The pediatric MRI market is projected to reach US$ 5,678.86 million by 2028 from US$ 3,655.32 million in 2022; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2022 to 2028.

The factors such as rising number of premature births and pediatric diseases and adoption of digital health technology to improve patient care are expected to drive the pediatric MRI market growth. Moreover, increasing campaigns to create awareness regarding pediatric safety is also expected to foster the pediatric MRI market growth during the forecast period.

Use of MRI Simulators to Adapt Children to MRI Scanners to Boost the Pediatric MRI Market in Future

The experience of undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can lead to anxiety, particularly for pediatric patients and their families. As a result, children are often sedated to complete the exam. However, sedation increases the cost of the procedure and requires an anesthesiologist to be present during the exam. Alternative methods to improve success and ensure non-sedation experience can be implemented with the adoption of new technologies and simulations that reduce the number of procedures requiring anesthesia. An MRI simulator can be used on children to scan and assess if they need sedation; it is available in various forms. Virtual reality, a computer-generated simulation of a 3D environment that can be experienced using a head-mounted display (HMD), has emerged as an effective solution for reducing anxiety in various pediatric psychological applications, including fear of the procedure.

For instance, the Ambient Experience program by Philips Healthcare incorporates architecture, design, and other technologies for lighting and sound to create a relaxed environment for the scan. For MRI scans, Philips offers the Ambient Experience in-bore Connect, which projects videos inside the bore to calm and instruct patients. The children can select a theme, which can be played in the room before the scan and inside the bore during the scan. In March 2021, Philips and The Walt Disney Company collaborated to test the effects of custom-made animation, such as specially made Disney stories, in the Philips Ambient Experience. A few of Disney animation stories featured Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Marvel’s Avengers, Star Wars’ Yoda, and other Disney characters. Philips began the clinical research project program in six European hospitals and received the pilot project’s results by the end of 2021. The goal of the program was to help alleviate children’s anxiety and improve staff’s ability to carry out tasks in MRI scanning rooms across six European hospitals.

Therefore, the implementation of such technologies and play-based simulators to help children adapt to MRI scans is expected to boost the pediatric MRI market growth during the forecast period.

The global pediatric MRI market is segmented on the basis of type, application, product type, age group, and end user. Based on type, the pediatric MRI market is segmented into functional brain MRI (fMRI), cardiac MRI, 4D MRI, and others. The functional brain MRI (fMRI) segment held the largest share of the pediatric MRI market in 2022. However, the 4D MRI segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2028. By application, the pediatric MRI market is segmented into cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, oncology, others. The neurology segment held the largest pediatric MRI market share in 2022 and the same is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The pediatric MRI market, based on product type, is bifurcated into equipment and coil design. The equipment segment held the largest pediatric MRI market share in 2022 and the same segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028. Based on age group, the pediatric MRI market is segmented into fetal stage, neonatal stage (0-27 Days), infant and toddler (28 Days to 23 Months), child (2-11 Years), and adolescent (12-18 Years). The adolescent (12-18 Years) segment held the largest share of the market in 2022. However, the child (2-11 Years) segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Based on end user, the pediatric MRI market is segmented into hospitals, pediatric clinics, diagnostic centers, and others. The hospitals segment held the largest pediatric MRI market share in 2022. Further, it is also anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ministry of Health and Prevention, and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund are among some of the primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the report on the pediatric MRI market.