Breathing Circuits Market Size Analysis

The Breathing Circuits Market size was valued at USD 1.72 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 2.83 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.50% over the forecast period of 2025-2032.

The global breathing circuits market is growing significantly due to increasing surgical volumes, ICU admissions, and a growing prevalence of respiratory diseases, including COPD and Asthma. Moreover, post-pandemic emphasis on infection prevention and increased use of disposable circuits continues to bolster demand for this product, while further advancements in anesthesia and critical care technologies and hospital infrastructure investments, including ventilator systems, are expected to drive the growth of the market. In addition, emerging economies are also profiting from broader access to healthcare and increased surgical rates.

More than 25 million people have asthma in the U.S., and close to 14.8 million adults have received a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The U.S. breathing circuits market size was valued at USD 0.60 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 0.96 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.12% over the forecast period of 2025-2032. North America is the largest market, with the U.S. constituting the majority of demand and driving innovation in both disposable and reusable circuit manufacturing. This is due to the country's well-established hospital network, which has good access to these products and a larger number of surgeries performed than in other parts of the continent.

In April 2023, Cardinal Health opened two new distribution facilities in Central Ohio. These buildings will serve the company's Medical Segment, its U.S. Medical Products and Distribution (USMPD) business, and its at-Home Solutions business. Although USMPD continues to be a central element of the Medical Segment, the at-home Solutions business is a fundamental growth area for the company.

Breathing Circuits Market Dynamics

Drivers

• Rising Prevalence of Respiratory Disorders Driving the Market Growth

The global surge in the number of respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, sleep apnea, and acute respiratory distress syndrome, is a significant factor that has driven the demand for breathing circuits. The prevalence of these conditions is a result of increased levels of air pollution, cigarette smoking, and tobacco consumption, exposure to chemicals and dust in the workplace, and also due to an aged population. Those suffering from these conditions always require assisted ventilation and other forms of continuous respiratory support, and they often have to seek the services of mechanical ventilators and anesthesia delivery units. As a result, breathing circuits have become, by and large, indispensable components of the system and are widely being used in hospitals and critical care systems due to the continued increase in the number of those suffering from the condition.

Respiratory conditions are among the most prominent causes of death and disability worldwide. For instance, about 65 million individuals have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which kills about 3 million people every year, making it the third most common cause of death globally.

• Increasing ICU Admissions and Critical Care Needs are Propelling the Breathing Circuits Market Growth

Civil unrest, natural disasters, and public health emergencies have resulted in an increase in ICU admissions and the need for critical care. Frequent life-saving practices in the ICU are provided up with mechanical ventilation. The need for respiratory support for ventilator-dependent patients relies on the use of disposable or reusable breathing circuits. Cases of trauma, sepsis, multi-organ failure, and respiratory infections, including COVID-19, are on the rise globally. The constant growth of the critical care needs of patients results from these incidents. The use of the right breathing circuits explicitly provides adequate ventilation to the lungs while meeting other needs. The development of the ICU infrastructure in many areas and regions has also contributed to the demand for the use of both disposable and reusable breathing circuits.

Restraints:

• Risk of Infection is Restraining the Market from Growing

The improper handling or non-sterile cleaning of the oral cavity can lead to infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) that will compromise patient outcomes even more and increase hospital expenditures. Bacterial colonization of circuit components (tubing, connectors, humidifiers, and filters) results in the dissemination of bacteria as aerosols to the patient airway during periods of mechanical ventilation, leading to respiratory tract infections.

Breathing Circuits Market Segmentation Overview

By Circuit Type

The open breathing circuit segment dominated the breathing circuits market with a 52.11% market share in 2024, owing to its extensive range of applications in emergency care and low-risk surgical procedures. The open circuits are preferred owing to the simple design, low resistance, and ability to deliver a high concentration of oxygen without re-inhalation of the exhaled gases. Products, such as the Jackson-Rees modifications to the Ayre’s T-piece system, are somewhat longer than standard circuits and are most suited for spontaneous and assisted ventilation. Moreover, the aforementioned types of oxygen circuits are very appropriate for use in outpatient surgeries and short interventions.

Semi-closed breathing circuit segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the breathing circuits market over the forecast period. The segment’s growth can be attributed to the increasing use of these circuits in complex surgical and critical care procedures. The unique property of the balance between the efficiency of fresh gas flow and patient safety led to a surge in the demand for custom anesthesia delivery systems, thereby replacing the open systems. In addition, the rising magnitude of gas waste in the operating room enhances the need to reduce gas waste, thereby also contributing to the growth of these products. Many semi-closed systems are capable of partial rebreathing and are suitable for longer procedures. Out of the modern ventilators, the semi-closed system is the one most compatible with current units.

By Usage

In 2024, the disposable breathing circuits segment dominated the breathing circuits market share with 89.17%, as a high focus on infection control promoted disposable circuits, particularly in the post-COVID-19 world, following various global health concerns. These circuits are single-use devices, thus highly effective in preventing cross-contamination between patients, which makes them popular in intensive care units, emergency rooms, and operating theaters. Moreover, hospitals and clinics prefer the disposable circuits due to their easy use, reduced cleaning and sterilization requirements, and compliance with strict hygiene standards and mandates.

During the forecasting period, reusable breathing circuits are expected to exhibit significant growth. This momentum may be explained by the overall increase in cost-efficiency applications and sustainability in medical establishments and hospitals. Reusable circuits, if sterilized adequately, may be utilized multiple times and deliver long-term cost-effectiveness, making them particularly appealing to medium-to-low-resource institutions.

By Patient Type

The adult patients segment dominated the breathing circuits market in 2024 with 86.14% share. The high prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions, such as COPD, asthma, and sleep apnea, among the adult population measures contributed to the large share of this segment. Moreover, the vast percentage of adults who undergo surgery that requires anesthesia and mechanical ventilation, mainly in aging populations of developed nations, also creates this high market share.

The pediatric and neonatal patient segment is the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period as the incidence of neonatal respiratory distress, congenital anomalies, and pediatric infections is increasing globally. The demand for breath circuits has increased due to technological advancements, improved NICU services, and an increased incidence of premature neonatal diseases.

By Application

In 2024, the anesthesia segment dominated the market with a 78.50% market share, which was mainly attributed to the extensive utilization of breathing circuits in operating rooms. Facilities use these features to deliver the needed anesthetic gases to patients who need to undergo surgeries. For these reasons, hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers implement these tools to ventilate individuals in a controlled manner. The demand for anesthesia-related respiratory equipment was stabilized and remained high as chronic diseases and the aging population contributed to the growing number of surgeries required globally.

The analysis indicates that the fastest-growing segment was respiratory support, which is directly regulated by the increasing incidence of pulmonary diseases, specifically COPD, asthma, and ARDS. The use of such tools was also influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, which indicated the high demand for adequate respiratory treatment. Consequently, the investments in long-term healthcare facilities and capabilities continued, and the ventilatory support mechanisms were enhanced.

By End-User

The hospital segment dominated the breathing circuits market in 2024 with an 82.10% market share, owing to the large number of surgical procedures, critical care admissions, and respiratory treatments performed in these facilities. For both elective and emergency surgeries, hospitals serve as the primary location for the use of anesthesia and mechanical ventilation, which necessitates the use of breathing circuits. Hospitals are also equipped with intensive care units and post-operative recovery units that require State-of-the-art respiratory support systems.

During the forecast period, the ambulatory surgical centers segment is predicted to grow fastest in the breathing circuits market. The growth will be driven by an increase in outpatient procedures since they are less expensive, have a shorter recovery time, and are less prone to hospital-acquired infections. Due to ambulatory surgical centers increasing their overall capacity to conduct a wider range of surgeries, the requirement for highly efficient breathing circuit systems for anesthesia and respiratory support is increasing.

Breathing Circuits Market Regional Outlook

The breathing circuits market is dominated by the North America region with 40.2% market share in 2024, due to well-established healthcare infrastructure, coupled with high surgical volumes and large-scale adoption of superior technologies in anesthesia or critical care has contributed to the large shares of the region. Significant numbers of hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers are equipped with modern ventilation systems and respiratory support in North America. Moreover, rising awareness with respect to infection control and stringent regulatory compliance has reflected in the apparent use of the disposable circuits market. Furthermore, leading players have a profound presence with consistent investments over time in ICU and upgrading surgical settings.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow fastest in the forecast years with a 7.33% CAGR. As the healthcare system is in a rapid phase of evolution, the breath circuits market in Asia Pacific is expected to be driven by the expanding hospital infrastructure and an increase in access to surgical and emergency care. Various government initiatives to improve the critical care offered, coupled with the increasing medical tourism in regions such as India and China, have increased the health insurance penetration, thereby increasing the demand in the Asia Pacific region. The rising awareness of patient safety and the benefits of disposable circuits is spreading quickly in the region.

Europe is experiencing a substantial rise in the demand for the breathing circuits market due to the growth of advanced critical care units. The use of disposable and reusable circuit systems is covered by a well-developed regulatory framework, which positively contributes to the regional trajectory, as both technologies help improve patient safety and prevent infections. Simultaneously, the expansion of the healthcare infrastructure throughout Eastern and Western Europe and the rapid pace of the implementation of modern anesthesia and intensive care therapy across the region largely contribute to its substantial growth. Thus, the increasing availability of public-private partnerships and governmental support encourages innovative activities and developmental strategies on the part of medical device manufacturers, which, in turn, contributes to the rise in demand.

Latin America experiences moderate growth of the breathing circuit market analysis due to the relatively slow development of healthcare infrastructure and the gradually rising attention towards respiratory care. Nevertheless, due to the growth of the number of surgical procedures and intensive care unit admissions in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, the rate of implementation of respiratory support systems, including breathing circuits, is becoming more consistent. The regional governments’ efforts to create public healthcare systems also support the increasing presence of the private sector in the field.

The Middle East and Africa region shows moderate growth in the breathing circuits market. Increasing burden of respiratory conditions and slow but steady investments in healthcare, especially critical care and emergency medical services in the Gulf and Sub-Saharan countries, are driving the breathing circuit market growth. The adoption of basic and advanced tools for respiratory support becomes more common as countries focus on modernizing their healthcare infrastructure; even though infrastructural and economic challenges are becoming a major problem, regional programs aimed at improving hospitals’ capacity and infectious control measures continue to stimulate the market.

Key Players in the Breathing Circuits Market

The key players in the market are Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Medtronic plc, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., Smiths Medical, Teleflex Incorporated, GE Healthcare, Ambu A/S, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), Hamilton Medical, Vyaire Medical, and other players.

Recent Developments in the Breathing Circuits Market

• In September 2024, Medtronic plc, a medical technology leader, launched its new ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) system, VitalFlow. Intended for bedside care and intra-hospital transport, the VitalFlow ECMO System is an all-in-one, versatile solution emphasizing simplicity and high performance. It gives physicians and clinicians a simplified and intelligent ECMO experience, unifying stationary and mobile care environments.

• In September 2024, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) finalized its takeover of Edwards Lifesciences' Critical Care product group in a USD 4.2 billion all-cash transaction initially announced in June 2024. The acquired unit is now known as BD Advanced Patient Monitoring and comprises advanced hemodynamic monitoring technologies, including the Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter, along with AI-driven clinical decision-making solutions and minimally invasive sensors. This integration of the portfolio with BD's existing Alaris TM infusion systems should support the development of fully integrated, closed-loop monitoring and therapy solutions.