The global computed tomography (CT) scanner market has been forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% over the next five years, growing from a valuation of 3.7 billion in 2012, to hit a market value of nearly 5.1 billion in 2017.
CT is a diagnostic procedure that uses special x-ray equipment to obtain cross-sectional pictures of the body. The CT computer displays these pictures as detailed images of organs, bones, and other tissues. This procedure is also called CT scanning, computerised tomography, or computerised axial tomography (CAT).
The CT scanner market, which accounts for approximately 20% of the total imaging modalities market, can be segmented into Low end, Mid end, and High end segments. The Low end segment includes single and dual slice CT scanners, Mid end segment includes multi slice scanners such as 6, 10, 16, and 32 slice and the high end slice includes 40 slice, 64 slice, open versions, and cardiac CT.
The innovative cycle of CT scanners is becoming very short as the new and latest technology is being introduced in the market with each being more efficient and faster. There is an increasing trend of high slice CT. The high slice CT scan is expected to improve the clinical utility significantly as the introduction of 256 slice scanner would be having detector width of 10 to 12 cm which would help in scanning an organ, including brain, heart, entire joints, and lungs and liver, in a single rotation. It is also expected to scan the heart with the single heartbeat.
Asia is expected to increase from nearly 1.4 billion in 2012 to nearly 2.2 billion in 2017, a CAGR of 9.8%, while Europe should total nearly 1.1 billion in 2012, and by 2017 the region should reach nearly 1.3 billion, a CAGR of 3.7%.
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