With the advancement of ultrasound technologies such as portal and handheld devices, the overall ultrasound market grew to $6.5 billion in 2015, according to a Kalorama Information report entitled The World Market for Ultrasound Systems.

The report cites flexibility, ease of use, and the comparably low price tag of ultrasound systems in comparison to other imaging systems such as MR and CT, as factors spurring the market segment's growth.

“Helping to fuel growth is miniaturization and the adoption of handheld and portable ultrasound systems, which have opened up new market niches for the imaging modality, such as emergency medicine and anesthesiology,” said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information, in a statement.

New software enhancement tools are also driving the ultrasound market, as hospitals turn to them for streamlined workflows and improved efficiencies.

Ultrasound technology may also lead to fewer diagnosis errors and increase communication between hospital departments and the outside, the report states, because clinicians can upload patient data, such as images, video and audio files, to electronic medical records.

The main companies expanding ultrasound use in radiology, according to the report, include Analogic, Carestream Health, Cephasonics, Esaote, GE Healthcare, Hitachi, Imorgon Medical, Mobisante, Philips, Shimadzu, Shenzhen Bestman, Siemens, Signostics Ltd., SonoSite, TomTec Imaging Systems, and more.

The technology is also being utilized in more fields, including OB/GYN, cardiology, oncology, urology, angiology, ophthalmology, and emergency rooms. It is also being utilized more in remote regions where access to care is limited and compact ultrasound systems can provide vital medical insights.

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