Advanced Software integration will change the dynamics of cardiovascular disease diagnosis

Published On: March 2018

Cardiac Imaging Software technology Overview

Diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases have taken countless strides in its development and also have gone through few global setbacks. Although, the ultimate goal of these diagnosis has always been the same, which is to analyze the ailment and meet the precise treatment needs of the patient. Imaging technology remains an important tool in disease diagnosis and a valuable key to provide excellence in patient care. The role of today’s radiologist and imaging specialist has extended and evolved to being a gatekeeper of new product information, advisor on new devices, imaging equipment and radiology techniques, advocate of new technologies to improve consistency and accuracy, and techniques for improved early diagnosis.

Cardiac diagnostic tools have gained a considerable attention due to increasing number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, the industry endures to wrestle with new challenges redesigning these imaging software. In a software market where fewer percentage of educated and experienced developer meet the needs of an ever-growing population, new technologies arose to increase production levels and awakened a global cardiac imaging software technology workforce. Laboratories face many challenges today like productivity, profitability, competitiveness, new technologies, global and emerging markets, and offshore competition. However, it is suggested that the profession has contended with and seized many of these same issues over the recent years.

Cardiac Imaging Software, its impact on future of cardiovascular disease diagnosis.

During the last decade, there has been a drastic increasing in the patient population suffering from cardiovascular disease owing to adoption of sedentary lifestyle and rising diabetic and obese population coupled with growing geriatric population. A majority of the manufacturers are in the race of introducing advanced and new cardiovascular diagnostic devices in order to have a correct diagnosis and to cater these diseases. Imaging devices are a big part of this process, and all these devices require a specific set of software that are basically the brains of these devices.

Introduction of such advanced cardiac imaging software has completely changed the diagnosis and treatment scenario, witnessing a number of advantages such as convenience, precision, easy to access data, and understandable results. As old age population is majorly prone to develop most of the cardiovascular diseases, this geriatric population becomes the one of the focus area for this market. Rising geriatric population helps in pushing the growth of the market. Number of companies are involved in the development of the new tools and are responsible for the advancements that took place so far in the cardiac imaging software market. For example, Circle Cardiovascular Imaging Inc has developed software such as cvi42 and cmr42. These are cardiovascular post-processing software for viewing and analyzing CMR and CCT images. These software can be used in the diagnosis of myocardial infraction, myocarditis, arrhythmia, valvular diseases, and cardiomyopathies. Apart from that, the company has developed ct42 which is a cardiovascular post-processing software for viewing and analyzing CCT images.

Having said that, future of cardiac imaging software market depends on various factors, including price of the software, government support, demand for the software in the region, and cost of the production. Apart from that, companies need to focus on product compatibility issue in order to sustain the market and grow their business in the cardiac imaging software space.

Market Scenario: What propels the market?

The global cardiac imaging software market is segmented into imaging modalities and end-user. The market for cardiac imaging software has been on the rise over the past few years.  Based on MRFR analysis, the global cardiac imaging software market is growing at the healthy CAGR of around 8.17% and is expected to reach approximately USD 528.5 million by 2023 from USD 278.2 million in 2016. The growth and innovation in the cardiac imaging software market, will continue to evolve in future.

Companies like Siemens AG, General Electric, Koninklijke Philips N.V, Canon Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, Agfa-Gevaert Group, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, TOMTEC IMAGING SYSTEMS, Circle Cardiovascular Imaging Inc, Pie Medical Imaging, HeartSciences, and Medis medical imaging systems are focusing on research & development to introduce better and advanced tools & software. For instance, in September 2017, Siemens AG introduced TrueFusion, an application on the new Release 5.0 of the ACUSON SC2000 cardiovascular ultrasound system that integrates ultrasound and angiography images. There are lot of other developments in the market which are enhancing the technology adoption and also pushing the growth. Integration of software and related tools in the diagnostics is one of the method to cater the increasing burden of the cardiovascular diseases.

Factors limiting market growth?

Even though the cardiac imaging software market is growing continuously, there are few obstacles in the way of its worldwide adoption and growth. Currently, there are number of companies which develop their devices with the in house software support. Such technology and firewalls poses problems for the third party software developers due to the device-software compatibility issues. There is a lack of standardization in this imaging software business which results in its restricted use. Apart from that, cost is another factor that may limit the growth of the cardiac imaging software.