Frost: 3-D Medical Imaging Solutions Becoming Affordable in Europe

March 11, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

Analysts said 3-D is gaining in popularity as a rapid diagnostic tool that tackles the huge volume of medical data being produced daily in European hospitals, thereby aiding workflow efficiency.

Recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan of the European 3-D imaging markets found earned revenues of $210.0 million in 2007, with estimates to reach $521.5 million in 2014.

"In the past few years, the 3-D 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," said 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."

The use of 3-D medical imaging solutions helps display images more accurately, displaying internal body structures with a 3-D view. This ability, in turn, offers added information to physicians and supports the precise detection and diagnosis of diseases. Analysts said 3-D medical imaging provides advanced visualization options and tools to radiologists and surgeons.

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 3-D imaging - which is not recognized 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 3-D visualization," said De. "Where reimbursement is offered, the 3-D processing is typically not recognized as a distinct procedure, but is usually bundled with reimbursement for a particular modality procedure."

Despite the ease of viewing 3-D rendered images, it requires highly skilled radiologists to pre-process the images. Analysts said the imaging tool can be effectively utilized only in hospitals which generate large volumes of data every day.

To leverage growth opportunities, sales and marketing need to continuously minimize costs through efficient functioning, analysts said, 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.

Analysts said partnering with picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) vendors also affords 3-D visualization companies expanded access to end-users, through the superior sales and distribution channels of PACS vendors.

Source: Frost & Sullivan.