Some even predict this application may replace invasive cardiac catheterization. It's more likely, however, that this technology will identify normal patients and those with limited disease who can be managed medically and with life style changes. Those with serious coronary artery disease will, of necessity, go on to the more invasive cardiac catheterization.

In addition to CT-A, which is overwhelmingly the application of choice for volume CT, there is trauma and vascular imaging too. These last two areas are not gaining much momentum probably because the cost of the equipment and marginal improvement in scan results will limit demand for volume CT use.


In general radiography CR & DDR will continue to replace film based analog equipment. The improvement in imaging may not be evident in standard radiography with digital but in mammography there seems to be no question that the transition to digital from analog yields improvements for the patient and the reader.

It's estimated that about 30% of the mammograms done today are digital. The cost of the equipment and the relatively stable reimbursement may be a reason the equipment is not changing out faster. There will be an ongoing transition to digital in the mammography market as equipment is turned over as part of normal life cycle replacement.

Understanding the Opportunity

This is a difficult task, almost a double-edged sword since technology is moving more rapidly than ever. With each new introduction, technology breeds technology. New applications, which are a result of the capability of the new technology, seem to be arriving monthly.

Moreover, technology and applications are shortening the life cycle. Once it was 5-7 years. Now, however, it can be as short as 24-36 months, which means the entry for a buyer is expensive and the exit at 36-months even more so.

Five years ago a dealer in pre-owned imaging devices might have paid 50cents on the new equipment dollar for a 5-year old device. Now, with the furious pace of new technology introduction by the OEM's the technology life cycle is much shorter. Now a center interested in selling or trading in a device for the purpose of upgrading to the latest and greatest may find that they are being offered 10cents on the dollar. Frequently they are unable to recover enough to retire the outstanding debt.

Summing It All Up

As we consider digital X-ray and the markets involved, we know that transitioning to digital from analog and eliminating film means improvements in productivity, reduced cost with the elimination of film processing and a constant introduction of new technology.

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