Ultrasound is a sound with frequencies higher than about 20 kHz. It moves in a wavelike manner through which it travels. The waves travel with different speed in different medium. The medical ultrasound system operates at higher frequencies, typically 1-10 MHz. The ultrasound machine calculates the distance from the probe to the tissue or organ, using the speed of the sound and the time of the each echo returns.
Ultrasound is used in both diagnosis and therapeutics purpose. Ultrasound imaging is a medical imaging technique which uses high frequency sound waves and their echoes to produce cross-sectional images of the body. It is easy to operate, easy to move in remote areas, and does not use ionizing radiation. It provides a real time structure and movement of body’s internal organs, muscles, tendons, and blood flowing through blood vessels.
It helps in evaluation of symptoms, such as swelling, pain, infection and hematuria. In addition, it is also used for guide procedures, such as needle biopsies, guide biopsy of breast and diagnosis of various heart conditions. However, it cannot penetrate mature bones and substantial gas layers. Ultrasound imaging is the most preferred form of imaging, due to its minimally invasive nature and less procedural cost. Ultrasound waves are also used for the treatment of various pathological conditions, such as cancer, and kidney and gallstones.
The growing number of product launches and miniaturization of the development of devices for point of care are the major trends witnessed in the global ultrasound device market. Also, the growing geriatric population, increasing prevalence of chronic and lifestyle associated diseases, technological advancement of ultrasound device, increasing demand for minimal invasive diagnosis and treatment, and increasing healthcare expenditure are driving the growth of the global ultrasound device market.
Geographically, the North American ultrasound device market is growing significantly, due to technological advancement of ultrasound device, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and increasing healthcare cost. According to WHO, approximately 324,000 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed within North America in 2012, and the number is estimated to reach approximately 541,000 by 2030. In addition, North America is witnessing rapid increase in the geriatric population, which has created a significant positive impact on the growth of the North American ultrasound device market, due to increasing demand for point of care diagnosis and treatment. According to the UN publication, “World Population Ageing 2013”, in 2013, approximately 70,571,000 people aged 60 years or above in North America, which accounted for 19.9% share of its total population.
