3D medical imaging solutions becoming more affordable in Europe
11 March 2008
3D imaging has become one of the highest growth segments in the field
of medical imaging and the European 3D imaging market is expanding as
applications become increasingly affordable, according to a new report
from Frost & Sullivan.
3D medical imaging solutions are additional imaging tools that help
display images more accurately, displaying internal body structures with
a three-dimensional view. This ability, in turn, offers added
information to physicians and supports the precise detection and
diagnosis of diseases. 3D medical imaging provides advanced
visualisation options and tools to radiologists and surgeons.
3D is gaining in popularity as a rapid diagnostic tool that tackles
the huge volume of medical data being produced daily in European
hospitals, aiding in workflow efficiency. The market earned revenues of
US$210.0 million in 2007 and is estimated to reach US$521.5 million by
2014.
“In the past few years, the 3D imaging market has become one of the
highest growth segments in the medical imaging field, and this trend is
set to persist as these applications become more affordable and research
proves their clinical value,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst
Darshana De. “Most of these applications will provide non-invasive
alternatives that have the potential to improve standards of care for
patients.”
While market prospects appear promising, the major opportunities are
likely to be restricted to large hospitals. The high price involved in
large, enterprise-wide deployment, coupled with the lack of
reimbursement for 3D imaging, which is not recognised as a separate
procedure and is bundled with other diagnostic procedures, will
challenge market participants.
“In Europe, very limited reimbursement is offered for performing
imaging procedures using 3D visualisation,” says De. “Where
reimbursement is offered, the 3D processing is typically not recognised
as a distinct procedure, but is usually bundled with reimbursement for a
particular modality procedure.”
Despite the ease of viewing 3D rendered images, it requires highly
skilled radiologists to pre-process the images. Moreover, the imaging
tool can be effectively utilised only in hospitals that generate large
volumes of data everyday.
To leverage growth opportunities, sales and marketing need to
continuously minimise costs through efficient functioning, while R&D has
to focus on reducing product development and manufacturing costs. Market
participants need to produce user-friendly solutions with high levels of
customer support, including training, maintenance and installation
services. Partnering with PACS vendors also affords 3D visualisation
companies expanded access to end users through the superior sales and
distribution channels of PACS vendors.