Purchasing insights on ultrasound systems
May 06, 2024
By Rachel Stolpa
The global ultrasound market was estimated at $8.5 billion in 2023. It is estimated to reach $11.6 billion by 2028, according to Market and Markets. Ultrasound is commonly seen as an invaluable diagnostic tool in the medical sector because of its quick results and cost effectiveness. Additionally, it is considered a safer option compared to other imaging techniques because it does not expose patients to radiation or magnetic fields.
Ultrasound market
According to the market activity data observed by symplr’s Capital Spend Database in the past year, the leading vendors in the ultrasound market are GE Healthcare at 38%, Sonosite at 26% and Philips at 12%. The symplr Capital Spend database is a real-time, dynamic database reflecting customer interest in specific vendors and models based on quotes submitted for analysis.
Ultrasound systems offer a range of configurations from high-end to budget-friendly options. Facilities with lower volumes often opt for budget-friendly choices such as systems in the economy and compact portable market segments. On the other hand, premium market segments cater to higher-end products in the ultrasound industry.
The premium systems are composed of cutting-edge applications, advanced workflows, and functional software. Performance systems are designed to offer functionality but lack the advanced applications and software of higher-end systems. Economy systems typically offer limited features, however, these are still great choices for everyday use. The final category is compact/portable/handheld and these are highly maneuverable systems commonly used for quick point of care, in home, and with critically ill patients where moving around is not easy.
GE HealthCare: Accounts for 38% of purchase considerations within the general market category in the last 12 months. GE has systems in all categories including the Logiq P9 xdclear in economy, Logiq S8 in performance, the Logiq E10 R3 in the premium level and the Venue Go in compact/portable. GE Healthcare’s variety of system configurations and price point add to their popularity.
Sonosite: Accounts for 26% of purchase considerations in the general ultrasound market, these all being within the general compact portable category. Within the compact portable market Sonosite holds the top 3 systems. The PX, SII and the LX. These systems all come with a 5-year/ 60-month standard warranty.
Philips: Accounts for 12% of purchase considerations in the general market. Philips has systems in the compact portable, performance, and premium market segments. Compact portable being the Sparq, performance the Affinity 50, and premium Epiq Elite G.
Additional vendors
Additional vendors in the general market category include Mindray, Canon, Samsung and Siemens. These vendors make up less than 10% of the purchasing activity seen by symplr.
AI-based software in ultrasound
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as an invaluable tool to assist sonographers. AI technology in ultrasound software is crafted to function discreetly as clinicians capture images, operating seamlessly in the background to locate and determine the most suitable images for specific applications as required by the user. AI can help automate imaging processes from acquisition to analysis, assist and improve diagnostic accuracy, and reduce costs.
According to Philips Healthcare, their LVivo Seamless from DiA Imaging analysis, a Philips company, is a 510k cleared feature for the Philips CV Ultrasound system. This software is identified in their premium Epiq CVx machine, of which symplr has identified as being included in 69% of quotes analyzed in the premium cardiac ultrasound technology.
GE HealthCare has several AI-based software applications to assist the sonographer. One of the systems symplr has identified in 46% of quotes analyzed in the last 12 months is the Voluson Expert. According to GE Healthcare, with the assistance of SonoLyst, a suite of tools is available on the Voluson systems, this reduces second trimester exam times by up to 40%. AI identifies fetal anatomy seen on standard view, then automatically annotates and measures where applicable.
The ultrasound market is expected to continue growing as benefits like cost and safety will be coupled with AI-driven improvements and offer more accessible, cost-effective options compared to CT and MR technologies.
About the author: Rachel Stolpa is a clinical analyst with symplr.
The global ultrasound market was estimated at $8.5 billion in 2023. It is estimated to reach $11.6 billion by 2028, according to Market and Markets. Ultrasound is commonly seen as an invaluable diagnostic tool in the medical sector because of its quick results and cost effectiveness. Additionally, it is considered a safer option compared to other imaging techniques because it does not expose patients to radiation or magnetic fields.
Ultrasound market
According to the market activity data observed by symplr’s Capital Spend Database in the past year, the leading vendors in the ultrasound market are GE Healthcare at 38%, Sonosite at 26% and Philips at 12%. The symplr Capital Spend database is a real-time, dynamic database reflecting customer interest in specific vendors and models based on quotes submitted for analysis.
Ultrasound systems offer a range of configurations from high-end to budget-friendly options. Facilities with lower volumes often opt for budget-friendly choices such as systems in the economy and compact portable market segments. On the other hand, premium market segments cater to higher-end products in the ultrasound industry.
The premium systems are composed of cutting-edge applications, advanced workflows, and functional software. Performance systems are designed to offer functionality but lack the advanced applications and software of higher-end systems. Economy systems typically offer limited features, however, these are still great choices for everyday use. The final category is compact/portable/handheld and these are highly maneuverable systems commonly used for quick point of care, in home, and with critically ill patients where moving around is not easy.
GE HealthCare: Accounts for 38% of purchase considerations within the general market category in the last 12 months. GE has systems in all categories including the Logiq P9 xdclear in economy, Logiq S8 in performance, the Logiq E10 R3 in the premium level and the Venue Go in compact/portable. GE Healthcare’s variety of system configurations and price point add to their popularity.
Sonosite: Accounts for 26% of purchase considerations in the general ultrasound market, these all being within the general compact portable category. Within the compact portable market Sonosite holds the top 3 systems. The PX, SII and the LX. These systems all come with a 5-year/ 60-month standard warranty.
Philips: Accounts for 12% of purchase considerations in the general market. Philips has systems in the compact portable, performance, and premium market segments. Compact portable being the Sparq, performance the Affinity 50, and premium Epiq Elite G.
Additional vendors
Additional vendors in the general market category include Mindray, Canon, Samsung and Siemens. These vendors make up less than 10% of the purchasing activity seen by symplr.
AI-based software in ultrasound
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as an invaluable tool to assist sonographers. AI technology in ultrasound software is crafted to function discreetly as clinicians capture images, operating seamlessly in the background to locate and determine the most suitable images for specific applications as required by the user. AI can help automate imaging processes from acquisition to analysis, assist and improve diagnostic accuracy, and reduce costs.
According to Philips Healthcare, their LVivo Seamless from DiA Imaging analysis, a Philips company, is a 510k cleared feature for the Philips CV Ultrasound system. This software is identified in their premium Epiq CVx machine, of which symplr has identified as being included in 69% of quotes analyzed in the premium cardiac ultrasound technology.
GE HealthCare has several AI-based software applications to assist the sonographer. One of the systems symplr has identified in 46% of quotes analyzed in the last 12 months is the Voluson Expert. According to GE Healthcare, with the assistance of SonoLyst, a suite of tools is available on the Voluson systems, this reduces second trimester exam times by up to 40%. AI identifies fetal anatomy seen on standard view, then automatically annotates and measures where applicable.
The ultrasound market is expected to continue growing as benefits like cost and safety will be coupled with AI-driven improvements and offer more accessible, cost-effective options compared to CT and MR technologies.
About the author: Rachel Stolpa is a clinical analyst with symplr.