Global Ultrasound Devices Market worth $8.1 Bn by 2017

Thursday 12 July 2012, Amsterdam

The "Medical Diagnostic & Therapeutic Ultrasound Devices Market (2012 - 2017) - Global Trends & Competitive Analysis " report, analyzes and studies the major market drivers, restraints, and opportunities in North America, Europe, APAC, and Rest of the World.

This report studies the medical diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound devices market over the forecast period 2012 – 2017.

Ultrasound imaging has been used as a diagnostic tool since the 1940s in a variety of applications, especially in the fields of cardiology, radiology, and obstetrics & gynecology, and to a lesser extent in urology and musculoskeletal. These applications constitute the conventional market for diagnostic ultrasound devices. The technology has also found great use in general imaging and point-of-care diagnostics, such as emergency medicine and anesthesia.

Ultrasound is one of the most affordable techniques of imaging and diagnosing various anatomical abnormalities and structural deformities. Since it is a non-invasive technique, it has been highly accepted by physicians, technicians and considered as a treatment of choice by patients. It is one of the most commonly used devices for monitoring pregnant women, along with the fetus.

The therapeutic applications of ultrasound, such as ablation, have been well accepted by the medical community due to its efficacy and speed. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is applied in ablation procedures that involve the removal of unwanted biological tissue. The HIFU procedure, which lasts up to 15-20 minutes, has been successfully applied for the removal of uterine fibroids in women and treatment of prostate cancer. Another type of therapeutic ultrasound technique is used in lithotripsy. Lithotripsy has been used to treat bladder and kidney stones for the past few decades. Initially pneumatic drills were used to break the stones; these lithotripters were powered electrically and used invasively, and hence called intracorporeal lithotripters. The advanced extracorporeal lithotripters, however, use high intensity focused ultrasonic waves to break gall, bladder or kidney stones by rupturing them into small pieces through shockwaves; the pieces then flow out through the urethra or through biliary ducts.

The total medical ultrasound devices market is estimated to be valued at $5.6 bn in 2011 and predicted to reach $8.1 bn by 2017 at a CAGR of 6.2%. The most significant growth for the specialties segment was seen in emergency medicine, anesthesiology and musculoskeletal applications. The demand for point-of-care diagnostics has driven the market for the last 5 years and is expected to be a prime driver for the forecast period.