Which medical device manufacturers and products left an impression on doctors?

INTAGE Healthcare Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Keita Murai) conducted the 'Medical Device Promotion Tracking' to investigate how product information regarding medical devices is obtained, and the 'Strategic Brand Benchmark Survey in Cardiovascular Surgery' to evaluate the product and support strength of medical device manufacturers in the cardiovascular field. [Key Points] - Regarding how doctors obtain information, 'direct sales' remains the most common method for medical devices, similar to the previous survey. - The TOP 3 medical device manufacturers that left an impression on doctors (*1) changed in 'Cardiovascular Surgery' and 'Digestive Surgery'. - The TOP 3 manufacturers evaluated for 'speed and sincerity of response' in 'Cardiovascular Internal Medicine' (*2) show the same trend as the manufacturers remembered for their product explanations. - Doctors in 'Cardiovascular Internal Medicine' are particularly impressed by explanations regarding the safety and operability of medical devices. *1 Doctors were asked to name combinations of medical device manufacturers and product groups that left an impression on them, up to a maximum of 5. The manufacturer names were then aggregated. *2 Doctors were asked to select multiple medical device manufacturers they highly evaluate for speed and sincerity of response. 1. 'Direct sales' accounts for about 80% of how doctors obtain medical device product information, showing no change in trend. The 'Medical Device Promotion Tracking' verified the 'status of obtaining medical device product information' among a total of 900 doctors working in facilities with 200 or more beds nationwide, across 'Cardiovascular Internal Medicine', 'Cardiovascular Surgery', 'Gastroenterology', 'Digestive Surgery', 'Orthopedics', and 'Neurosurgery'. Looking at the results for December 2025, the percentage of information obtained from 'direct sales' was 79%, remaining the most common information source, similar to past surveys. 'Web seminars/Internet' accounted for 16%, and 'In-hospital briefings' were at 11%, showing a similar trend compared to the survey in December 2024, the same month of the previous year. Furthermore, in the Impact Track survey (*3), which tracks 'pharmaceutical companies' promotional activities' in a diary format, calculations adjusted to this medical device survey target segment (6 clinical departments, 200+ beds) showed no significant changes compared to the September 2025 survey, similar to the 'status of obtaining medical device product information'. *3 Impact Track: Evaluation of pharmaceutical companies' promotional activities conducted by INTAGE Healthcare.

2. Changes in the TOP 3 manufacturers that left an impression on doctors in 'Cardiovascular Surgery' and 'Digestive Surgery'. When checking 'medical device manufacturers that left an impression' with doctors in the same survey, there were changes in the TOP 3 for 'Cardiovascular Surgery' and 'Digestive Surgery'. In 'Digestive Surgery', Intuitive Surgical ranked 3rd. The company was 3rd in the June 2025 survey but fell out of the TOP 3 in September 2025. In 'Cardiovascular Surgery', Edwards ranked 3rd in the December survey, having been outside the TOP 3 in the previous survey.

Results of the December 2025 survey. Yellow indicates manufacturers that were outside the TOP 3 in the previous September 2025 survey. Results of the September 2025 survey. *4 Manufacturer names are listed using abbreviations. 3. The TOP 3 manufacturers evaluated for 'speed and sincerity of response' in 'Cardiovascular Internal Medicine' show the same trend as the manufacturers remembered for product explanations. Next, in the 'Strategic Brand Benchmark Survey in Cardiovascular Surgery' targeting a total of 150 doctors in 'Cardiovascular Internal Medicine' and 'Cardiovascular Surgery' working in facilities with 20 beds or more nationwide, we checked the 'medical device manufacturers that can be evaluated for speed and sincerity of response'. As a result, in Cardiovascular Internal Medicine, Medtronic Japan ranked 1st, Abbott Japan 2nd, and Boston Scientific Japan 3rd. This is the same ranking order as the 'Ranking of medical device manufacturers that left an impression on doctors' in Figure 2. It is suggested that similar manufacturers tend to be chosen whether looked at from the perspective of product information provision or the manufacturer's image of sincerity.

*5 Manufacturer names are listed using abbreviations. 4. Doctors in 'Cardiovascular Internal Medicine' remember explanations about the safety and operability of medical devices. Additionally, the 'Medical Device Promotion Tracking'...