The global portable breast ultrasound market is estimated to witness a significant CAGR% of 8.5% during the forecast period (2020-2026).
According to the WHO statistics for 2018, it was estimated that around 627,000 women died from breast cancer which was ~15% of all cancer deaths among women. In Europe, 1 in every 8 women in the EU-28 has or will develop breast cancer before they reach the age of 85 years. Hence, timely detection of breast related disorders can make a drastic difference in survival rates, and ultrasound imaging is gaining popularity in early detection of breast cancer. Mammography is one such medical imaging technique to diagnose breast related disease, which uses the technology of X-Ray. Other technologies involve are MRI, and Ultrasound. However, unlike mammography and MRI, breast ultrasound does not use any radiation, and hence is considered as the safest technique for imaging on pregnant women.
The market has witnessed the launch of ultrasounds right from the trolley version to the laptop or Benchtop version as the application area has expanded. Portable ultrasounds, (carried by hand or wheeled), are used for cardiac, vascular, endocrinology, Pediatric, and OB/GYN studies. Moreover, portable ultrasound machines are used for routine breast screening as they are inexpensive, readily available, easy to carry, and don’t require any special preparation for the patient. One such example for portable breast ultrasound is the Viera by Hologic. Launched in 2018 for Europe and United States, Viera is world’s first handheld diagnostic tool for breast imaging. The features such as on-demand high-resolution images of 14 MHz, with 192 elements, and colour and Doppler modes of screening; makes it one of the most talked medical device in the last few years.
Technological advancements pertaining to portability of ultrasound, the rising prevalence of breast cancer, the increasing number of screening programs in European countries as a part of their awareness campaign, rising preference for point of care breast screening for dense breasts in emergency cases, and the advantage of spacing out examination room for diagnosis, will help drive the market. Due to the portability of the device, the system becomes software-controlled (smart phone and PACS), and minimizes human intervention, gives quick analysis and reading, thereby, reducing false readings, or human errors.
Moreover, there’s a rising need for ambulatory services across developing as well as developed countries, which prefer on purchasing cost friendly, time saving and automated portable ultrasound devices for breast screening and disease diagnosis.
On the basis of portability the market is segmented into laptop, and handheld, by component it is divided into products, software and service, by product type conventional and automated, by technology 2D, 3D/4D, and Colour Doppler, and by display the market is segmented into colour, and B/W. By end user; hospitals & breast care centres, home care setting have been listed.
On the basis of regional analysis, the European region holds the largest market share in the portable breast ultrasound market. As per the 2017 WHO report, the rates of breast cancer are higher than global rates in the WHO European Region, where the incidence rate is ~66.5 (per 100,000 ASR-W) and mortality is ~16.0 (per 100,000 ASR-W). Similarly in the EU-28 countries the incidence rate is 80.3 (per 100,000 ASR-W) and the mortality rate is 14.4 (per 100.000 ASR-W). Hence, most EU-28 countries including the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium have national cancer prevention population-based (PB) screening programmes every year. Moreover, expansions in the clinical applications of breast ultrasound, the early commercialization of these devices in the EU region, and the significant healthcare expenditure across mature EU countries will contribute to the growth.
The key players providing portable ultrasound devices for breast imaging are GE Healthcare, Siemens, Philips Healthcare, Clarius Mobile Health, Hologic, Promed Group, Canon Medical System Corporation, FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc., Esaote, FUKUDA DENSHI, Shenzen Mindray and Samsung among others. (Other companies include SIUI, Guangzhou Maya Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., ICEN Technology Company Limited, Xuzhou Kaixin Electronic Instrument Co., Ltd., Refine Medical Technology Co., Ltd., OneTech Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., Carewell, Chison, Landwind Medical, Healcerion Co., Ltd. and, Sonostar).
An inorganic marketing strategy approach has been witnessed in the market which is helping market players gain more presence. For example, in February 2018, Hologic (US), launched Viera portable breast ultrasound system at the annual European Congress of Radiology (ECR) for the US and European market. This product is a wireless, handheld ultrasound device that delivers accurate, high-resolution diagnostic images.