Hybrid Imaging Platforms Advance Significantly in Clinical Settings

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Analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Impact of Hybrid Imaging Platforms(http://bit.ly/22kHy5j), splits hybrid imaging into six categories, namely positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT), single photon emission CT-CT (SPECT/CT), magnetic resonance (MR)/PET, MR/SPECT, ultrasonography/MR and magnetic resonance imaging/CT.

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"Hybrid imaging with PET/CT and SPECT/CT has been eagerly adopted in clinical practice as well as preclinical and basic medical research," said Frost & Sullivan's TechVision practice. "While SPECT/CT is expected to become the one-stop clinical solution for orthopedic and infection imaging, the combination of spiral CT and PET will remain relevant for conventional scintigraphy."

Presently, the U.S. accounts for the most number of installations of PET and PET/CT, followed by Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland. Additionally, Austria, Netherlands, Italy and South Korea are key markets for the PET and PET/CT segment, with between 1.5 and 2.0 units installed per million inhabitants.

Furthermore, China is a lucrative market for diagnostic imaging, with the government investing heavily in bridging the gap in healthcare quality between rural and urban hospitals. In Korea, the future of nuclear medicine, especially hybrid imaging, is promising. As the government invests in this branch of medicine extensively, understanding the significance of early detection of disease as well as management and follow-up of patients with various disorders.

Nonetheless, to realize the full potential of hybrid imaging modalities, researchers and clinicians across the globe are combining their expertise to develop novel platforms. One of the key hybrid imaging platforms combine hybrid nuclear medicine and optical imaging systems. Currently, clinicians feel fusion is feasible as optical imaging techniques employ bioluminescent or fluorescent reporter genes in small animal models while nuclear medicine radiotracer assays have already moved from animal models to humans for use in clinical applications.

"Although clinicians feel the hybrid nuclear medicine and optical imaging systems fusion is feasible, they are not convinced of the viability of hybrid scanners," noted TechVision practice. "The exorbitant cost of hybrid scanners puts them out of the reach of small medical imaging clinics and rural setups, making them only affordable to multispecialty hospitals and larger clinical setups."

With companies building most systems through in-house research and looking for a quicker return on investment, increased government funding for product development could reduce the cost of advanced hybrid imaging platforms. Developing alternative fusion platforms such as optical imaging with PET will also help hybrid imaging solution providers decrease the overall cost of systems.

Impact of Hybrid Imaging Platforms, a part of the TechVision (http://ww2.frost.com/research/technology/medical-devices-imaging) subscription, offers a detailed account of the R&D, technology, adoption and application trends in the field of hybrid imaging. This research service's coverage also includes hybrid imaging platform's capabilities, the industry value chain, a market impact assessment and emerging opportunities.

Frost & Sullivan's global TechVision practice is focused on innovation, disruption and convergence and provides a variety of technology based alerts, newsletters and research services as well as growth consulting services. Its premier offering, the TechVision program, identifies and evaluates the most valuable emerging and disruptive technologies enabling products with near-term potential. A unique feature of the TechVision program is an annual selection of 50 technologies that can generate convergence scenarios, possibly disrupt the innovation landscape, and drive transformational growth. View a summary of our TechVision program by clicking on the following link: http://ifrost.frost.com/TechVision_Demo.

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Impact of Hybrid Imaging Platforms
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