This Frost & Sullivan research service titled North American Computed Tomography Imaging Equipment Markets provides forecasts of market revenues and unit shipments of the various product tiers, along with a complete analysis of key market dynamics, trends, challenges, and best practices. The research service analyzes various market segments including conventional scanners with various slice counts (detectors with less than 10 slices, 16-slice, 32/40-slice, 64-slice, 128-slice, and 256-slice, and other acquisition techniques), as well as large-bore CT and OEM-refurbished scanners.
Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:
Conventional CT imaging equipment
Large-bore CT imaging equipment
OEM-refurbished CT imaging equipment
Technologies
The following technologies are covered in this research:
10-slice and under
16-slice CT
32/40-slice CT
64-slice CT
128-slice CT
256-slice CT
Other acquisition techniques
Market Overview
Wave of New Technology in Computed Tomography Imaging Equipment Markets Presages Growth through Specialty Fragmentation
The introduction of a tier of first-rate computed tomography (CT) systems has given a huge boost to the market fortunes of the CT imaging equipment market in 2004 and 2005. From research hospitals to diagnostic imaging centers, the wide spectrum of healthcare providers has adopted volumetric CT imaging equipment for its unique capabilities in cardiac and specialty imaging. Since then, however, these providers have had to re-design a modern-day CT workflow and integrate cardiac imaging into the practice, adapt to a challenging business model, and address concerns regarding the IT infrastructure and radiologist reading. To assist their customers in adjusting to the disruptive technology, market participants have to ensure workflow enhancement, greater clinical utility of CT, and favorable reimbursement updates.
Before commercializing more powerful scanners, market participants will have to invest more time and resources in conducting clinical trials and further reducing manufacturing costs, while preparing the market for another technological leap. "The workflow of personnel along the entire chain of events - from exam ordering to reporting - needs to be addressed with better training, more efficient software, and support of an adequate IT infrastructure," says the analyst of this research service. Meanwhile, promising clinical trials and technical work-in-progress hint at yet another revolution in CT.
Further Upgrades in CT to Ensure Sustained Growth
During the late-adopter phase of 64-slice CT, the slowdown in revenues from sales new equipments will be offset by an increased provision of software and hardware upgrades, refurbished equipments and service. Moving forward, growth is contingent upon the expansion of CT in cardiac imaging, oncology imaging and other specialty imaging areas. Clinicians are, in fact, eagerly awaiting improvements in image quality. "Current users of 64-slice CT technology find that cardiac and coronary artery imaging has room for improvements, especially the low-contrast resolution for better plaque characterization capabilities," notes the analyst. "Larger detector coverage, multi-source and multi-energy imaging will transform advanced CT imaging".
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