Tel: +86-19906868508
E-mail: info@sihanmed.com
Tel: +86-19906868508
E-mail: info@sihanmed.com
In Germany, hospitals don’t change equipment just because a new product is out. They usually stick with what they know works. That’s why reusable endoscopes have been the go-to choice for years.
But lately, disposable ureteroscopes are starting to show up more often. It’s not a sudden shift, but it’s noticeable in bigger hospitals and university clinics.
The reason is pretty practical. When a reusable scope needs repair or sterilization, it can slow down the whole schedule. With tighter infection rules and more procedures being done, many departments are looking for something that’s ready to use right away. Disposable ureteroscopes fit that need—no waiting, no repairs, and a consistent tool for each case.
Germany’s urology departments are pretty busy. Kidney stone cases show up all the time, and ureteroscopy is done daily. So when a reusable scope is being sterilized or repaired, it can mess up the whole schedule.
That’s why disposable ureteroscopes are getting noticed more. Karl Storz nephroscope, storz nephroscope, and Olympus mini nephroscope still work well, but they need constant care. Sterilizing takes time, and repairs aren’t cheap.
Disposable scopes don’t solve every issue, but they do make one thing easier: you always have a scope ready to use.
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The disposable ureteroscope market in Germany is not expanding explosively, but it is growing steadily. Industry estimates suggest a 7–8% annual growth rate, driven mainly by adoption in:
University hospitals
High-volume public healthcare centers
Specialized private urology clinics
Germany’s procurement culture is cautious. Hospitals rarely switch technologies overnight. Instead, disposable ureteroscopes are often introduced gradually—first as backup devices, then for complex cases, and eventually as a routine option.
While the upfront medical endoscope price of disposable devices is higher, many purchasing teams now evaluate total cost of ownership. Once sterilization labor, repair costs, and lost operating time are included, disposable options become easier to justify.
Germany’s strict infection control standards play a major role. Hospitals are expected to demonstrate full compliance with reprocessing protocols, and audits are increasingly detailed. Disposable ureteroscopes eliminate reprocessing risks entirely.
Workflow efficiency is another factor. Urology departments prefer equipment that is always ready, especially when operating lists are full.
Cost remains a concern, particularly for smaller hospitals. Some facilities continue to rely on used endoscopy equipment sale channels or refurbished conmed electro surgical unit systems to manage budgets.
There is also a cultural element. Many experienced surgeons are accustomed to reusable scopes and are cautious about changing devices they trust. Some clinics even prefer buying endoscopy machine for sale or medical endoscope for sale from secondary markets to save costs.
Germany is home to some of the world’s most respected endoscopy manufacturers, which makes competition in this market especially intense. Key players active in ureteroscopy and related endoscopy segments include:
Karl Storz
Richard Wolf
Olympus Corporation
Boston Scientific
Pusen Medical
These companies often supply a wide range of equipment beyond ureteroscopes, including systems such as storz co2 insufflator units and various rigid endoscope parts. Their established relationships with German hospitals give them a strong advantage when introducing disposable solutions.
In addition, many hospitals still rely on endoscopy equipment manufacturers for repair support and spare parts, such as endoscopy machine parts, rigid scope parts, or endoscopy repair parts.
German procurement teams tend to focus on reliability and long-term efficiency rather than headline pricing. A simplified comparison often used internally looks like this:
| Device Type | Cost Structure | Maintenance Burden | Typical Use |
| Disposable Ureteroscope | Medium–High per case | None | High-volume ureteroscopy |
| Reusable Nephroscope | High upfront + repairs | High | Stone management |
| Rigid Endoscope | Medium | Moderate | Cystoscopy |
| Flexible Endoscope | High | Very high | Complex anatomy |
In practice, many hospitals conclude that predictable availability is more valuable than lower upfront cost—especially when operating room schedules are tight.
In Germany, regulation is simply part of the conversation from day one. If a disposable ureteroscope does not meet EU MDR requirements, hospitals usually won’t even look at it. It’s not about being strict for the sake of it—German procurement teams just want to avoid problems later on.
Hospitals here tend to be careful, sometimes even slow, when it comes to new devices. Good performance alone isn’t enough. Clear paperwork and traceability matter just as much, and missing documents can easily delay a decision. For suppliers, regulatory approval often ends up being as important as the product itself.
If you want some general context on how medical devices are regulated in Europe, Wikipedia’s medical device pages and official EU publications are a good place to start.
To help readers understand why EU regulation matters so much in Germany, here is an official overview from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The video explains the basics of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and why compliance is a key factor for hospitals when choosing devices like disposable ureteroscopes.
A: Some are, some aren’t. Big hospitals and university clinics are trying them more often. Smaller hospitals usually stick with what they already have.
A: That’s part of it, but not the whole story. A lot of it comes down to time. When a scope is in repair, cases get delayed. Disposable ones avoid that.
A: Early models did, honestly. Newer ones are much better. Most doctors won’t say they’re “better” than reusable scopes, but they’re good enough for many cases.
A: If a department breaks scopes often or runs a lot of cases, disposable can make sense.
A: Mixed opinions. Younger surgeons tend to be more open. Senior doctors usually prefer reusable scopes, but even they’ll use disposable ones if needed.
A: Not really. If the product meets EU MDR requirements, hospitals are fine with it. The paperwork matters more than the concept.
A: High-volume stone centers. When schedules are tight, having a scope that’s always available is a big advantage.
With years of dedication to the medical equipment industry, Shengjun He has leveraged his solid professional expertise and keen insight into industry trends to establish Sihan Medical as a leading force in the endoscope repair sector. Prior to founding Sihan Medical, he accumulated extensive experience in medical device maintenance—a foundation that proved instrumental for his entrepreneurial journey. His background spans hands-on equipment repair, technical R&D, and management, granting him comprehensive understanding of medical devices, from their underlying technology to market demands.
