Patient monitors

The patient monitor is a medical electronic device designed to continuously monitor vital signs of the human body in real time. It is one of the key devices in intensive care units (ICUs), operating rooms, wake-up wards, cardiac wards and sometimes ambulances.

Classification of patient monitors

As the head of the department of anesthesiology and resuscitation No. 2 of the KOGBUZ "Kirov Regional Clinical Hospital," an anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the highest qualification category, Aleksey Redikultsev, told Zdrav.Expert, the patient's monitors are divided into several types depending on the field of application and functions.

Stationary

Inpatient monitors are used in hospital departments (intensive care and intensive care units, operating rooms, cardiology, etc.). Such devices have a large screen for better visibility. They connect to the central observation station (monitors several patients at once), operate from the electrical network and have the most complete set of functions and sensors.

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Фото: Philips

Portable

Portable patient monitors are designed to transport patients inside the hospital (for example, from the operating room to the intensive care unit) or in ambulances. Features of these devices: compact, durable, with a vibration-proof case, have a capacious battery for long battery life; are often compatible with stationary systems.

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Фото: GE Healthcare

House

The patient's home monitors provide monitoring of the condition of patients with chronic diseases at home. Such devices are easy to use, portable, usually monitor 1-2 parameters (for example, pressure and saturation). They do not have as high accuracy as professional models.

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Фото: Coviu

Functions

Patient monitors are also classified by their functionality.

Basic (cardiac monitors)

Such devices track:

• Electrocardiogram: graph of electrical activity of the heart. It allows you to assess heart rate, detect arrhythmias, ischemia.
• Heart rate: number of heart beats per minute.
• Noninvasive blood pressure: cuff pressure measurement.
• SpO2 (Oxygen saturation in the blood): shows how saturated the blood is with oxygen. It is measured by a sensor on the finger or earlobe.

Multifunctional monitors

In addition to the basic ones, additional, more complex parameters are measured:

• Invasive blood pressure (IAD): Continuous and accurate measurement of pressure through a catheter mounted in an artery.
• Central venous pressure: Pressure in large veins, an important indicator for assessing the volume of circulating blood.
• Temperature: Constant monitoring of body temperature.
• Respiratory rate: Number of respiratory movements per minute.
• Electroencephalogram (ECG): Monitoring the electrical activity of the brain (often in neuroreanimation).
• Cardioanalysis: Extended ECG analysis to identify specific types of arrhythmias.

Monitors for anesthesia and mechanical ventilation

These are specialized monitors for operating rooms that additionally monitor parameters related to anesthesia and mechanical ventilation. It tracks:

• Gases of the respiratory mixture: the concentration of inhaled and exhaled oxygen, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide.
• Capnography: a graph of CO2 concentration in exhaled air is the "gold standard" for controlling the correct position of the endotracheal tube and the adequacy of breathing.
• Anesthesia depth monitoring (BIS index): assessment of brain sedation and activity based on EEG analysis, thus avoiding both patient awakening and anesthetic overdose.
• Neuromuscular conduction (NMP): control of the degree of muscle relaxation with muscle relaxants.

According to Alexei Redikultsev, the patient's monitor does not just display numbers - it collects, processes, stores data and, most importantly, signals critical changes. Customizable audible and visual alarms immediately attract the attention of the staff when any indicator falls outside the established limits. This allows the anesthesiologist to titrate the doses of drugs, adjust the parameters of artificial ventilation of the lungs and quickly eliminate life-threatening conditions (hypotension, arrhythmia, hypoxia).

What do they consist of?

The patient monitor is a complex of high-precision electronics for signal processing, reliable mechanics and external sensors that together continuously monitor the patient's vital signs. The equipment includes:

• Processors: central (CPU) and digital signal (DSP) for computing and signal analysis.
• Measurement modules: special boards for amplification and processing of signals from each sensor (ECG, pressure, SpO2).
• Analog-to-digital converter: Converts analog body signals (curves) into digital data.
• Power supply and battery: Provide mains and autonomous operation.
• Memory and interfaces: For data storage, software and network connection (Wi-Fi, Ethernet).
• Screen (LCD or OLED), often touch-sensitive.
• Buttons, alarm speaker, and sensor connectors.
• External sensors: ECG electrodes, SpO2 sensor per finger, pressure cuff, temperature sensors.

Principle of operation

Sensors on the patient's body (electrodes, cuff, sensor on the finger) detect body signals (electrical pulses of the heart, pulsation of blood vessels, light absorption of blood). Weak and "noisy" signals are amplified and filtered from interference. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) turns them into a digital code. The processor analyzes this code, calculating specific indicators: pulse, pressure, saturation (SpO2), etc. The results are displayed as numbers and graphs. If any parameter goes beyond the safe limits, the monitor sends a light and sound alarm.

Patient monitors can connect to the hospital's medical information system both directly and via a cloud server, which simultaneously stores all data recorded by the device (see illustration below).

Market estimates

2024: Global Patient Monitor Market Size Reaches $48.18 Billion

At the end of 2024, global sales of patient monitors reached $48.18 billion. More than 40% of global costs came from the North American region. This is stated in a study by Precedence Research, the results of which Zdrav.Expert got acquainted with in early July 2025.

Patient monitors are medical devices designed for prolonged continuous measurement and control of one or more parameters characterizing the state of the body during anesthesiological procedures, artificial ventilation of the lungs, in the provision of emergency medical care, etc. Special fetal monitors serve to track the condition of the fetus and mother during pregnancy and childbirth. Bedside monitors, which are placed near the patient's bed or chair, are widespread: they provide convenient access to patient information, such as respiratory and cardiovascular system indicators, body temperature, ECG, etc. Such devices are used in intensive care units, intensive care units and ambulances.

Technological advances have a significant impact on the market. Modern patient monitors have wide functionality. They are equipped with embedded software for analyzing the data collected: this helps the medical staff interpret the results. The equipment is able to recognize arrhythmias or other heart rhythm disorders, as well as critical deviations of parameters from the specified values, giving alarm signals. The devices are equipped with a high-quality high-resolution color display, the data on which is displayed in a convenient visual format - in the form of numerical values, graphs and diagrams. Many modern monitors support wireless communication, which allows real-time transmission of information to a computer or special monitoring station at a considerable distance from the patient. To expand capabilities and improve the accuracy of results, developers integrate artificial intelligence tools.

Another driver of the industry, analysts call the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular ailments, neurological disorders, etc. Many such diseases require constant monitoring of vital signs, as a result of which the demand for patient monitors is stimulated. The increase in equipment sales is also facilitated by the increase in the number of elderly people who need regular health monitoring. Demand for monitors rose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In terms of application, the hospital segment took the largest share in 2024 - about 52%. At the same time, over 20% of the revenue was provided by devices for tracking heart activity. From a geographical point of view, North America leads in sales of patient monitors with a share of more than 43% in 2024. In particular, in the United States, the cost of such equipment amounted to $14.56 billion. Globally, significant players are:

• Abbott Laboratories;
• Hill-Rom Holdings;
• Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA;
• Edwards Lifesciences;
• Omron;
• Masimo;
• Compumedics Limited;
• Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics;
• Nihon Kohden;
• Natus Medical;
• Medtronic;
• Koninklijke Philips;
• GE HealthCare;
• Getinge AB;
• Boston Scientific;
• Dexcom;
• Nonin;
• Biotronik;
• Schiller;
• BioTelemetry.

Precedence Research analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR will be 8.4%. Thus, by 2034, sales of patient monitors may increase to $107.93 billion.^[1]

Notes