X-ray imaging: computed tomography is the name of the game

Driven by economic growth in China and India, the X-ray detector market will be restructured around computed tomography.

OUTLINE:

• The X-ray detector market is expected to reach US$2.5 billion in 2027.
• China is currently setting up an X-ray industry that will compete with historical players in the long term.
• Photon-counting technology is emerging in the field of CT[1] scanners with the first commercial product released in 2021.

The market dynamics in digital X-ray imaging have been affected by COVID-19 crisis and geopolitical tensions. The COVID-19 crisis upset both supply and demand in medical systems in 2020 and 2021. Healthcare facilities prioritized their budgets to fight COVID-19, boosting static radiography and CT. On the contrary, many surgeries, mammographies, and dental diagnoses procedures were delayed, slowing demand in these segments by about a year.

In this dynamic context, Yole Intelligence has developed a dedicated report to provide an overview of the digital X-ray imaging industry with a focus on detector components, including the different types of technologies. In its new Digital X-Ray Imaging 2022 report, the company, part of Yole Group, provides an understanding of the main trends in the different segments of digital X-ray imaging with a forecast of the market value and associated volumes. It also gives supply chain insights describing the different levels of integration and the players comprising the ecosystem. It provides data on the market shares of the different types of X-ray detectors. This study offers an understanding of the technologies underlying the significant innovations with associated challenges and roadmaps.

According to Axel Clouet, Ph.D., Technology & Market Analyst, Imaging and Display at Yole Intelligence, part of Yole Group: “The medical business returned to its pre-COVID-19 dynamic and is expected to grow from US$1,780 million in 2021 to US$2,128 million in 2027 at the detector level. Most of leading players from the field are now targeting Chinese or Indian markets where growth potential is significant for the coming years.”

According to Yole Intelligence, the X-ray industrial business also suffered from a global economic downturn due to COVID-19. However, car electrification is now also a good driver for X-ray inspection, which is used in electronics and battery production lines and storage to detect defects. As a result, the segment will grow from US$210 million in 2021 to US$263 million in 2027.

In recent years, the Chinese X-ray imaging ecosystem has strengthened its position at the detector manufacturing and system levels. In detectors, iRay Technology is now challenging historical manufacturers of flat panel detectors like Varex Imaging or Trixell. Serious R&D allowed Chinese companies to catch up on detector performance and even lead on new types of detectors based on IGZO[2] material. Meanwhile, they are very competitive on price, putting pressure on historical players with mature technologies, like aSi[3] flat panel detectors.

At the system level, several Chinese players have entered the market over the last decades in all radiography fields. Some of them are also growing fast and are becoming competitive with major manufacturers like Siemens, Philips, General Electric, and Canon on performance and price. For example, United Imaging and Neusoft are gaining traction in the CT scan area. United Imaging recently went public with a US$1.6 billion Initial Public Offering.

Computed tomography is progressively replacing classical radiography in medicine worldwide thanks to improvements in performance linked to computational power during recent years.

To address the Chinese, Indian, and other developing countries’ markets, global medical leaders focus on developing a supply chain, building local facilities, and delivering affordable products based on mature technologies. This strategy ensures short-term return on investment. For developed countries, the effort is focused more on technology with the emergence of photon-counting scanners, for example. New technologies will create new use cases and open new segments in the long-term.

Yole Intelligence’s imaging team invites you to follow the X-ray industry and the evolution of the technology on www.yolegroup.com.

Stay tuned!

[1] CT: Computed Tomography

[2] IGZO: Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide

[3] aSi: amorphous Silicon

Source: www.yolegroup.com