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News and Articles
Advances in Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging
in Europe Press Release
Innovation, Competitive Prices to Underpin Uptake of Diagnostic Ultrasound Devices
London, UK – 12th April, 2005 - Across Europe, the pricing of
ultrasound systems is expected to be central to its uptake. In addition
to being competitively priced, products with an emphasis on innovation,
user-friendliness, mobility and compactness are also expected to appeal
to end-users.
While prices of small, portable units have remained fairly static,
larger units have experienced more dramatic price declines of up to 25
per cent since the mid 1990s. Even as competition intensifies, the
overall European ultrasound market is projected to grow annually by
nearly 1.8 to 2 per cent.
Sales of advanced 3D and 4D imaging units have been lagging largely due
to the pricing and cost issues. Uptake rates have been sluggish since
they are expensive and relatively costly to use on a regular basis.
Moreover, with divergent, country-specific reimbursement schemes
prevailing across Europe, competitive pricing is likely to be a
pre-requisite to encouraging adoption of high-end systems.
An additional factor to slow adoption of 3D and 4D imaging has been
non-uniform guidelines for the safe use of ultrasound systems and
varied training requirements across Europe. This is important as safety
and ergonomic concerns are emerging as a key factor in the ultrasound
modality market.
Indeed, high rates of work-related injuries to sonographers have
prompted companies to design increasingly ergonomic and user-friendly
ultrasound devices. For instance, the innovative integration of
Bluetooth wireless technology with ultrasound devices has been in line
with attempts to support a stress- and injury-free work environment.
The lack of a uniform, pan-European, standardised structure for
ultrasound training has been compounded by inconsistent regulatory
norms across countries. This has negatively impacted the quality of
technical training and the level of professional competency. And with
rising demand for faster, economical ultrasound exams, the dearth of
skilled, trained and qualified sonographers is intensifying pressure on
clinicians.
“Generally, specialists agree that enhanced imaging
capabilities such as 3D or 4D require a different set of reading and
interpreting skills from other modalities, with a possibly steep
learning curve,” note Technical Insights Analysts Giridhar
Rao and Kasturi Nadkarny from Frost & Sullivan
(http://technicalinsights.frost.com). “Additionally, a
comprehensive and standard terminology needs to be developed, which
would help physicians describe what they see and communicate the same
to patients.”
Despite the many challenges, innovative technologies are giving a
fillip to market expansion. For instance, although still at the
research state, a freehand 3D ultrasound device is likely to find
enormous use in clinical surgery and radiotherapy. Ongoing research
into miniaturised, handheld ultrasound devices with the potential of
being used for low-cost, first-stage screening for osteoporosis is
likely to help make bone checkups a routine matter.
In terms of 2D ultrasound technologies, the development of a breast
biopsy ‘phantom’ provides a hands-on training
device for perfecting real-time biopsies involving ultrasound modality
and accurate breast screening. A pioneering MRI-guided ultrasound
therapy offers the prospect of avoiding myomectomy or hysterectomy
while a unique porous piezoelectric ceramic is expected to double the
sensitivity and resolution of ultrasound diagnostic equipment.
An
intra-operative ultrasound imaging system that enables integration of
very high quality 3D ultrasound and neuro navigation technology
represents advances made in 3D ultrasound technologies. The development
of a new diagnostic method that uses ultrasound to diagnose pathogenic
diseases applicable to both obstetrics as well as gynaecology
constitutes another milestone. A recently developed transvaginal
ultrasound is projected to help determine a woman’s
reproductive age.
Significant progress has been made in 4D ultrasound technologies, as
well. These range from an ultrasound system that has the ability to
impart maximum clarity and resolution to ultrasound images, thereby
facilitating breast imaging to a new bladder scan that offers patients
non-invasive treatment in terms of diagnosis and management of urinary
outflow dysfunction. Other advances include a new technology that
combines MRI and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for early
diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer to a new technique that
provides real-time images with finer details of the foetus enabling a
comprehensive, prenatal health check-up of babies.
If you are
interested in an analysis overview which provides manufacturers, end
users, and other industry participants with an overview, summary,
challenges, and latest coverage of Advances in Diagnostic Ultrasound
Imaging in Europe – then send an e-mail to Katja Feick
– European Corporate Communications at katja.feick@frost.com
with the following information: Full name, Company Name, Title, Contact
Tel Number, Contact Fax Number, E-mail. Upon receipt of the above
information, an overview will be e-mailed to you.
Title: Advances in Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging in Europe
Code: D312
Background
Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business
that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and
research services.
Frost & Sullivan, an international growth consultancy, has been
supporting clients' expansion for more than four decades. Our market
expertise covers a broad spectrum of industries, while our portfolio of
advisory competencies includes custom strategic consulting, market
intelligence, and management training. Our mission is to forge
partnerships with our clients' management teams to deliver market
insights and to create value and drive growth through innovative
approaches. Frost & Sullivan's network of consultants, industry
experts, corporate trainers, and support staff spans the globe with
offices in every major country.
Media Contacts:
Katja Feick
Corporate Communications – Europe
P: +44 (0) 20 7915 7856
F: +44 (0) 20 7730 3343
E: katja.feick@frost.com
Danielle White
Corporate Communications – North America
P: 210.247.2403
F: 210.348.1003
E: dwhite@frost.com
Pramila Gurtoo
Corporate Communications – Asia Pacific
DID: (603) 6204 5811
Gen: (603) 6204 5800
Fax: (603) 6201 7402
E: pgurtoo@frost.com
www.frost.com
www.technicalinsights.frost.com
Doppler ultrasound solutions for treating haemorrhoids; a minute,
simply constructed, easy-to-use pocket-sized Doppler blood flow
detector; and a compact Doppler system with a built-in foetal heart
rate processor reveal the evolution of Doppler ultrasound technology.
List of Keywords in this press release: diagnostic ultrasound devices,
ultrasound imaging, ultrasound, ultrasound diagnostics, 3D imaging, 4D
imaging, Bluetooth, sonographers, freehand 3D ultrasound device, 2D
ultrasound technologies, breast biopsy phantom, breast biopsy,
MRI-guided ultrasound therapy, breast screening, myomectomy,
hysterectomy, porous piezoelectric ceramic, neuro navigation
technology, 3D ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound, i4D ultrasound,
breast imaging, bladder scan, urinary outflow dysfunction, MRI, high
intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), HIFU, Doppler ultrasound, Doppler
blood flow detector.
List of Key Industry Participants: Aloka, B - K Medical, Bracco
Imaging, Cortex Technology, Danish Phantom design, Diagnostic Sonar,
Diagnostic Ultrasound (Europe) B.V., Dornier MedTech GmbH, DWL
Elektronische Systeme, Dynamic Imaging, ECHO-SON S.A., ELPOL Sp. z
o.o., ESAOTE S.p.A., FUKUDA DENSHI UK, Imaging Systems Ltd., Mison AS,
Oktus Medical Systems, PTW-Freiburg, Schering Healthcare, SciMed Ltd,
Sonomed, Sonotech, Telemed, TomTec Imaging Systems, Ultrasound Imaging,
Ultrasound Technologies Ltd.
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