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Advances in SPECT Imaging
Frost & Sullivan, Dec 2010, Pages: 67
This research service evaluates the emerging technology trends pertaining to the SPECT imaging technology space in healthcare. The research offers an analysis of technology capabilities, emerging applications, technology advances, force field analysis of drivers and restraints, various technology innovations and analysis of stakeholders, assessment of industry initiatives with Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP) based competitive bench marking of imaging modalities for cardiac imaging. Finally a list of patents pertaining to SPECT instrumentation and radiopharmaceuticals along with decision support tables completes the study.
Research Overview
This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Advances in SPECT Imaging discusses technology trends, applications, and stakeholder analysis in important areas. The research also analyzes the notable advances in the single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging segment and provides the benchmarking of potential technologies used for cardiac imaging. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following applications: cardiology, bone and infection imaging, oncology, and neurology.
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Technology Overview
Technology Advances and New Radiopharmaceuticals Revitalize the Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Imaging Market
SPECT developers have used the recent introduction of hybrid SPECT-CT systems as a springboard into nuclear cardiology and established SPECT as a highly desirable modality for general nuclear medicine. Solid state detectors, new scintillators, semiconductor technologies, compact gamma cameras, new radiopharmaceuticals, improved software for image reconstruction, high-resolution imaging, and advances in multislice CT have all bolstered SPECT’s prospects in multiple modalities. “Recent advancements in solid-state electronics and scintillation detection materials have led to significant improvements in SPECT detector performance,” says the analyst of this research. “As a result, these detectors are capable of exceeding the performance levels of photo multiplier tube (PMT)-based cameras in terms of energy and spatial resolution.” Their smaller footprints reduce their power requirements while offering higher sensitivity and low noise, which leads to a rapid and better-quality image. In the short term, this is expected to lead to improved affordability, availability, and effective utilization of SPECT-based systems.
As solid state detector-based SPECT systems allow simultaneous dual isotope imaging with a higher level of accuracy and safety that is required for preclinical imaging for researchers, they help lower the number of expensive and difficult-to-maintain research animals used. While cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors are finding increasing application in small animal imaging devices, the novel silicon photomultiplier detectors are expected to witness higher uptake due to their ability to reduce the cost of clinical systems. These detectors are a huge help in the development of hybrid SPECT-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, which is expected to aid in expediting drug discovery and research and expanding SPECT’s applications in human imaging. “In future, SPECT based systems may also be used for human molecular breast imaging (MBI) as well as brain and prostate imaging largely because it is radiation safe and could also be cost effective in the long run,” notes the analyst.
To make the most of these technology developments and subsequent market opportunities, SPECT developers should strategize to stave off the challenge from ultrasound techniques such as myocardial contrast echocardiography. Their wider availability and safety, as they are non-ionizing, provide them an edge over SPECT. 82Rb myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with positron emission tomography (PET)/CT is gradually closing the gap with SPECT and may even cannibalize a greater portion of MPI imaging from SPECT nuclear cardiology. SPECT neurological imaging is also likely to face the heat of competition from blockbuster PET tracers for brain imaging such as AV-1 and PiB. However, SPECT has a wider installed base than PET in the U.S. and non-U.S. markets. With hybrid systems, imaging clinics can target a wider population base.
Higher R&D Investments become the Order of the Day to Offset Competition
The recent reimbursement cuts have compelled clinic-based SPECT systems to move into a hospital setting, resulting in higher out-of-pocket expenses for patients and inferior patient care. The economically challenging environment is likely to result in hospitals taking over private cardiology practitioners, which will ultimately lead to a drop in equipment purchase. SPECT manufacturers can counter this challenge through technology innovation to simplify the imaging protocols for physicians. “The introduction of systems with enhanced reconstruction algorithms, higher efficiency with potential to minimize radiation dose by half, better attenuation correction, reduction of scan time, and higher throughput will help meet end-user requirements,” observes the analyst. “Investing in solid state and semiconductor technology research will facilitate the development of sophisticated SPECT devices that offer improved system performance and high resolution imaging.”
Researchers seek efficient workflow solutions that improve efficacy in transferring technologies from the preclinical to clinical stage. OEMs can cash in on this requirement by offering complete turnkey solutions for customers' preclinical and clinical needs. They could also build their brand awareness through marketing and distribution agreements and cement brand loyalty by educating referring physicians about emerging clinical applications for hybrid scanners. These efforts are likely to boost the end-user adoption of SPECT systems and pave the way for more technological advancements in the field.
Application Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:
- Cardiology
- Bone and infection imaging
- Oncology
- Neurology
Technologies
The following technologies are covered in this research:
- SPECT-CT
- SPECT-MRI
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