GE Healthcare's lead in the U.S. ultrasound system market in 2009, coupled with its strength in the fast-growing emerging ultrasound system segment has positioned the company for robust growth through 2014, according to Millennium Research Group (MRG).

GE Healthcare's growth allowed the company to increase its lead over  Philips and Siemens in a market that is projected to be at $1.2 billion in the United States.

The emerging application segment in ultrasound includes systems that are used for regional anesthesia, emergency medicine, surgery, critical care, and vascular access. Over the next five years, growth in this segment will dwarf gains in the traditional radiology and cardiology ultrasound markets, according to experts.

GE has realized the potential of compact systems in the emerging ultrasound applications and has focused on penetrating these segments, said company executives. The company is addressing the user-specific needs in the various emerging application segments with its new Venue 40 series, which was released at the end of 2009. Venue 40 is aimed at meeting the needs of point-of-care ultrasound and can be used for vascular access, anesthesia and other applications. With a strengthening focus on the emerging markets and an established presence in the mature markets, GE is well positioned to be a leader in the U.S. ultrasound system market in the upcoming years.

"GE went from having less than 10 percent market share in the emerging ultrasound market in 2007 to having 27 percent in 2009," says Isuru Silva, analyst at MRG.  "Since 2007, the company has widened its lead over Siemens and Philips with innovative products and will continue increasing its market share. GE's newest offerings and product line extensions, such as LOGIQ E9  and Venue 40, make it easier for physicians to perform procedures such as anesthesia, and to gain vascular access. Combine this with GE's aggressive sales and marketing push and you see a clear winner emerging in this market."

MRG's U.S Markets for Ultrasound Systems 2010 report provides insight into trends that will fuel market growth for ultrasound systems used in the emerging applications, as well as the more mature markets of radiology, cardiology, vascular and women's health. A strong focus will also be made on the growing influence of compact systems in the overall U.S. ultrasound system market.

Toronto-based Millennium Research Group (MRG), a Decision Resources, Inc. company, bills itself as the global authority on medical technology market intelligence.