According to a new report from IMS Research, the global market for x-ray equipment used for medical, dental, veterinary applications, and other purposes expanded to more than $10 billion in 2012, and by 2017 is set to rise by 18% to reach $12 billion. Growth will be driven by the continued digitalization of x-ray systems and increasing health care investment in emerging regions
Other major points include:
-Shipments of flat-panel detectors (FPD) and retrofit FPD systems accounted for an estimated 15% of annual general radiography shipments in 2012. That total is expected to rise to 25% in 2017.
-The mammography market is already dominated by FPD full-field digital mammography (FPD-FFDM) equipment, led by adoption in mature regions.
-Interventional and mobile C-arm equipment is benefitting from a growing trend toward minimally invasive surgery.
-More advanced systems with digital technology and advanced navigation software is driving growth in mobile C-arm x-ray.
-Interventional x-ray is already dominated by digital technology and is being spurred by new installations of hybrid operating.
