This continued growth is caused primarily by innovations made by device manufacturers and suppliers. Fluid control component manufacturers that continue to adapt to market changes will be the most successful. Although much could be written on any of these components, the market trends toward systems integration, reduced fluid volumes, and miniaturization affecting these components are of equal or greater significance than individual component details. OEMs are attempting to consolidate multiple vendors into a smaller, more valuable supplier base, so they can reduce the internal overhead costs of departments such as purchasing, quality assurance, and engineering, which support the supplier base.
Miniaturization is a natural consequence of increased systems integration.
As more components are integrated onto a common manifold, cabinet space that traditionally had been devoted to strands of spaghetti-like fluid transmission tubing can be eliminated. Reduced Fluid Volumes. Diagnostic options have increased and physicians are able to take advantage of technological developments to provide patients with more accurate diagnoses. However, the process of pinpointing a diagnosis means subjecting patients to a large number of tests, leading to a corresponding desire on the physician's part to reduce the serum volume required per test. Exotic, expensive reagents also provide an economic incentive to use minimal amounts of fluid.