Market Trends of X-ray Tube Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the X-ray Tube Market according to our research experts:
Healthcare Sector Holds the Largest Market Share
- In the medical sector, dental applications that require smaller and shorter scans are found to be using stationary x-ray tubes for imaging. Oral conditions are the most common health issues, affecting an estimated 3.9 billion people worldwide, according to Listerine Professional.Therefore, in the dental sector, the primary demand for x-ray imaging, which does not require rotating anode x-ray tubes, is due to stationary tubes that are suitable for imaging purposes.
- Many advances in medical radiation equipment and techniques have been seen as a result of technological advancements and increased adoption of technology in the healthcare industry.Over the past few years, one of the significant advancements in interventional x-ray has been an increased focus on core and supporting technologies to provide high-quality, high-resolution images without a corresponding increase in radiation dose. This has been a key driver behind technology advancements such as Siemens' Artis Q, Philips' ClarityIQ technology, Q.zen technology, GE Healthcare's Image Guided Systems (IGS), and Toshiba's Infinix Elite product line.
- The medical devices industry is witnessing a growth in the number of imaging and diagnostic tests performed every year owing to various factors, such as an increasing focus on radiological diagnostic tests, rising chronic disease burdens, and the introduction of efficient X-ray devices through market consolidation and mergers.
- The number of people over the age of 65 is steadily increasing, according to UN data from the World Population Prospects.By 2050, the world's population aged 60 years and older is predicted to reach 2 billion, of which 80% may live in low- and middle-income countries. Hence, the rising geriatric population and the increasing number of orthopedic and cardiovascular procedures may further drive the adoption of X-ray tubes in medical applications.
- The x-rays are generated using the x-ray tubes, and in the pharmaceutical industry, these tubes are used with tungsten, especially when softer x-rays are required in mammography applications. The specialized x-ray sources used in the research are known as synchrotron radiation, generated by the radiation process in particle accelerators in which high-magnitude x-ray tubes are used.
North America Accounts for a Significant Share
- The United States is witnessing an increase in the geriatric population as well as a surge in the incidence of chronic diseases because of sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. According to census data, as of July last year, 16.5% of the US population of 328 million people, i.e., 54 million, were over the age of 65. It is estimated that by 2030, the number will increase to 74 million. The number of people over the age of 85 is growing even faster. Moreover, rising medical infrastructure developments with the increase in medical facilities are expected to propel the demand for the medical X-ray tube market in America.
- For instance, EOS imaging, a medical device company, has installed its fourth EOS system at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, United States, which offers low-dose full-body, stereo-radiographic images of a patient in a functional position.
- Additionally, in the United States alone, over 30% of emergency department visits by the chronically ill are preventable, resulting in avoidable costs of over USD 9 billion each year. The rise in chronic diseases is pushing up the importance of screening techniques for the right and timely treatment and care. X-ray continues to play a vital role in chronic disease diagnosis, like diseases of the exocrine pancreas, lungs, bones, and abdomen.
- Also, the X-ray tube is being deployed significantly in the region for inspection purposes. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DFA), most of the fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine are trafficked across the southwest border. It is primarily smuggled into the United States through legal ports of entry, i.e., it comes within feet of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. Additionally, CBP has acknowledged that it currently scans only 2% of all private passenger vehicles and 16% of commercial vehicles at land borders.
- Airport security is also a major user of X-ray systems. For instance, recently, the TSA awarded an order worth USD 198 million to Analogic Corporation for the procurement of mid-sized computed tomography X-ray systems for TSA checkpoints.