Breathing Circuits Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Open Breathing Circuits, Semi Open Breathing Circuits , Semi-closed breathing systems, Closed Breathing Circuits ), By Application (Anesthesia, Respiratory Dysfunction, Others), By End Users (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Care Centers, Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.53 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	3.77%
Fastest Growing Segment	Anesthesia
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1.91 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Breathing Circuits Market will grow from USD 1.53 Billion in 2025 to USD 1.91 Billion by 2031 at a 3.77% CAGR. Breathing circuits are medical tubing assemblies connecting a patient to an anesthesia machine or ventilator to deliver gases and remove carbon dioxide. The market is propelled by the rising prevalence of respiratory pathologies and increasing surgical volumes requiring anesthesia. According to the World Health Organization and the European Respiratory Society, in 2025, chronic respiratory diseases affected 81.7 million people in the WHO European Region, underscoring the critical demand for respiratory support. Furthermore, an aging global population susceptible to respiratory failure continues to sustain the requirement for mechanical ventilation solutions.

However, market expansion faces a significant challenge regarding the environmental impact and disposal costs of disposable plastic circuits. Healthcare facilities are increasingly scrutinized for medical waste which creates pressure to adopt sustainable yet economically viable alternatives. This tension between infection control mandates and environmental sustainability goals creates procurement complexities that may impede volume growth in cost constrained regions.

Key Market Drivers

The rising volume of surgical procedures requiring anesthesia acts as a primary catalyst for the global breathing circuits market. As healthcare systems clear backlogs and address the needs of aging demographics, the frequency of general anesthesia interventions has intensified, directly correlating with the consumption of breathing tubes and masks. This operational surge is evident in national health data; for instance, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, December 2025, in the 'Elective surgery - Hospitals' report, 940,000 patients were added to public hospital elective surgery waiting lists in the 2024–25 period, marking a 3.1% increase from the previous year. Such an elevation in surgical demand necessitates a consistent supply of reliable airway management interfaces to ensure patient safety during perioperative care.

Simultaneously, the market is being reshaped by a decisive shift toward single-use circuits to mitigate cross-contamination risks and improve infection control. Reusable circuits, while historically common, present sterilization challenges that can contribute to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Highlighting this risk, according to the World Health Organization, May 2025, in the 'Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control', approximately 7 out of every 100 patients in high-income countries contract at least one healthcare-associated infection during their hospital stay. This critical safety concern drives hospitals to procure disposable consumables, significantly boosting segment revenues. Reflecting this robust demand, according to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, in 2025, revenue for the Hospital product group, which includes respiratory and acute care consumables, reached $1.28 billion, representing an 18% increase over the prior financial year.

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Key Market Challenges

The environmental impact and associated disposal costs of disposable plastic breathing circuits constitute a substantial restraint on market expansion. As healthcare systems globally face stricter environmental regulations, the volume of plastic waste generated by anesthesia and respiratory care has come under intense scrutiny. Disposable circuits, while effective for infection control, contribute heavily to the accumulation of non-biodegradable medical waste. This creates a financial burden for hospitals, as the cost to treat and dispose of regulated medical plastic often exceeds the initial purchase price of the device. Consequently, procurement departments are forced to divert capital from acquiring new stock to managing waste compliance, thereby limiting the budget available for volume growth in consumables.

This procurement bottleneck is quantified by recent industry data regarding the scale of waste generation in critical care settings. According to Practice Greenhealth, in 2025, operating rooms generated more than 30% of a healthcare facility's total waste, a significant portion of which consisted of single-use plastics and tubing assemblies. This high concentration of waste in surgical departments forces administrators to implement rigid purchasing caps to control disposal expenditures. In cost-constrained regions, this financial pressure effectively slows the adoption rate of premium disposable circuits, as institutions delay inventory replenishment to align with waste reduction mandates.

Key Market Trends

The development of portable and home-care optimized circuit designs is significantly expanding market reach beyond traditional hospital settings. As healthcare systems globally prioritize cost-efficient domiciliary treatment for chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD and obstructive sleep apnea, there is a surge in demand for lightweight, durable, and user-friendly tubing assemblies compatible with portable ventilators and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. This shift facilitates long-term respiratory support outside clinical environments, thereby reducing hospital readmission rates and improving patient mobility. Reflecting this robust growth in the domiciliary respiratory sector, according to ResMed Inc., August 2025, in the 'Form 10-K Annual Report', net revenue for the fiscal year increased by 10% to reach $5.15 billion, driven by sustained global demand for home-use sleep and respiratory care devices.

Advancements in heated wire and active humidification technologies are simultaneously revolutionizing the efficacy of respiratory support by precisely replicating physiological conditions. Unlike passive heat and moisture exchangers, modern active circuits utilize embedded heating elements and advanced algorithms to maintain optimal gas temperature and humidity, thereby preventing mucociliary dysfunction and enhancing patient tolerance during therapies such as high-flow nasal oxygen. This technological evolution is becoming critical in intensive care units to preserve airway integrity and improve clinical outcomes for ventilated patients. Highlighting the rapid adoption of these sophisticated humidification solutions, according to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, May 2025, in the 'Annual Report 2025', revenue from new applications consumables, which encompasses high-flow therapy interfaces and active humidification systems, grew by 20% over the prior financial year.

Segmental Insights

The anesthesia segment represents the fastest-growing category within the global breathing circuits market. This expansion is primarily driven by the rising volume of surgical procedures and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases requiring operative intervention. Furthermore, the industry is witnessing a significant shift toward single-use circuits to mitigate cross-contamination risks, a practice aligned with safety protocols from established entities like the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Consequently, the adoption of anesthesia circuits continues to increase across hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to ensure patient safety during complex medical operations.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global breathing circuits market, driven by a well-established healthcare infrastructure and the rising prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. This leadership is reinforced by substantial healthcare expenditure and the concentration of key medical device manufacturers within the United States and Canada. Furthermore, the supportive regulatory framework established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) facilitates the timely approval and adoption of medical consumables. These factors collectively create a favorable environment that sustains high demand for breathing circuits across the region.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, GE HealthCare Korea announced the launch of the Carestation 600 Series V2, a compact anesthesia solution designed for efficient use in space-constrained operating rooms. The system featured advanced capabilities such as the automatic calculation of predicted body weight based on patient height to optimize tidal volume and improve lung protection strategies. This release underscored the company's commitment to enhancing patient safety and workflow efficiency in the perioperative environment. The new platform was developed to support both adult and pediatric patients, ensuring precise anesthesia delivery and ventilation management across various clinical settings.
• In November 2024, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare introduced the F&P Nova Micro nasal pillows mask in the United States, marking the release of its lightest and smallest mask to date. Weighing less than 1.4 ounces, the device was engineered with a compact frame and a soft cushion designed to nestle gently within the nostrils, providing stability and freedom of movement for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This product launch expanded the company's mask portfolio, complementing the earlier release of the F&P Solo AutoFit mask, and aimed to address diverse patient needs through a minimal design philosophy that prioritizes comfort and performance.
• In November 2024, Intersurgical highlighted the successful implementation of its Silver Knight 7 Day breathing circuit at a major health network, emphasizing the product's role in advancing medical sustainability. The initiative involved transitioning from single-use circuits to the company's antimicrobial, extended-use systems, which were validated for use up to seven days. This shift was reported to significantly reduce plastic waste and operational costs without compromising patient safety or infection control standards. The development demonstrated the viability of multi-patient anesthesia circuits as a practical solution for hospitals aiming to decrease their environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality respiratory care.
• In September 2024, Medtronic announced the launch of the VitalFlow System, a new extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) solution designed to bridge the gap between bedside care and intra-hospital transport. This configurable, one-system solution was developed to offer clinicians a simpler and more efficient experience during high-acuity respiratory and cardiac support procedures. The technology incorporates the company's proven Nautilus oxygenator design and features a large, intuitive touchscreen for real-time performance monitoring. The launch followed the company's acquisition of MC3 Cardiopulmonary and aimed to bolster its portfolio of cardiac surgical and respiratory innovations, addressing unmet clinical needs in the critical care environment.

Key Market Players

• Medtronic plc
• Ambu A/S
• Flexicare Medical Ltd
• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd
• Dragerwerk AG & Co.
• Hamilton Medical Inc.
• Armstrong Medical Industries Inc
• GE Healthcare Technologies Inc.
• Bio Med Devices Inc.

By Product Type	By Application	By End Users	By Region
Open Breathing Circuits Semi Open Breathing Circuits Semi-closed breathing systems Closed Breathing Circuits	Anesthesia Respiratory Dysfunction Others	Hospitals & Clinics Ambulatory Care Centers Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Breathing Circuits Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Breathing Circuits Market, By Product Type:

• Open Breathing Circuits
• Semi Open Breathing Circuits
• Semi-closed breathing systems
• Closed Breathing Circuits

• Breathing Circuits Market, By Application:

• Anesthesia
• Respiratory Dysfunction
• Others

• Breathing Circuits Market, By End Users:

• Hospitals & Clinics
• Ambulatory Care Centers
• Others

• Breathing Circuits Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE