European Ultrasound Market Driven by Pricing

The pricing of ultrasound systems in Europe is predicted to be key to their acceptance. In addition to being competitively priced, ultrasound devices with an emphasis on user-friendliness, innovation, compactness, and mobility are also expected to attract end-users.

Whereas prices of small portable units have stayed rather the same, larger systems have had more drastic price declines of up to 25% since the mid-1990s, according to an analysis by Frost & Sullivan (Palo, Alto, CA, USA), an international growth consultancy company. Even as competition increases, the general European ultrasound market is predicted to grow annually by almost 1.8-2%.

Sales of sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) and 4D imaging devices have been slow mainly due to the pricing and cost issues. Uptake rates have been sluggish because they are costly and comparatively expensive to use on a regular basis. An added factor that is slowing uptake of 3D and 4D imaging has been diverse guidelines for the safe use of ultrasound systems and differing training requirements across Europe. This is significant as safety and ergonomic concerns are emerging as major factors in the ultrasound technology market.

The absence of a coherent, pan-European standardized structure for ultrasound training has been compounded by inconsistent regulatory standards across countries. In spite of the many problems, innovative technologies are proving beneficial for market expansion. Continuing research into handheld, miniaturized ultrasound devices with the possibility to be used for low-cost, first -stage, screening for osteoporosis is apt to help make bone density screenings a routine matter.

In relation to 2D ultrasound technologies, the development of a breast biopsy phantom provides a hands-on training device for refining real-time biopsies involving ultrasound modality and accurate breast screening. An intraoperative ultrasound imaging system that enables the incorporation of extremely high quality 3D neuronavigation and ultrasound technology represents improvements made in 3D ultrasound technology.

Considerable progress has been made in 4D ultrasound technologies, as well, according to Frost & Sullivan. These vary from an ultrasound system that has the capability to provide excellent resolution and clarity to ultrasound images, thus facilitating breast imaging, to a new bladder scan that provides patients noninvasive treatment in terms of diagnosis and management of urinary outflow dysfunction. Other innovations include a new modality that combines MRI and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for early detection and treatment of breast cancer and a new method that offers real-time images with clearer details of the fetus, providing a comprehensive, prenatal exam.




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