Ultrasound Market Expects Steady Increase by 2010

The world market for medical ultrasound systems is expected to continue its current growth spurt, growing from $3.97 billion this year to more than $4.5 billion by 2010.
According to Medical Imaging Markets, Volume III: Ultrasound, a new market research study from Kalorama Information, the ultrasound market is expected to maintain a 3 percent to 4 percent annual growth rate over the next few years, with growth in Asian countries expected to keep pace with the rest of the world, thanks to strong economies in China and Korea. Premium and high-end systems combine to make up half of the U.S. market, and low-end systems, including hand-held units, should experience aggressive growth worldwide.
In addition to its wide usage in obstetrics and gynecology, ultrasound is also gaining momentum on the cancer screening, cardiology and urological fronts.
"Advanced technologies, including real-time 3-D or 4-D imaging, Doppler technology and contrasting agents, are expanding the applications for ultrasound and will help drive future global purchases," notes 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."