Mindray Announces Ultrasound Platform Upgrades
Imaging equipment manufacturer Mindray has announced significant upgrades to its M7 and DC-7 ultrasound platforms. The enhancements, revealed at RSNA, focus on improved image quality, workflow efficiency, and portability. These features are designed to meet the growing demand from outpatient and mobile care settings.
- The portable ultrasound market is projected to grow from $8.968 billion in 2026 to $11.87 billion by 2035. This growth is driven by the increasing use of point-of-care diagnostics, with over 65% of global healthcare facilities expected to integrate mobile imaging tools by 2025. - A significant trend in imaging is the shift of services out of hospitals and into outpatient settings like freestanding imaging centers and ambulatory clinics. Approximately 40% of all radiology volume is now performed in these outpatient facilities. - This site-of-care shift is partly driven by changes in reimbursement from payers, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which are incentivizing the migration of procedures to lower-cost settings. For instance, CMS has been phasing out its "inpatient-only" list, which now allows more procedures to be reimbursed in an outpatient setting. - Health systems are responding to these trends by expanding their freestanding imaging footprints through acquisitions, partnerships, or building new facilities to capture outpatient growth. - The demand for workflow efficiency is high due to rising imaging volumes and radiologist shortages. Technology vendors are incorporating AI-powered features to automate tasks, reduce scan times, and improve diagnostic accuracy. - Recent FDA clearances for AI-driven ultrasound software are enabling medical professionals without specialized sonography experience to capture diagnostic-quality cardiac images, expanding the utility of ultrasound at the point of care. - Mindray is a significant player in the global ultrasound market, holding the third-largest market share globally and the largest in China as of late 2024. The market is led by major competitors like GE HealthCare and Philips. - The M7 and DC-7 platforms have a long history of upgrades, with significant enhancements announced at RSNA as far back as 2010, focusing on new transducers, 4D imaging, and improved calculation packages.
