(PRWEB) January 25, 2006 -- The clinical value yielded by diagnostic imaging technologies continued to improve throughout 2005, with many vendors showcasing refinements to existing technologies at the Radiology Society of North America meeting in November. According to a new report by Millennium Research Group (MRG), the European market for diagnostic imaging systems generated over $2.5 billion in revenues in 2005, and will approach $3.5 billion by 2010. The market for CT systems, which represented the third-largest segment of the overall market in 2005, will grow at the fastest rate, experiencing a compound annual growth rate of 15% over the next 5 years. The CT market will expand its share of the diagnostic imaging market from 20% to over 30% in 2010.
While 64-slice CT scanners continue to gain popularity and widespread use, rapid market growth will also result from a new innovation in CT imaging. In November 2005, Siemens Medical Solutions introduced the world's first dual source CT system called the SOMATOM Definition. Unlike existing CT scanners, this system uses simultaneous scanning with two different X-ray energies and two different detectors-a breakthrough in technology that will improve physicians' ability to distinguish anatomical structures such as bones, soft tissues, and fluids. Able to capture full cardiac detail with 50% less radiation exposure than traditional CT scans, this innovation is capable of imaging patients with high or irregular heart rates without the need for beta blockers. The first global installation of the dual source CT system took place in October 2005 at the University of Erlangen in Germany.
MRG's European Markets for Diagnostic Imaging Systems 2006 spans five modalities (MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, CT, and nuclear medicine) and covers over a dozen leading competitors including GE Healthcare (GE), Siemens Medical Solutions (SI), Philips Medical Systems (PHI), Fuji Medical Systems (FUJIY), and Agfa Healthcare (AFGVF.PK).
A leading source of competitive intelligence, MRG is now the largest provider of medical device market research in the world. Located in Toronto, Canada, MRG covers global markets and has pioneered reporting of numerous emerging products.