Market Trends of United Kingdom Magnetic Resonance Imaging Industry
Low Field MRI Systems Segment is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over the Forecast Period
The segment includes the low-field MRI systems, which have a magnetic field strength of 0.25 to 1.0 Tesla, which requires lower space and is more lightweight than the high or ultra-high MRI systems.
The low-field MRI segment is expected to grow during the forecast period with the market players' increasing research advancements and recent developments.
Studies performed by researchers in the United Kingdom have underlined the massive use of low-field MRI for diagnosing a wide variety of cancers and its high safety and efficacy, expected to elevate its adoption and boost the segment's growth. For instance, a study published in the European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging in February 2022 highlighted that low-field cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging could offer sustainable imaging technology with the potency to yield diagnostic quality images that can also be tailored to the local populations and healthcare ecosystems.
Further, a study published in Nature Communications in December 2021 underlined the use of an ultra-low-field brain MRI scanner of field strength, which is cost-effective and eliminates the need for shielding. The study mentioned a 0.055 Tesla Samarium-cobalt magnet with deep learning for cancellation of electromagnetic interference; it requires neither magnetic nor radiofrequency shielding cages. Such low-field MRI systems offer safety, efficacy, and ease of use for the patient and cost savings and are most likely to be adopted by patients at a vast scale. These factors are expected to boost the segment's growth in the coming years.
Furthermore, several market participants are attempting to introduce their products in the United Kingdom and increase their market share of the low-field MRI scanner. This is also anticipated to fuel the expansion of low-field MRI scanners in this area. For instance, Hyperfine Inc., the manufacturer of Swoop, the first portable MRI system to receive FDA clearance, has expansion plans for both Pakistan and the United Kingdom for 2021. Within the next six months, Hyperfine wants to speed up its commercial expansion into four more nations, starting with the United Kingdom and Pakistan.
A low-cost ultra-low-field brain MRI scanner that an ordinary AC power outlet can power is described in a paper that was published in Nature Communications in 2021 with the title "A low-cost and shielding-free ultra-low-field brain MRI scanner." Since it uses a permanent 0.055 Tesla Samarium-cobalt magnet and deep learning for electromagnetic interference cancellation, it does not need magnetic or radio frequency shielding cages. The scanner is also compact, transportable, and acoustically quiet while scanning. The benefits of low-field MRI scanners are also anticipated to fuel this market's expansion in the United Kingdom.
Therefore, the low-field MRI segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to the abovementioned factors, including its advancing research, high efficacy, and recent developments by the market players.
Neurology is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over the Forecast Period
The neurology segment includes neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and others that MRI diagnoses. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine provides the tissue activities that reveal the physiological changes and assist in diagnosing diseases or gaining a deeper understanding of the functioning of the organ.
The neurology segment is expected to grow during the forecast period with the high burden of neurological disorders and the advancing research of MRI to diagnose neurological diseases in the United Kingdom.
The significant burden of neurological diseases is expected to increase the demand for MRI systems to diagnose and research the condition, likely boosting the segment's growth. For instance, per the data published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2021, over 17.6 individuals in every 1,000 people in the United Kingdom were reported to have dementia in 2021. The same source stated that this number is expected to increase to 28.2 individuals per 1,000 people in the United Kingdom by 2050. Such a vast prevalence of dementia is expected to create a vast patient base of neurological disease patients, which will likely create a vast demand for the MRI system for neurological patients in the coming years and boost the segment's growth.
Advancing research studies in neurology disease diagnosis using MRI systems is expected to further boost the segment's growth in the coming years. For instance, a study published in the Neuroimage: Clinical in July 2022 highlighted the utilization of the MRI dataset and processing workflow to prevent Alzheimer's Dementia. The study mentioned that the data derived from the diffusion MRI and resting-state fMRI had been constructed as a semi-automatic multimodal and multisite pipeline with potential clinical relevance to analyze the biological markers of aging and dementia.
Further, several developments by the public and private players in neurology and MRI are expected to increase the penetration of the MRI systems for diagnosing and researching neurological diseases and drive the segment's growth. For instance, in March 2023, Queen Mary and icometrix together were awarded the prestigious Artificial Intelligence Award in Health and Care by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for the assessment of MRI and decision-making for people with multiple sclerosis. Further, in March 2022, a new intra-operative MRI (iMRI) scanner suite was set up at the Southampton Children's Hospital in the United Kingdom to transform the experience of seriously ill children.
Therefore, the neurology segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to the abovementioned factors, including the high burden of neurological disorders, advancing research, and recent developments.
