Portable Imaging Pushes to Point-of-Care
The push for imaging at the point-of-care is accelerating, with companies targeting new use cases outside the hospital. Butterfly Network is emphasizing point-of-care ultrasound for rural settings to reduce costly patient transfers, while SIUI Healthcare is promoting portable multi-modal imaging for first responders to enable faster triage in emergencies.
The global portable ultrasound market was valued at approximately $2.84 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $5.23 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.1%. Handheld devices are the dominant force, accounting for an estimated 65.3% of the market share in 2025. North America holds the largest market share at 38.3%, driven by high technology adoption and an established healthcare system. This market growth coincides with a significant shift of imaging services out of hospitals and into outpatient settings. Advanced outpatient imaging is projected to grow by nearly 14% over the next decade, with about 40% of all imaging volumes now performed in outpatient centers. This trend is partly driven by payers restricting reimbursements for MRIs and CTs in hospital-based departments to steer patients toward lower-cost freestanding settings. In response, health systems are expanding their freestanding imaging footprints through acquisitions, joint ventures, or building new facilities. This strategic shift addresses the need for more convenient and cost-effective care. Mobile imaging is a key component of this expansion, allowing health systems to increase capacity and introduce new modalities to meet community demand. The push to point-of-care is also a response to a persistent radiologist and technologist shortage. Imaging demand is projected to climb by up to 26.9% by 2055, while the radiologist workforce is expected to grow by only 25.7%, continuing the current workforce gap. This shortage has led to unsustainable workloads and diagnostic delays, making efficient, portable solutions more critical. AI is a crucial enabling technology, with the FDA having approved over 1,000 AI-enabled devices for radiology as of late 2025. Companies like GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers lead in the number of cleared algorithms. These tools are being integrated into portable devices to automate workflows, triage urgent cases, and enhance diagnostic accuracy at the point of care. Key players in the mobile and portable imaging market include global giants like Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, and Philips Healthcare, alongside specialized companies and regional providers. The competitive landscape is characterized by strategic partnerships and acquisitions, with a focus on integrating AI and cloud connectivity to enhance service offerings.
