Medical imaging technologies are widely used in clinical diagnosis to guide therapeutic and surgical intervention and to monitor disease progression, recurrence and treatment response and to improve surgical navigation. A plethora of imaging modalities are available to the medical community to provide anatomical and functional information. Extensive research indicates that the application of medical imaging may lead to significant reduction in healthcare costs by increasing the speed of diagnosis, avoiding the need for expensive treatments and surgical procedures and reducing mortality rate through early screening programs
Tremendous progress has been made in improving the speed and resolution of all imaging modalities Advances in fast, multi-detector CT and higher field MRI has enhanced the information available from these and other modalities. Whilst less attention has been paid to the development of imaging agents advances in delivery and imaging technologies has increased the selectivity and sensitivity of these agents to generate a new generation of disease specific imaging. Several breakthroughs have been made in the development of novel imaging agents, hardware and software which have helped to expand the use of imaging in medical diagnostic, image guided surgery and treatment.
During the last few years there have been a number of dramatic changes within the medical imaging as companies face tough economic and the initiation and implementation of new legislation. The emerging markets provide strategic opportunities for sustainable growth as patient demographics change, economies grow and healthcare coverage expands to increase the purchasing power of the individual.
Meanwhile reimbursement and regulation remain the two major stumbling blocks in the development of innovative medical imaging agents, which are currently subjected to “drug-like” criteria and rigorous standard operating procedures. However a better reward system that pays for getting the best patient results will ensure the right technologies are applied to get the right answer and outcome.
Key features
Highlights some of the key technologies which healthcare companies are developing to maximize the using of medical imaging in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Analyses the recent technological breakthroughs that have impacted the medical imaging field and how this expand the use of imaging now and in the future.
Discusses the potential of new technologies to improve the quality of imaging and how it may be applied in the diagnosis of a variety of diseases
Identifies the most novel technologies that may revolutionize medical imaging, including the use of molecular imaging and virtual surgery
Provides recent examples of new imaging agents, equipment and software programs and companies competing in each space.
Analyzes the leading healthcare companies, their business strategies, market positioning and product portfolios and discuss geographical and technological trends now and in the future of medical imaging.
Summarizes the challenges and opportunities that face the healthcare industry with a focus on the implementation of new technologies and the additional challenges associated with their use
Key benefits of reading this report
Identify key technologies for medical imaging and their applications in early diagnosis, treatment and patient monitoring
Identify the companies leading the field in developing novel technologies for medical imaging as well as new technologies for use in drug development and discovery
Discover the approaches being adopted by the leading healthcare companies
Discover the potential of these technologies for improving diagnosis and guiding treatment decisions earlier during the disease process to help to reduce long-term healthcare costs
Review the benefits associated with different approaches of medical imaging including high mixed modalities, molecular imaging and virtual surgery
Key issues discussed in this report
Improving diagnosis: Increasingly, imaging information is being used by the medical profession to improve diagnosis, minimize the use of invasive procedures, enhance the use of targeted therapies and palliative care, and improve patient management.
Medical imaging aiding the R&D process: medical imaging technologies and whole animal imaging studies can be used in drug R&D to accelerate the preclinical identification of safety assessment candidates in drug development and monitor the impact of treatment of disease.
Innovative opportunities: Molecular imaging is one of the most rapidly evolving areas of medical imaging and has application in drug R&D and clinical diagnostics. Molecular imaging can be used to determine drug biochemistry & pharmacology in situ and enable researchers to predict toxicology issues and provide information on the metabolism and action of a drug. Whilst in the clinical setting molecular imaging probes may be used as surrogate endpoints to assess new treatments or monitor the effect of therapy for a variety of diseased states, leading to developmental cost-savings through the rapid accumulation of clinical evidence to support drug approval and usage.
Reducing the healthcare burden: Extensive research indicates that the application of medical imaging in cancer, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal condition, orthopedics and trauma may lead to significant reduction in healthcare costs by increasing the speed of diagnosis, avoiding the need for expensive treatments and reducing mortality rates through early screening programs.
Virtual surgery & simulations: the emergence of high quality computer graphics and virtual reality techniques has begun to revolutionise the way in which surgeons can improve pre-operative training through computer simulation operations. Human Computer Interaction (IHC) technology can help to plan and prepare for an operation, saving time and improving patient safety.
Key findings from this report
Diagnostic screening using imaging technologies can lead to the early detection of disease to minimize the use of invasive procedures, enhance the use of targeted therapies and palliative care, and improve patient management.
New technologies that replace the need for X-rays and radioactivity are under development such as magnetic particle imaging (MPI) could revolutionize the way medical imaging modalities are used in the future for diagnosis, treatment and maintenance therapy.
Advances in medical imaging software, molecular imaging and new imaging agents will expand the use of medical imaging in a broad range of disease and medical settings to ensure patients receive the right technology to get the right treatment.
In the field of cardiology medical imaging has rapidly progressed e.g. detect heart attacks and measure plaque build in coronary arteries. Cancer will become the next frontier for medical imaging, where early detection can save lives. Whilst in the future the CNS arena e.g. Alzheimer’s disease and depression, will represent key challenges for future diagnostics.
In addition to technological challenges face by healthcare companies the industry faces three external challenges global economics, reimbursement and regulation which will impact the future growth and innovation of the sector and determine the role medical imaging will play in the future of diagnostics.
Key questions answered by this report
What has driven the increasing usage of medical imaging modalities in recent years?
Which technologies are at the forefront of medical imaging and where are they most appropriate for clinical diagnosis and treatment of disease?
What are the key technologies and areas of innovation in medical imaging?
What strategies are the leading healthcare companies using in order to remain at the forefront of medical imaging and responding to consumer needs for safe, more efficient cost effective imaging.
How is the healthcare industry responding to global imaging needs and what new technologies are they investing in in order to address the need for disease specific imaging, diagnosis and treatment?
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