According to a new report by the Millennium Research Group, 4D imaging systems are being increasingly used to view fetal growth by parents, despite criticism by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for using these sytems for this purpose.
The Toronto, Ontario-based research group conducted an analysis of the $2.6 billion global ultrasound market and found the greatest growth in the ob/gyn market segment is from the adoption of 4D imaging systems for fetal videos.
The surge in demand has created a gray market in fetal videos that have no pressing medical reason, the group said. The FDA has criticized the use of these systems for this purpose as it is an unapproved use of a medical device, according to the research group.
The ob/gyn segment makes up about 20% of the global ultrasound market, which is expected to increase by $700 million to over $3 billion by 2011, Millennium said.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
November 30, 2006
Related Reading
AMA says ultrasound in-utero 'portraits' are bad idea, June 22, 2005
4D ultrasound shows promise for improving fetal echocardiography, April 6, 2005
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