What Is The Usage Cost of A Disposable Endoscope Camera Module?

Cost Restructuring Driven by Miniaturization Technology

In the field of medical consumables, disposable endoscope camera modules are undergoing a transformation from a "luxury item" to a "fast-moving consumer good." The core breakthrough comes from the mass production of miniaturized endoscope camera modules equipped with sensors like the OVM6946. These modules, through semiconductor-level packaging processes, have compressed costs into the hundred-yuan range. It is worth noting that although their 10,000-pixel resolution is not as high as that of reusable devices, it already meets 85% of routine inspection needs. The industrial sector has also benefited. For example, the 5mm module developed by O-Film, using high-precision wire bonding technology, has increased signal stability by 30% while reducing the unit cost to below 180 yuan.

Price Curve Under Market Competition

In 2025, with the domestication rate breaking through 60%, the cost structure has undergone a qualitative change. Taking urology as an example, the cost of consumables per surgery has plummeted from 12,000 yuan for reusable devices to 8,000 yuan, thanks to the CDMO shared production line model established by companies like Mindray Medical. However, there are still barriers in the high-end market. Modules that support fluorescence imaging, which require the integration of special filters and dedicated ICs, maintain a unit price of over 2,000 yuan. It is worth noting that a new price anchor point is forming in the grassroots medical market—simple modules procured by county-level hospitals have already seen "hundred-yuan units," which is a disruptive blow compared to the tens of thousands of yuan in maintenance costs for reusable devices.

Revolution in Total Lifecycle Costs

The truly disruptive cost advantage is reflected in the hidden dimensions. The average annual maintenance cost of traditional endoscopes can reach 30% of the device's value, including fixed expenditures such as ethylene oxide sterilization and fiber optic maintenance. Disposable modules, by eliminating the sterilization process, not only reduce the single-use time by 70% but also completely avoid the cross-infection treatment costs of 120,000–180,000 yuan per case. Data from Boston Consulting Group shows that in top-tier hospitals with more than 20 surgeries per day, adopting a disposable solution can reduce the total cost over five years by 42%. This cost model is rewriting the evaluation system for medical devices, making "consumption" an irreversible trend.