Medical imaging costs make up one of the fastest-growing components of overall healthcare costs, and medical resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the leading imaging technologies used by healthcare providers. Whether the imaging is done for diagnostic or interventional reasons, the market for MRI is expanding.
 
Medical imaging through the use of MRI equipment accounts for approximately 25% of the medical imaging technologies used globally. Determining the influence of MR imaging on future healthcare trends and the viability for market expansion in a stringent reimbursement and regulatory environment are key reasons for conducting this market study.
 
Macro trends that benefit the MRI market include: an aging worldwide population; continued global urbanization; prevalence of major diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; and expanding access to healthcare products and services, particularly in rural areas and for younger populations. Negative global trends include stricter medical insurance reimbursement policies and economic turbulence throughout the world.
 
The study will explore the keys to continued growth in this industry, including increasing sales in developing regions, expanded services, a strong pipeline of new products, and new applications for existing technologies.
 
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
 
The goal of this study is to describe and discuss changes in the global MRI market. Thisreport is designed to achieve the following objectives:

•To describe the trends and developments for each type of MRI technology and how each is meant to satisfy the needs of manufacturers.  
•To analyze market and driving forces to determine the market size for the technologies and pinpoint target applications.  
•To examine the MRI business in terms of specific companies and their position in the market.
The report is designed to appeal to many different readers including venture capitalists interested in exploring commercialization opportunities, marketing and management individuals within the industry, and even the casual reader who desires to understand how market pressures and technology interact in this industry.   
 
SCOPE OF REPORT
 
This technical market report organizes information from diverse sources into a cohesive unit that includes overview, industry structure, and technology sections.
 
The report examines the MRI equipment industry in general, the types of technology currently in use as well as future applications, and regulatory influences. The industry structure section discusses the most active suppliers with regard to relative market share, marketing strengths, and forces that promote or hamper growth of technologies. The technology sections detail historical, current, and projected (2010 through 2015) market values.   

Highlights of the Report:

•In the U.S., recent reimbursement changes and the economic downturn have called the expanding use of MRI scanning into question. The North American market is worth $2.3 billion in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 4.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $2.9 billion in 2015.
•Europe ranks with the U.S. as one of the most developed MRI markets. Expanding applications in the neurologic, cardiac, and breast MRI areas should drive the EU market. This sector is estimated at $1.2 billion in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $1.9 billion in 2015.
•Japan remains an early adopter of newer MRI equipment, making it a prime opportunity for newer 3T equipment. This market is valued at $1 billion in 2010 and should reach $1.3 billion in 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3%.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
SCOPE OF REPORT 
METHODOLOGIES AND INFORMATION SOURCES
ANALYST CREDENTIALS 
DISCLAIMER

CHAPTER TWO: SUMMARY 
SUMMARY  4
SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MRI SYSTEMS BY
REGION, THROUGH 2015 . 5
SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MRI SYSTEMS BY
REGION, 2010 AND 2015 (%)  6

CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW 
HISTORY  7
MECHANICS OF THE MRI . 7
MAGNETS  8
Resistive Magnets  8
Permanent Magnets  8
Superconducting Magnets . 8
Gradient Magnets  9
COILS . 9
Coils for Specific Applications . 9
Total Imaging Matrix  10
REFURBISHED COILS . 10
TABLE 1 GLOBAL MARKET FOR MRI COILS, THROUGH 2015
($ MILLIONS) . 10
RF TRANMITTER OR SOLENOID  11
SHIELDS  11
Magnetic Shielding  11
CRYOGENIC LIQUIDS . 11
CONTRAST AGENTS  12
Chelates of Gadolinium . 12
Iron Oxide  13
Manganese Chelates  13
TABLE 2 PROJECTED GLOBAL MARKET FOR SALES OF MRI
CONTRAST MEDIA, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 13
COMPUTER SYSTEM . 13
MRI PROCESS  13
CONTRAST AGENTS IN MRI  14
USES . 15
TYPES OF MRI SCANS . 15
BASIC MRI SCANS . 15
TABLE 3 BASIC MRI SCAN, BY TYPE, WITH APPLICATTION  16
T1-Weighted MRI . 16
T2-Weighted MRI . 16
T*2-Weighted MRI . 16
Spin-Density-Weighted MRI . 17
SPECIALIZED MRI SCANS . 17
TABLE 4 SPECIALIZED MRI SCAN, BY TYPE, WITH APPLICATION  17
Diffusion MRI  17
Magnetization Transfer MRI  18
Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR)  18
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)  18
Magnetic Resonance Gated Intracranial CSF Dynamics
(MR-GILD)  19
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)  19
FUNCTIONAL MRI (FMRI)  19
INTERVENTIONAL MRI  20
INTRAOPERATIVE MRI  20
RADIATION THERAPY SIMULATION . 20
MAGNETIC RESONANCE GUIDED FOCUSED
ULTRASOUND (MRGFUS) . 20
MULTINUCLEAR IMAGING . 20
SUSCEPTIBILITY-WEIGHTED IMAGING (SWI)  21
MRI AND CT ATTRIBUTES  21
STRENGTHS/LIMITATIONS OF CT . 21
STRENGTHS/LIMITATIONS OF MRI . 21
TABLE 5 STRENGTHS/LIMITATIONS OF MRI . 22
MRI MARKET STRENGTHS . 22
SUPERIOR IMAGING FOR SOME SITUATIONS  22
CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF MORE POWERFUL
EQUIPMENT  23
NEW APPLICATIONS FOR EQUIPMENT . 23
MARKET CHALLENGES  23
MATURE MARKET IN DEVELOPED NATIONS . 23
DIFFERENTIATING PRODUCT CAPABILITIES  23
Unit Capabilities . 24
COMPLEX TECHNOLOGY AND LACK OF PERSONNEL . 24
LONG SALES AND INSTALLATION CYCLES  24
HIGHER COST THAN OTHER TECHNOLOGIES . 24
COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGIES . 25
TABLE 6 ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES OF IMAGING
TECHNOLOGIES. 25
FIGURE 1 PERCENT OF MARKET, BY TYPE OF IMAGING, IN THE
U.S., 2010 (%) . 26

CHAPTER FOUR: MRI EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW 
TYPES OF SYSTEMS. 27
TABLE 7 PROJECTED GLOBAL REVENUE, BY SYSTEM TYPE,
THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 27
MRI CONFIGURATIONS  27
FIGURE 2 MARKET SHARE, BY CONFIGURATION, FOR MRI
SYSTEMS, 2009 AND 2015 (%) . 28
CLOSED MRI SCANNERS . 29
OPEN MRI SCANNERS  29
WHOLE-BODY MRI SCANNER . 29
LOW- AND MID-FIELD SYSTEMS  30
TABLE 8 PROJECTED GLOBAL REVENUE FOR LOW- AND
MID-FIELD SYSTEMS, BY CONFIGURATION, THROUGH
2015 ($ MILLIONS)  31
HIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS  31
TABLE 9 PROJECTED GLOBAL REVENUE FOR HIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS,
BY CONFIGURATION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 31
VERY-HIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS  32
BENEFITS OF VERY-HIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS . 32
LIMITATIONS OF 3T SCANNERS  32
TABLE 10 PROJECTED GLOBAL RE4VENUE FOR VERY-HIGH-FIELD
SYSTEMS, BY CONFIGURATION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)  33
ULTRAHIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS . 33
TABLE 11 PROJECTED GLOBAL REVENUE FOR ULTRAHIGH-FIELD
SYSTEMS, BY CONFIGURATION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)  34
SPECIALIZED MAGNET SYSTEMS  34
TABLE 12 PROJECTED GLOBAL REVENUE FOR SPECIALIZED MAGNET
SYSTEMS, BY AREA OF VISUALIZATION, THROUGH 2015
($ MILLIONS) . 35
MARKET BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA . 35
TABLE 13 PROJECTED PERCENT OF TOTAL MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHIC
AREA, 2010 AND 2015 (%) . 36
REFURBISHING VERSUS NEW COMPONENTS  36
FUTURE FOR USED MRI UNITS . 37

CHAPTER FIVE: THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MRI EQUIPMENT 
OVERVIEW . 38
FIGURE 3 MRI UNITS IN SERVICE, BY COUNTRY, 2007  38
FIGURE 3 (CONTINUED) . 39
INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION . 39
TABLE 14 SELECTED ACQUISITIONS, 2004-2010  40
FIGURE 4 GLOBAL MARKET SHARE FOR MRI EQUIPMENT, BY
COMPANY, 2009 (%) . 41
MARKET LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, BY COUNTRY . 41
FIGURE 5 GLOBAL MARKET FOR MRI EQUIPMENT, BY COUNTRY,
IN 2009 (%) . 42
MARKET OPPORTUNITIES, BY COUNTRY  42
UNITED STATES  42
EUROPEAN UNION . 43
JAPAN  43
CHINA  44
INDIA . 44
BRAZIL . 45

CHAPTER SIX: CURRENT MRI APPLICATIONS 
TABLE 15 MRI SCANS, BY TYPE AND COMPANY, 2009  46
DIAGNOSTIC . 46
BREAST  47
Recent Study with Future Implications . 47
Procedures  48
Strengths/Limitations . 48
Equipment Manufacturers  48
NEUROLOGICAL  49
Procedures  49
Strengths/Limitations . 49
Equipment Manufacturers  49
CANCER . 49
Procedures  50
Strengths/Limitations . 50
Equipment Manufacturers  50
MR CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY (MRCP) . 50
Procedures  50
Strengths/Limitations . 51
Equipment Manufacturers  51
CARDIAC  51
Procedures  51
Strengths  51
Limitations . 52
Equipment Manufacturers  52
VASCULAR  52
Procedures  52
Strengths/Limitations . 53
Equipment Manufacturers  53
MUSCULOSKELETAL  53
Procedures  53
Strengths/Limitations . 54
Equipment Manufacturers  54
PROSTATE . 54
Procedures  54
Strengths/Limitations . 55
Equipment manufacturers  55
SPINE . 55
Procedures  55
Strengths/Limitations . 56
Equipment Manufacturers  56
INTRAOPERATIVE  56
BREAST  56
TABLE 16 BREAST APPLICATIONS FOR MRI . 57
NEUROLOGICAL  57
TABLE 17 NEUROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS FOR MRI 57
CANCER . 57
TABLE 18 CANCER APPLICATIONS FOR MRI  58
CARDIAC  58
TABLE 19 CARDIAC APPLICATIONS FOR MRI . 58
MUSCULOSKELETAL  59
TABLE 20 MUSCULOSKELETAL APPLICATIONS FOR MRI  59
SPINE . 59
TABLE 21 SPINAL APPLICTIONS FOR MRI  59
VASCULAR  60
TABLE 22 VASCULAR APPLICATIONS FOR MRI  60

CHAPTER SEVEN: REGULATIONS AND REIMBURSEMENT 
TABLE 23 SELECTED MRI REGULATORY AGENCIES BY COUNTRY . 61
FDA REGULATIONS . 61
EU REGULATIONS . 62
CANADIAN REGULATIONS  63
JAPANESE REGULATIONS . 63
CHINESE REGULATIONS . 63
BRAZILIAN REGULATIONS  64
SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS  64
TABLE 24 SELECTED U.S. MRI SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS  64
REIMBURSEMENT ISSUES . 64
TABLE 25 REIMBURSEMENT PRACTICES, BY COUNTRY . 65
UNITED STATES  65
Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 . 65
Effects of DRA on MRI Industry  66
Healthcare Reform in 2009 . 66
Implications of Reform on the MRI Market . 67
CANADA . 67
EUROPEAN UNION . 68
JAPAN  68
CHINA  70
INDIA . 70
BRAZIL . 71

CHAPTER EIGHT: PATENTS 
FIGURE 6 MRI SYSTEMS, BY PATENTS (%)  72
FIGURE 6 (CONTINUED) . 73
TABLE 26 MRI PATENTS ISSUED, BY COUNTRY, JANUARY 2000 TO
MAY 2010 . 72
LOW- AND MID-FIELD SYSTEMS  73
TABLE 27 PATENTS ISSUED FOR LOW- AND MID-FIELD SYSTEMS
AND EQUIPMENT, JANUARY 2000 TO MAY 2010 . 73
PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE . 75
TABLE 28 LOW AND MID-FIELD SYSTEMS PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE,
JANUARY 2000 TO MAY 2010 . 74
PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY . 75
TABLE 29 LOW- AND MID-FIELD SYSTEM PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY,
JANUARY 2000 TO MARCH 2010 . 75
HIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS  76
TABLE 30 PATENTS ISSUED FOR HIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS, JANUARY 2000
TO MAY 2010 . 75
VERY-HIGH-FIELD SYSTEMS  76
TABLE 31 PATENTS ISSUED FOR VERY-HIGH-FIELD MRI SYSTEMS,
JANUARY 2000 TO MAY 2010 . 76
PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE . 77
PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY . 77
CLOSED MRI SYSTEMS . 77
TABLE 32 PATENTS ISSUED FOR CLOSED MRI SYSTEMS, JANUARY 2000
TO MAY 2010 . 76
TABLE 32 (CONTINUED) . 77
TABLE 32 (CONTINUED) . 78
TABLE 33 CLOSED MRI SYSTEM PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE, JANUARY
2000 TO MAY 2010 . 78
PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY . 79
TABLE 34 CLOSED MRI SYSTEM PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY,
JANUARY 2000-MARCH 2010 . 79
OPEN MRI SYSTEMS  80
TABLE 35 PATENTS ISSUED FOR OPEN MRI SYSTEMS, JANUARY 2000
TO MAY 2010  79
TABLE 35 (CONTINUED)  80
TABLE 35 (CONTINUED)  81
PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE . 82
TABLE 36 OPEN MRI SYSTEM PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE, JANUARY 2000
TO MAY 2010 . 82
PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY . 83
TABLE 37 OPEN MRI SYSTEM PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY, JANUARY
2000-MARCH 2010 . 82
WHOLE-BODY SYSTEMS. 84
TABLE 38 PATENTS ISSUED FOR WHOLE-BODY SYSTEMS,
JANUARY 2000-MAY 2010  83
PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE . 84
TABLE 39 WHOLE BODY SYSTEMS PATENTS BY ASSIGNEE, JANUARY
2000 TO MAY 2010  84
PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY . 85
TABLE 40 WHOLE BODY SYSTEM PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY, JANUARY
2000 TO MARCH 2010 . 84

CHAPTER NINE: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS
RESEARCH AND NONCLINICAL TECHNOLOGY  86
DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS . 86
DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MRI (DCE-MRI)  87
WHOLE-BODY MRI  88
FUNCTIONAL MRI . 88
LUNG MRI . 88
NEUROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS . 88
Perfusion-Weighted Imaging (PWI)  88
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI)  88
MR Spectroscopy  89
INTEROPERATIVE MRI TECHNOLOGIES  89
BREAST  89
CARDIAC  89
MRI OPERATING ROOM . 89
CHAPTER TEN: COMPANY DIRECTORY  90
MRI SYSTEMS . 90
ANALOGIC CORPORATION  90
Business Overview  90
Financials . 90
Products . 91
AURORA IMAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC. . 91
Business Overview  91
Financials . 91
Products . 91
BRUKER BIOSPIN CORP.  92
Business Overview  92
Financials . 93
Products . 93
ESAOTE SPA . 94
Business Overview  94
Financials . 94
Products/Services . 94
FONAR CORPORATION . 95
Business Overview  95
Financials . 95
Products/Services . 96
GE HEALTHCARE  96
U.S. Location . 96
Business Overview  96
Financials . 97
Products/Services . 97
HITACHI MEDICAL SYSTEMS AMERICA, INC . 98
Business Overview  98
Financial  98
Products/Services . 98
HOLOGIC . 99
Business Overview  99
Financials . 99
Products . 100
IMRIS INC. . 100
Business Overview  100
Financials . 100
Products/Services . 101
INNERVISION MRI  101
Business Overview  101
Financials . 102
Products . 102
MEDINUS  102
Business Overview  103
Financials . 103
Products/Services . 103
MEDTRONIC . 103
Business Overview  103
Financials . 104
Products/Services . 104
MILLENNIUM TECHNOLOGY, INC  105
Business Overview  105
Financials . 105
Products . 105
ODIN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (SEE MEDTRONIC) . 105
PARAMED MEDICAL SYSTEMS  105
Business Overview  106
Financials . 106
Products . 106
PHILLIPS HEALTHCARE  106
Business Overview  106
Financials . 107
Products/Services . 107
SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC. . 108
Business Overview  108
Financials . 108
Products/Services . 108
TIME MEDICAL  109
Business Overview  109
Financials . 110
Products . 110
TOSHIBA AMERICA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.  110
Business Overview  110
Financials . 111
Products/Services . 111
USED MRI: REFURBISHED MRI SCANNERS AND SCANNER
UPGRADES . 112
ATLANTIS WORLDWIDE  112
BARRINGTON MEDICAL IMAGING, LLC . 112
BLOCK IMAGING INTERNATIONAL  112
GENESIS MEDICAL IMAGING . 112
ICS MEDICAL SVC . 113
INTEGRITY MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC . 113
JDI SOLUTIONS . 113
MAGNASERV  113
MEDICAL IMAGING GROUP  114
MONARCH MEDICAL  114
SMIT MOBILE EQUIPMENT B.V. . 114
SUNRISE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC. . 114
SOUND IMAGING . 115
TOTAL IMAGING CONCEPTS, INC. (TICI) . 115
ZETTA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC . 115
RF TRANSMITTERS  115
ANALOGIC . 115
COIL MANUFACTURERS . 116
CAROLINA MEDICAL PARTS . 116
DOTY SCIENTIFIC, INC. . 116
INVIVO CORP. . 116
LMT MEDICAL SYSTEMS GMBH . 116
M2M IMAGING CORP. . 117
MACHNET BV . 117
MAGMEDIX, INC. . 117
MEDRAD, INC.  117
MR INSTRUMENTS, INC . 118
NORAS MRI PRODUCTS GMBH . 118
PULSETEQ LTD. . 118
RAPID BIOMEDICAL GMBH . 118
RESONATE RESEARCH, INC.  119
SCANMED  119
TESLA ENGINEERING, LTD  119
TORQUAY INSTRUMENTS. LTD . 119
XLR IMAGING . 120
MRI CONSUMABLES (CONTRAST AGENTS, IMAGING FILM)  120
BRACCO IMAGING SPA  120
FERRANIA SPA . 120
LANTHEUS MEDICAL IMAGING . 121
BAYER SCHERING PHARMA . 121
METPLAS . 121
T2 BIOSYSTEMS, INC  121
LIQUID HELIUM AND NITROGEN  122
AIR LIQUIDE U.S.A  122
MATHESON TRI-GAS, INC  122
PRAXAIR  122
MAGNETS. 122
AMERICAN MAGNETICS, INC . 122
ASTER ENTERPRISES . 123
OXFORD INSTRUMENTS, INC.  123

CHAPTER ELEVEN: GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY . 124
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  125
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  127
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  127
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  129
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  130
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  131
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  132
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  132
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  132
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  134
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  135
GLOSSARY (CONTINUED)  136