Steady Increases Anticipated for World Ultrasound Market

Remaining the most versatile cross-sectional imaging modality in the medical marketplace because of its real-time nature and multiplanar capabilities, the world market for medical ultrasound systems is expected to continue its current growth spurt, growing from U.S.$3.97 billion this year to more than $4.5 billion by 2010.

According to a new market research study from Kalorama Information (New York, NY, USA), the ultrasound market is expected to maintain a 3-4% annual growth rate over the next few years, with growth in Asian countries expected to keep pace with the rest of the world, because of strong economies in China and Korea. Premium and high-end systems combine to make up 50% of the U.S. market, and low-end systems, including hand-held units, should experience aggressive growth worldwide.

Widely used in obstetrics and gynecology, ultrasound is also increasingly used for cancer screening, cardiology, and urologic imaging. This new study reports that major growth areas include mobile diagnostics; visual assistance procedures--using ultrasound to guide medical interventions such as biopsies or line insertions; and use of ultrasound in routine physical examinations to screen for early detection of disease. Furthermore, hand-carried ultrasound imaging systems have opened up new application areas such as emergency medicine and anesthesiology.

"Advanced technologies, including real-time 3D [three-dimensional] or 4D imaging, Doppler technology, and contrasting agents, are expanding the applications for ultrasound and will help drive future global purchases,” noted Joseph Constance, the report's author. "At the same time, future growth will come from emerging markets in countries where the market is still untapped.”

Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, provides the latest in independent market research for the life sciences.



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