globally competitive across many product categories, exporting nearly $31 billion in 2019. Medical technology companies also reinvest a significant portion of revenues in Research & Development, both because the average product lifecycle ranges between 18-24 months, and to incorporate new features and innovative technologies to treat patients.

[1] https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/classify-your-medical-device/how-determine-if-your-product-medical-device#step1

[2] Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM), 2018, U.S. Census Bureau, using the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes comprising the medical technologies sector. 2018 is the most recent ASM year available; Census does not publish the ASM in Census of Manufactures (COM) years. The 2017 COM is not yet available, so the 2016 ASM has been used for comparison.

Additional Subsector Information

Please see below for additional information specific to Medical Technologies



Copy Link Copy Link

2019 U.S. Exports of Medical Technologies in Millions of Dollars (HS Codes)

3005000000

Adhesive Dressings, Wadding, Gauze and Similar Articles

$779

3006100000

Sterile Surgical Catgut and Similar Sterile Materials

$1,278

3006500000

First-Aid Boxes and Kits

$27

3006910000

Appliances for Ostomy Use

$141

4015110000

Surgical Gloves of Vulcanized Rubber

$14

4015190000

Gloves, Mittens and Mitts of Vulcanized Rubber

$122

6115100000

Graduated Compression Hosiery of Textile Materials

$62

8543708500

Electric Nerve Stimulation Machines & Apparatus

$25

8713100000

Wheelchairs, Not Mechanically Propelled

$43

8713900000

Wheelchairs, Not Elsewhere Specified or Indicated (NESOI)

$31

8714200000

Parts and Accessories for Wheelchairs

$79

9001300000

Contact Lenses

$1,051

9001400000

Spectacle Lenses of Glass, Unmounted

$2

9018113000

Electrocardiographs

$51

9018118000

Parts and Accessories for Electrocardiographs

$153

9018120000

Ultrasonic Scanning Apparatus

$1,175

9018130000

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Apparatus

$546

9018140000

Scintigraphic Apparatus

$31

9018500000

Other Ophthalmic Instruments & Appliances

$1,113

9018903000

Anesthetic Instruments, Appliances and Parts

$165

9018904000

Percussion Hammers, Stethoscopes and Parts Thereof

$60

9018905000

Sphygmomanometers, Tensimeters, and Parts Thereof

$73

9018906000

Electro-Surgical Instruments, Appliances & Parts

$3,730

9018908000

Medical, Surgical Instruments & Appliances, NESOI

$8,037

9019102000

Mechano-Therapy Appliances & Massage Apparatus, Including Parts

$485

9019200000

Ozone/Oxygen Therapy, Respiration Apparatus, Parts, Accessories

$1,240

9021100050

Bone Plates, Screw & Nails, & Other Internal Fixation Devices

$1,529

9021100090

Orthopedic or Fracture Appliances & Parts, NESOI

$782

9021310000

Artificial Joints, Parts and Accessories

$1,903

9021390000

Other Orthopedic Parts & Accessories

$2,493

9021400000

Hearing Aids, Excluding Parts and Accessories

$439

9021500000

Pacemakers for Stimulating Heart Muscles, Excluding Parts

$141

9022120000

Computed Tomography Apparatus

$599

9022140000

X-Ray Apparatus for Medical/Surgical Use

$941

9022210000

Medical Apparatus Based on Alpha, Beta, Gamma Rays

$209

9022300000

X-Ray Tubes

$569

9022904000

Parts and Accessories of X-Ray Tubes

$90

9022906000

Parts of Apparatus Based on the Use of X-Rays

$712

9025112000

Clinical Thermometers, Liquid-Filled

$2

9025198040

Clinical Thermometers, Not Combined W/Other Instruments, NESOI

$23

Total

 

$30,945

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility