(PharmaNewsWire.Com, October 15, 2021 ) According to an article in the Livemint, private hospitals in India have faced revenue losses of up to 90% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has also impacted the operation of manufacturing companies. Companies are functioning with a limited workforce. Moreover, the turnaround time for the delivery of products and services is affected due to newer packaging protocols and lockdown measures imposed by countries. All these factors are negatively impacting the manufacturing and supply chain of fluoroscopy products.
The evolution of fluoroscopy systems and C-arms from traditional X-ray image intensifier technology to digital flat-panel detectors (FPDs) has brought about significant advancements in fluoroscopic imaging. FPDs have a number of advantages over image intensifiers, including compact sizes and reduced radiation dose. Systems with FPDs have the potential for higher image resolution than their predecessors.
Although resolution varies from model to model, overall, FPDs have the ability to produce a more consistent and high-quality digital image. Moreover, while the quality of images generated from traditional image intensifiers deteriorates as the system ages, this is not the case with FPDs. They continue to deliver the same image quality even years after use and can provide a wider and more dynamic range of imaging compared to image intensifiers. Additionally, the field of vision reduces with higher magnification in the case of image intensifiers, which does not happen if FPDs are used.
FPDs offer no image distortion, greater sensitivity, and better patient coverage. Due to their advantages, many hospitals are now opting for FPD fluoroscopes. The growing preference for advanced technologies, and the need to shift to new, more efficient products, will be a key factor driving the growth of this market segment.
Although fluoroscopic procedures ensure minimally invasive diagnosis, they come with the risk of radiation exposure. Fluoroscopic procedures can result in high radiation dose exposure for complex procedures, such as stent placement. These procedures are time-consuming, which greatly increases the radiation that patients are exposed to and the risk of hazards such as radiation-induced injuries to the skin and underlying tissues. The long-term side-effects of prolonged radiation exposure can also include cancer.
This has served to push users towards non-radiation modalities, particularly in the case of pediatric patients. For instance, the ACR (American College of Radiology) Appropriateness Criteria specify that for infants younger than two months, ultrasound should be considered before a fluoroscopic examination. Additionally, CT examinations can completely eliminate the need for a fluoroscopic examination, as a CT scan is noninvasive as opposed to the minimally invasive fluoroscopic imaging.
The growing prominence of other non-radiation imaging modalities, like ultrasound, is likely to restrain market growth.
Many hospitals in developing countries are unable to invest in fluoroscopy equipment due to their high costs, poor reimbursement rates, and budget constraints, and therefore prefer refurbished systems. These systems are less expensive than new systems—approximately 40% to 60% of the original price.
As a result, many market leaders are promoting refurbished devices. Siemens’ Medical Proven Excellence Program, GE Healthcare’s GoldSeal Program, and Philips’ Diamond Select Program are some noteworthy global refurbishing programs that promote the utilization of refurbished imaging systems. Increasing demand for refurbished devices poses a major challenge to the sales of new instruments—and, subsequently, to the growth of market players and small manufacturers.
To devise a treatment plan, clinicians are demanding access to integrated, comprehensive data on the patient’s diagnostic history. In addition to data integration, there lies a huge opportunity for making data available through mobile technologies. This will help doctors to view and study scans wherever they are. Due to their advantages, convenience, and huge demand from clinicians, data integrated systems offer a huge opportunity for market growth.
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