This article is from in the May 2007 issue of DOTmed Business News. A list of registered users that provide sales & service can be found at the end.

Diagnostic ultrasound has become a very versatile imaging modality. It is the second oldest modality, pre-dated only by the X-ray. Ultrasound was first used over 60 years ago, and like the advances in X-ray equipment, progress was slow for many decades. It took the independent development of computer technology to make significant advances in ultrasound imaging, and diagnostic applications have grown rapidly in recent years.

While the public-at-large typically thinks that ultrasound exams are just for "mothers to be," the actual clinical range of diagnostic uses now encompasses virtually all parts of the body, including the organs, veins, muscles and tendons. Ultrasound can assess size, structure and any pathological lesions. The two areas where ultrasound imaging is not preferred are with the bones and lungs.
2D, 3D, 4D, and Doppler
The earliest ultrasound equipment produced two-dimensional images - 2D. With advances in computer processing, 3D images were possible. The first 3D ultrasounds were developed about 20 years ago and advances in image quality and resolution keep accelerating. The fourth "D" in "4D" is time, and 4D
ultrasound shows real-time images - for instance, that of a beating heart, or moving fetus.

Ultrasound competes successfully with the other major imaging modalities not just because the image quality has improved. It's also considered one of the "safest" technologies. The other factor in its favor is its relative low cost compared to other types imaging equipment. A new top-of-the-line ultrasound machine might sell for around $150k - while high-end CTs can easily go for $1 million or more.

The market leaders
Approximately 80% of the market for new, full-size ultrasound equipment is shared by GE, Siemens and Philips. In the fast-growing market for hand-carried ultrasound (HCU), Sonosite is considered one of the leaders, but the "big three" are introducing more HCU models every year.

The consensus of the ultrasound sales and service companies we spoke to for this Report was that HUC units are seeing the biggest growth in market share today. Image quality keeps improving, 4D is now available, and the portability factor often makes HCU the best choice for an initial diagnosis in many situations.

In a recent 2005 study, IMV's Medical Information Division estimated that more than 4,700 U.S. hospitals had ultrasound equipment. The report further estimated, "31.2 million patient exams were conducted by the ultrasound or radiology departments in those U.S. hospitals." For hospitals with 200+ beds, patient exams grew 41% from 13.1 million in 1998 to 18.5 million in 2005, for an annual average growth rate of approximately 5% per year.

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