This Frost & Sullivan research service titled World Markets for Data Converters and Amplifiers in Medical Imaging Equipment discusses the trends and provides the market analysis of data converters and amplifiers in the medical imaging equipment market. The research also discusses market dynamics, including industry challenges, market drivers and restraints, key market and technology trends, and competitive analysis of data converters and amplifiers in the medical imaging equipment market. Based on the interplay of identified challenges, drivers, and restraints, unit shipment and revenue forecasts and unit shipment forecasts by equipment and semiconductor component are provided.
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Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:
By Medical Imaging Equipment:
X-ray
Computed tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging
Positron emission tomography
Ultrasound
By Semiconductor Component:
Data converters
Amplifiers
Market Overview
Increase in Channel Count of Imaging Equipment Driving Growth
The continued increase in the number of channels in medical imaging equipment is proving a key driver for the growth of the world markets for data converters and amplifiers in medical imaging equipment. The number of channel counts in the current generation of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound equipment has doubled and quadrupled, providing significant improvements in image acquisition. This, in turn, has led to the increased usage of data converters as well as amplifiers. A few of the market drivers for semiconductor components include increasing levels of integration to achieve smaller footprint, demand for more portable imaging equipment, and new cutting edge technologies such as multi slice CT systems and 3 tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI).
However, the decline of the low-resolution data converters market is a notable restraint for the overall market growth. Furthermore, heightened competition on the converters front has led to a considerable reduction in cost per channel. "Since the core technology provides 12 bit resolution with 40 to 65 MSPS data throughput, several manufacturers have penetrated the market, as it is an achievable performance point," notes the analyst of this research service. "Vendors are reacting similarly to the increase in the number of channels by moving toward octal chips."
Integration an Emerging Trend
Integration of data converters and amplifiers is foreseen as an emerging trend in the imaging equipment market. With the increasing number of channels in high-end imaging equipment, integration is seen as the key driver for the amplifiers market. Analog Devices, Inc. has launched an octal chip that integrates low noise amplifiers (LNAs) with an analog to digital converter (ADC) and an anti-aliasing filter. Although such levels of integration reduces the price point and cost of the components involved, some medical imaging systems still require stand-alone amplifiers for specific functions.
In the data converters market, there is a growing need to reduce the size of the signal path, as channel counts are doubling and quadrupling in ultrasound and CT systems. Efficient multiplexing and integration of multiple channels into a single ADC offer significant advantages in terms of the size of the signal path and the overall system. This is expected to be a continuing trend in the future. "Overall, nearly 7.38 million data converter chips were shipped globally in 2006 and this figure is estimated to double to about 14.72 million units in 2011," says the analyst. "With regard to amplifiers, close to 64.3 million units of amplifiers were shipped globally for medical imaging equipment at a weighted average selling price of $1.7 million."
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